Dead aim
Jamaica’s best took on the world’s best shooters recently and overpowered them to post the country’s best performances in any overseas-based shooting competition.
Former national shotgun champion Christian Sasso and in-form female shooter Aliana McMaster were in top form when they defeated masterclass shooters in the Jack Links Cup and the best female shooters in the Zoli Cup in Florida.
Sasso, Joseph Fanizzi (USA) and Bill McGuire (USA) were forced to engage in a three-way shoot-off after ending the Jack Links Cup at Quail Creek Sporting Ranch tied on 95 each in Fitasc at the end of regulation time. Sasso outshot both pro shooters to take the overall trophy.
He was ecstatic about his performance while giving praise to all of his supporters and the other shooters who did well on the tour.
“Firstly, I would like to thank the sponsors who helped me to compete in the Jack Links Cup tournament in Florida, who are Sasco Distributors, Azan Supercentre and ISSA Construction. They all played an integral part of my success that took place over the competition.
“Right now I am ecstatic. I always try to do my best but to place in Master Class Fitasc, after a shoot-off with Joseph Fanizzi and Bill McGuire, two giants in the sport, I couldn’t be any happier with the results. As you know Fitasc is only one category of many in the tournament. Right now my shooting scores are in line with the pros,” he said.
Other Jamacans Shaun Barnes, six-time national shotgun champion, topped the AA Class; Roman Tavares-Finson won the AA Class in Five-Stand after scoring 93; Chad Ziadie topped the Main Event; and young Jonathan Ralston bagged first place in a number of disciplines.
The Jamaicans were again on form in the Zoli Classic at the South Florida Shooting Club with outstanding performances from McMaster, Ziadie, Richard Todd and Brandon Laing.
McMaster was the number one female performer for Jamaica after topping three categories. She took it to the ladies in the competition and bettered them and is seen as one to watch for podium performances in the future.
She is first Jamaica female shooter to win a class in any overseas shooting competition under the Jamaica Skeet Club banner. She bagged 10 trophies in the tournament.
McMaster, too, was happy with her performance.
“My performance overall between the overseas shoots so far have been, honestly, my best performance I could have put out there. I didn’t feel like I left anything out there. I couldn’t have done more,” she said.
