Defending champions Craig Simpson and Aliana McMaster are poised to return to familiar ground on Sunday as they seek to retain their respective Jackson Bay Hunting & Fishing Club Sporting Clay titles at the club’s base in Portland Cottage, Clarendon.
The event marks the long-anticipated return of the tournament, last staged in 2024. The 2025 edition was postponed following the passing of Hurricane Melissa, making this weekend’s competition both a renewal of tradition and a fresh beginning for the club’s calendar.
A full field and a demanding course
A total of 128 gunners have registered for the first sporting clay tournament on the Jamaica Skeet Club’s 2026 calendar. Competitors will be distributed across a challenging 17-station course and are expected to be in position at least 15 minutes before the scheduled 10:00 a.m. shotgun start.
Set against rolling green hills with the Caribbean Sea stretching below, the Jackson Bay course offers a visually striking but technically demanding environment. Shooters will be tested not only on accuracy and consistency but also on their ability to adapt to the terrain and shifting coastal conditions.
When the weather becomes the rival
If conditions mirror those of the previous tournament, competitors should brace for a taxing blend of extreme heat, gusting winds, and intermittent rainfall. Success under such circumstances, whether measured by an overall victory, a class title, or personal improvement, often carries a heightened sense of satisfaction.
At Jackson Bay, endurance and mental discipline are as critical as marksmanship, and the elements frequently play a decisive role in separating contenders from champions.
Simpson’s narrow escape and McMaster’s command
In the 2024 tournament, Simpson posted a score of 91 before being drawn into a thrilling three-way shoot-off with Shaun Barnes and Chad Ziadie. After a tense finale, Simpson emerged as the highest overall winner.
McMaster delivered a similarly impressive performance, firing an 86 to capture the Ladies title. She enters this year’s competition as a two-time defending champion, having topped the Ladies section in every Jackson Bay Sporting Clay Tournament held to date.
Elite challengers lining up
This year’s field is stacked with experience and pedigree. Among the leading contenders are former national shotgun champions Ian Banks, Shaun Barnes, and Chad Ziadie, alongside accomplished gunners Roman Tavares-Finson, Bruce DeQuesnay, and Ray McMaster.
In the Ladies division, Aliana McMaster will face formidable opposition, including her mother, Wendy McMaster, a multiple-time national female shotgun champion, as well as other strong performers such as former national champion Marguerite Harris and the steadily improving Tatrecia Mitchell.
Beyond competition: Club growth and community impact
Jackson Bay Hunting & Fishing Club President Sean Clacken views the tournament as more than a test of shooting excellence. He emphasized its importance to the club’s ongoing development and its role in raising much-needed funds to support the Portland Cottage Primary School.
Clacken also acknowledged the critical backing of sponsors who have committed their support to this year’s staging. Title sponsors MailPac and Proforma Mega Marketing headline a list that includes platinum sponsors Levy Cheeks S&G Road Surfacing, RELMAC, Murrays Fish and Jerk, and the Jamaica Skeet Club, among others.
As champions defend their crowns and challengers seek to rewrite the script, Jackson Bay once again stands ready to deliver a demanding, memorable day of sporting clay competition, where precision, perseverance, and poise will determine who rises above the rest.
