Over 40 of Jamaica’s top gunners took on some of the world’s best shooters recently and came back happy with their exploits in the Jack Links Cup at Quail Creek Sporting Ranch in Florida, United States.

Geoffrey Ziadie topped the trio of podium finishers in the main event, winning the AA Class after picking off 175 birds in the 200 Bird shoot. Jordan Thwaites (153) bagged second place in C Class, while Craig Davis came second in D Class with a score of 147.

Zaidie entered the event on a high after narrowly missing the HOA (highest overall) in the recently held PWD Sporting Clays Tournament at the Tru-Juice Estates in Jamaica. This after taking lessons from 19-time World Shotgun Champion Ben Husthwaite, whom he credited for making him a better shooter. Ziadie also credited national coach Khaleel Azan for teaching the local shooters to be highly competitive among the world’s best shooters.

“It was a great event. It had over 1,350 entrants. A Jamaican contingent exceeded 45 people and I think all of us had a great time. It was a well put together event, with most of us shot over 750 targets over the four or five days that we were there. But the greatest part about it is that the main event was held over three days, and a couple Jamaicans did exceeding well” said Ziadie.

“I myself had an outer body experience. I came first in double A. I shot 175 of 200 targets. I was the highest scoring Jamaican. My first place was out of 220 competitors in the US which really made me feel good. Jordan Thwaites, he came second in C Class with 153 out of 200, and Craig Davis came D Class second with 147 out of 200. So the Jamaicans on a whole did pretty well in the main event, and in the other events, a lot of Jamaicans did very well in other items.”

Several Jamaicans finished on the podium in the various preliminary events which were held over the five-day tournament. Winston Quest (80) was second in Fitasc, while Craig Davis (77) was D Class third. Jordan Thwaites (87) was C Class second in Winchester. Gerad Chin (760 was A Class second in Fiocchi, while Jeffrey Panton was C Class third and Craig Davis was D Class first. Gordon Bucknor (88) bagged second place in 5-Stand and Craig Davis (89) was D Class first. Jordan Thwaites (82) and Nicholas Hudson (80) were second and third, respectively, in C Class while Craig Davis (82) was first in D Class in Super Sporting.

Current national shotgun champion Chad Ziade also posted some good scores in the tournament. His 92 out of 100 in Super Sporting in Master Class was just four targets off tying for first place. Additionally Chad’s 94 in Winchester was the fifth highest score of the 1,350 competitors.

The Jamaicans are looking forward to upcoming overseas-based competitions such as the Gator Cup and the World English Sporting Clays.