Under the blazing Caribbean sun and sweltering humidity of Bog Walk, St. Catherine, more than 130 sharpshooters gathered at the Tru-Juice complex for the highly anticipated Rangers Gun Club Sporting Clays Classic on Sunday.
But amid the sea of focused eyes and flying clay targets, one family emerged as the undeniable stars of the day: Ray McMaster and his daughter Aliana.
Firing on all cylinders, the McMasters etched their names into the competition’s lore by claiming top honors in their respective categories. Their victories weren’t just individual triumphs—they were shared milestones of precision, perseverance, and deep familial pride.
Ray McMaster hits the mark
From the opening station, it was clear that Ray McMaster had come locked and loaded. He cleanly shattered all six targets on Station One and maintained momentum through the grueling course, missing only five birds out of a possible 100. His final score—a staggering 95—placed him atop the leaderboard, though he remained humble until the official confirmation.
“I’m elated. Very good. It felt very good,” McMaster said, still catching his breath from the day’s heat and intensity. “I know I was shooting well and I knew I would put up a good score, so I was confident to say the least—and it just happened. It just happened today.”
The moment became even more special when he learned that his daughter, Aliana, had also claimed victory in the Ladies category. “I’ll tell you something, sharing that moment with her is special to me,” he beamed. “Many times, it’s a norm for her to be the female champion, but she normally shares it with another male champion. Just being able to deliver a solid performance and to be crowned champion—and to share that with her—is just special to me.”
Aliana’s grace under pressure
Like her father, Aliana started strong, blasting all six targets on her opening station. But the road to victory wasn’t smooth. She stumbled slightly on Stations Four and Five, missing five out of 10, but rallied with fierce determination to clean five consecutive stations without a miss. Her final score of 90 secured her second straight Ladies and Junior titles.
Unfazed by external pressures, Aliana credited her success to a personal mindset rooted in joy and focus. “Honestly, I kinda leave the statistics for everybody else to keep up with,” she shared. “I really just set my own personal goals and just try to achieve them myself. Even when I come out to compete, I honestly kind of ignore everybody else. What really matters most is having fun—not even winning. Winning will never trump just having fun.”
Still, she was glowing with pride for her father. “I wasn’t squadding with him today, which is unusual for us. But honestly, words really can’t describe how special these moments are. They don’t come around often enough, and I can really appreciate the moment that we can just celebrate together—and both of our wins.”
Shoot-offs, standouts, and surprises
While the McMasters celebrated their double win, the drama wasn’t over. A heated shoot-off ensued for the runner-up spot, with Gregg Chong edging out rivals Todd Lazarus and Ian Banks—each of whom posted impressive scores of 93.
The Hunters (Beginners) category also saw intense action. After three nail-biting rounds of shoot-offs, Krishna Phillipps emerged victorious over Ammon Lalwani, both initially tied at 75.
Station Four, dubbed the “Bonus Station,” tested even the most experienced marksmen. Only two competitors—Christian Sasso and Todd Lazarus—managed a perfect four out of four. Lazarus ultimately won the tiebreaker and walked away with a Barbecue grill, cooler, and knapsack, his excitement unmistakable.
Rising stars and class champions
The competition also elevated several shooters to new class rankings. Among the standout class winners were:
- B Class – Robin Rickhi (83)
- C Class – Zachary Chong (86)
- D Class – Max Williams (89)
- E Class & Sub-Junior – Rheis McMaster (81)
Notably, Rheis McMaster—another rising star from the same household—continued the family’s legacy of excellence.
More than a competition
While the Sporting Clays Classic was fiercely competitive, it also served a greater cause. A portion of the proceeds went to support Food For the Poor, reaffirming the event’s commitment to community upliftment.
The day’s success was made possible through generous sponsorships. Sterling Asset Management led the way as the title sponsor, with Worthy Park Rum, Stewarts Auto Sales, and STL Solar as gold-tier backers. Hydration was plentiful thanks to Wisynco’s provision of Tru-Juice and WATA.
