The 12th NCB Capital Markets Sporting Clays Open was a true test of the Jamaica Skeet Club’s shooters’ skill, grit, determination, focus and how they handled the varying weather conditions at the Woodleigh Shooting Range in Clarendon last Sunday.

At the end of the day on the range, Craig Simpson topped all shooters to be crowned overall winner, while Renee Rickhi took the ladies section and Roman Tavares-Finson copped the junior category.

The shooters have come to expect hot, dry and windy conditions at the Woodleigh Shooting Range, but the big field of 139 gunners also had to battle heavy rains as well, which affected many of them negatively.

Craig Simpson, with a score of 87, was declared the highest overall winner, and he was pleased with his performance.

“It was a good course. The conditions were challenging. We had periods of rain, so it tested your focus and I was able to hold it together for 17 long stations and it was an enjoyable day,” he said.

He added: “Clay shooting is really about shooting against yourself and fortunately today the scores were in my favour.”

Regarding his preparation for the prestigious tournament, Simpson noted: “The preparation for competition is all mental. It’s all about making sure that you can deliver on the day, so you practise forever, but unless you can execute on the day it makes no difference. So my preparation would be I would say 90 per cent mental.”

The determination of the runner-up spot took some time and had to be done during heavy rains as five shooters were engaged in a shoot-off as they all scored 86 during regular competition. They were Leighton Sasso, Greg Chung, Bobby Chung, Ray McMaster and David Subaran. In the end Sasso bagged four of six birds to take the runner-up spot.

There was a further shoot-off to determine the top three positions of the A Class. That resulted in Greg Chung (four), Bobby Chung (three) and Ray McMaster (two) taking the podium positions in A Class.

Renee Rickhi (64), who had the same score as second-placed Isabelle Chin, took the top spot by way of long run (L/R). Defending champion Wendy McMaster (61) ended in the third spot.

The very happy ladies champion said: “It’s amazing. This is one of the biggest tournaments that is most coveted and I think I placed third once in this tournament so for me to win is like amazing. I feel on top of the world”.

The top three shooters in the various classes were: B Class — Ryan Chen (83), Zachary Harris (82 — L/R) and Mark Desnoes (82 — L/R). C Class — Damion Sawyers (84), Alex Cunnngham (83) and Cameron Pang Sang (81); D Class — Dale Delapenha (80 — shoot-off), Toby Hugh (80 — S/O) and JJ Ralston (77); E Class — Steve James (71), Renee Rickhi (64 — L/R) and Isabelle Chin (64 — L/R); Hunters — Cody Delisser (72), Justin Samuda (66) and Neil McKenzie (62); Juniors — Roman Tavares-Finson (85), Mark Desnoes (82) and Cameron Pang Sang (81); Sub Juniors — David Wong (71), Richard Todd (66) and Noah Azan (53).

Two shooters moved up in class based on winning their class for the second time. They are Steve James who was promoted to D Class and Cody DeLisser who was promoted to E Class from Hunters or beginner class.

Sancia Thompson, manager wealth management and syndication of NCB Capital Markets, was pleased with the staging of the tournament. She said, “We have been really delighted to have partnered with the Jamaica Skeet Club.” She had high praises for the young shooters who performed well on the day and said that NCB Capital Markets will be back in 2020 to sponsor the tournament.

Evan Thwaites, president of the Jamaica Skeet Club, said: “It was a most unusual day. Woodleigh is usually hot and dry and windy. Today we had rain so it made the competition a little bit more challenging (because) is not the easiest thing in the world, so overall the conditions were not perfect but added a little extra to the competition and made it special.”