Simpson & McMaster ready to defend Proven David East Memorial Shoot

our-time defending female champion Aliana McMaster and defending champion Craig Simpson are ready to defend their Proven David East Memorial Sporting Clays titles on Sunday at the picturesque Murphy Hill Estate over looking the town of Ocho Rios. The event will begin at 9:30 am, shotgun start with over one hundred and fifty competitors positioned on the seventeen-station course.

It kicks off the first sporting clays shoot of the year for the Jamaica Skeet Club, which boasts a robust calendar for 2025.

Simpson bagged the top spot in 2024 after a tense shoot-off with McMaster. They were tied on 95 each at the end of the main event and could only be separated by a shoot-off. McMaster’s runner-up spot is the highest position reached by any female locally.

Simpson who is looking for his fourth hold on the title will have to battle several top shooters and national shotgun champions in the island. They include the 2023 winner Shaun Barnes who is a six-time national shotgun champion, five-time national shotgun champion Christian Sasso and former winner of the shoot as well as nine-time national shotgun champion and president of the Jamaica Skeet Club Ian Banks. Chad Ziadie, the current national shotgun champion will also be on the course to challenge the field for the top prize. Several other top shooters such as Nick Benjamin, Ray McMaster and some very good juniors will also be on the course to challenge for a place on the podium.

The Ladies section will also be competitive with Aliana McMaster expected to be challenged by her mother, many-time national shotgun champion Wendy McMaster – the only other female to win the Proven Shoot. She will also be challenged by former national shotgun champion Marguerite Harris and a number of very good lady shooters such as Renee Richhi, Lori-Ann Harris, Toni Barnes and others.

The shooters will compete in various classes from A to E, Juniors, Sub-Juniors, Ladies and Hunters or beginners. The course setters have promised an array of targets such as true-pairs, rabbits and others to ensure the highest standards are met which are comparable to international standards.

Proceeds from the tournament will be used for the Driftwood Gun Club’s charities which are focused mainly on early childhood educational institutions in the Treasure Beach area of St. Elizabeth.

The Driftwood Gun Club president, Christina East is happy to have Proven on board for the fifth consecutive year as major sponsor. She credited David East who passed away in 2020 with playing a pivotal role in securing the venue (Murphy Hill) as the home of the club’s annual competition. East was considered to be a visionary club member who only wanted the best for sporting clays in Jamaica, hence the competition is held in his honour.

This year marks twenty-one years of existence for the Driftwood Gun Club.