A strong Jamaican contingent featured in the opening ceremony for the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Handgun World Championships in Klerksdorp, South Africa, on Sunday. The main match took place on Monday.

The Jamaica Rifle Association (JRA) says this underscores the nation’s growing prestige in shooting sports. Around 1,800 competitors from over 50 countries are participating.

Jamaica’s delegation is led by Captain Yeonie Campbell, the 2024 RJRGleaner Sportswoman of the Year for shooting sports; and Ryan Bramwell, the Jamaican standout marksman and also a rising star in the sport. The team includes veteran handgun competition match officials Dudley Brown, Keith Miller, and Florence Golding, all of whom have contributed to Jamaica’s reputation on the world stage.

In the pre-match events Jamaica’s team was already making waves as JRA President Rohan Wilson, Yeonie Campbell, Florence Golding, and Dudley Brown participated in competition for the Production and Open divisions, signalling strong early form ahead of the main matches.

The spotlight now shifts to the main team, with top shot Lesgar “Speedy” Murdock and Anthony Johnson aiming for highest honours in the Open, and Production Optics Grand Senior categories, respectively.

Jamaica’s Production Optics squad, featuring Adrian Randle, Ryan Bramwell, Shayon Francis, and Petrano Belafonte, will go head-to-head with the world’s best on Tuesday.

The Jamaican squad also includes Darrin Richards and Rohan Wallace, who stand ready to push for medals as action unfolds throughout the week, continuing through to Saturday.

The JRA says the event marks a milestone for Jamaica’s shooting sports programme, which it manages, and says it showcases depth and talent across multiple divisions, from Open and Production to Production Optics, and Standard divisions. Locally, athletes and officials expressed pride in the team’s readiness and the broader commitment to sport development in Jamaica.