SIXTY-NINE of Jamaica’s top shooters took on the world’s best recently and came back very pleased with their exploits at the Jack Link’s Cup at Quail Creek Sporting Ranch in south Florida, USA. Two young gunners, Roman Tavares-Finson and Todd Lazarus, topped their classes to record Jamaica’s best-ever performance at the event.
Jamaica went with its biggest contingent ever following on Geoffrey Ziadie’s breakthrough year last year when he became the first Jamaican to win a category at one of the biggest shooting event in the US where there were 2,400 competitors. Ziadie won the AA Class last year.
This time it was the talented Tavares-Finson who picked off 259 targets from a possible 300 to capture the AA Class. He shot 75 targets per day over four days on four different courses during the competition. He shot spectacularly to win the AA Class ahead of the 300-strong field which included a three-time-national champion from Spain.
He was very pleased with his performance.
“Competing at Jack Links was very exciting based off the size of the shoot and how many people attended. Jamaica was very well represented, so that was exciting. I’ve been to two Jack Link’s events before and I’ve been to the previously known Gator Cup three times, and I feel very good about my performance.”
Tavares-Finson became a standout shooter in Jamaica when he entered the A Class as the youngest to do so at just 14 years old. He is now 22.
Lazarus gave Jamaica its second podium finish when he won the D Class after shooting 218 out of 300 targets. He too was very pleased with his performance at the event.
“It was definitely a privilege to compete in the Jack Links this year. I am very grateful that I was able to make it, even more grateful that I was able to place in some events. Coming first in the main event was a big thing for me. Overall it’s definitely something I wouldn’t want to miss again and I can’t wait for the next Jack Links Cup.”
Lazarus has a rich history in the sport having followed in the footsteps of his late grandfather Errol Ziadie who was an accomplished sportsman and shooter.
There were other podium finishes for Jamaica including:
* Rajhir DaCosta who placed second in the A class with a score of 237 out of 300.
* Adam Vaz shot 227 out of 300 for third in C Class.
* Jake Therrien placed second in D Class with a score of 210 out of 300.
The Jamaicans now look forward to the upcoming overseas competitions such as the World English Sporting Clays. They will, however, be busy with several local events across the island prior to appearing on the international scene again.
