Sean Clacken joined forces with Jamaica Skeet Club members and some generous sponsors to stage a successful Charity Sporting Clays Tournament, raising $1 million for Tashana Easy, who needed urgent eye surgery to restore her rapidly deteriorating vision.

The charity tournament held recently at the Jamaica Skeet Club’s base in Portmore, St Catherine, was supported by several of the island’s top gunners. All the proceeds from the tournament will go towards the 18-year-old’s bill of $2.8m for the life-changing corneal transplant, and follow-up medical care.

Clacken further indicated that the full amount needed to cover the total bill has now been realised and that surgery will be conducted soon.

“This was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, the participants and to all those who gave donations to make this event a success,” said Clacken. “The total cost of the surgery and treatment is two million eight hundred thousand dollars, and all proceeds raised will go directly toward this.”

Easy, who is currently studying Hospitality at the HEART/NSTA Trust, has been suffering blurred and limited vision and requires a corneal transplant.

The main sponsors who supported the cause included Geddes Refrigeration, Hawkeye Security, Dr Glass Limited, Imperial Optical and the Jamaica Skeet Club. Several of the other sponsors who contributed generously to the cause were Loshusan Group, Amzoil, Proforma Marketing, Matt’s Cycle Rack and Sagicor Bank.

Former national shotgun champion Chad Ziadie topped the tournament after picking off 89 out of a possible 100 birds, while runner-up Bruce DuQuesnay was just one shot behind on 88.

The A Class shooters battled for top honours with Ryan Chen winning the class by way of ‘long run’ after shooting 86, the same as second place Bobby Chung. Former Jamaica Skeet Club president and nine-time national shotgun champion Ian Banks grabbed third place with a score of 85   

Winston Quest 82 was the B Class winner, while Stephen McConnell popped 85 birds for first place in C Class. Max Williams’ 81 was good enough for D Class winner. Denzil Dixon, 71, was E Class first. Sheldon Carter, 63, was the Hunters or Beginners Class winner. Alyssa Moo Young, 50, topped the Ladies Class, while David Wong, 84, was Juniors First and Blake Cooper, 67, was the Sub Juniors winner.