CHAD Ziadie and Aliana McMaster are gunning to defend their National Shotgun Championships (NSC) titles this weekend when they compete in the 200 Bird Sporting Clays at the lush True-Juice property in St Catherine. They along with other shooters who competed in the various events that make up the championships — including Super Sporting, 5 Stand, Fitasc and 200 Target Sporting Clays — will be going for top honours.

Ziadie picked up his second championship last year after winning his first in 2022.

“I came up short in 2023 to [winner] Christian [Sasso] so it was in my books to come back and gain back my title,” he said after winning the championship last year.

He is the youngest repeat winner of the Jamaica Skeet Club’s National Shotgun Championship. He was 26 when he won it the first time.

The 2024 runner-up was multiple, former national shotgun champion Christian Sasso who was a worthy challenger for the top spot after narrowly falling short.

National shotgun ladies’ champion Aliana McMaster was the winner in 2023 as well.

After retaining her title last year she said she was “incredibly grateful” to successfully defend her title.

McMaster distinguished herself by becoming the first woman to make it to A Class, as well as the first woman to qualify for the Super Six in the 200 bird shoot.

In addition to the national men and women shotgun champions there were several class champions as well who will be seeking to be repeat winners.

The 2024 class champions were: A Class – Craig Simpson; B Class – Brandon Laing; C Class – Anthony Desnoes; D Class – Cameron Lee; E Class – Fraser McConnell; Hunters or Beginners Class – Tatrecia Mitchell; Juniors – Aliana McMaster; Seniors – Geoffrey Ziadie; Veteran – Robert Yap Foo and Super Veteran – Brett Thwaites.

The 17-station course competition is to take place over two days, with 100 targets on Saturday and the other 100 targets on Sunday. Competition is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am each day.