FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD shooting sensation Aliana McMaster is keeping a strong family tradition going by focusing on her education and honing her craft in sporting clay shooting — a sport she has dominated from a tender age.

In early 2015, when her father Ray started taking her to the Jamaica Skeet Club just for company, little did he know he was unearthing one of, if not the brightest prospect this country has seen in the sport.

Shortly after her initial arrival at the club she was introduced to maestros Khaleel Azan, and later Shaun Barnes.

Azan is without doubt the backbone of the youth programme of the sport, one of the strongest advocates for clay shooting, and one of the best coaches locally. The outstanding Barnes is a multiple national and regional champion and has been a flag bearer for Jamaica at many international events.

With those two guiding her, coupled with her natural talent, her meteoric rise comes as no surprise. However, regardless of talent, one cannot advance in this sport on mere ability. Against this background, the third-form student at Campion College delicately balances her schoolwork with training.

Her shooting prowess is being showered with approbation by almost everyone who encounters her, including renowned international shooter and Coach Wendell Cherry, after less than an hour in his camp. However, she was quick to point to the direction where her priority lie at present.

“I am first a student, so I must ensure I work towards getting quality education. Of course I love shooting, but I see it as an extra-curricular and recreational activity as well,” said Aliana, who aspires to enter the business world after studies.

Her dad Ray MacMaster, who is also one of the leading shooters in the country, seconds his offspring’s motion that education is priority number one — even as evidence has shown that shooting sports have helped to make better students overall.

“There is no wavering where my support for her is concerned but it is in the priority of school first,” said the senior MacMaster.

In the sport of clay shooting, Aliana says her sights are locked in on the Olympic Games, but she is quite aware that to hit her desired target will require old fashion hard work, plus financial and morale support. Additionally for her, taking care of a few local matters before the Olympics is something which has to be addressed in short order.

“While I would love to represent my country at the Olympics, I would like to become the national female champion of Jamaica very soon,” noted Aliana.

And guess who she intends to defeat for that title? None other than her mother Wendy McMaster, the four-time defending champion.

Aliana said she does not see her mom as an opponent, but a competitor.

“Sometimes when we are at tournaments we fall into the same squad, and I would take a quick look at the score to see where she is and then plan my strategy to see if I need to adjust my game plan,” she jokingly revealed.

When the Jamaican team for the World English Sporting Clays Championship leaves the Island this week for the April 20-24 tournament in Texas, USA, Aliana will be on that flight. Last weekend, she shot her way onto the team during the trials held in St Catherine.

Her sister, Abigail, also competes in the sport.

This well-spoken young lady’s only negative point in the sport is the argument surrounding young people of her age group and younger who are involved with the use of firearms for the sole purpose of sport shooting in Jamaica.

“I am aware of what criminals use firearms to do to people in my country, however many people are not aware of what handling a firearm for sport shooting does to young people. It teaches them to be disciplined, responsible, as well as how dangerous it can be if not properly handled,” asserted Aliana.

She also mentioned that there is little doubt that countless young people exist with natural talent, which can only be exposed if they are given the opportunity.