by Tommy Steadman
The field of 15 was a little lean for a state championship, probably because of UGA football and the start of bow season. But the weather was bright and pleasant all weekend and, as far as I could tell, everyone had a good time. A stiff wind kicked-up by mid-morning both days dampening the scores and X-counts somewhat but resulted in an exciting shootout between the top five shooters – Steve Hardin, Don Greene, Ed Foley, Eric Uptagrafft and Mike Carter.
When it was all over, 2011 US Palma Team member and current River Bend Gun Club president Steve Hardin emerged as iron sight champion, any sight champion and match winner with 3193-226x. RBGC member and 3-time Georgia state champion Don Greene was runner-up and High Master with 3190-235x . Tennessean and former USMC service rifle team member Ed Foley was 3rd with 3190-224x.
Larry Sollars, 3182-194x, was 1st Expert and Michael Encinas, 3175-167x, was 2nd Expert. Austin Fletcher, an intermediate Ormond Beach, FL, was the only junior entered and his solid score of 3173-184x earned him a bronze medal for 3rd Expert
Sandra Uptagrafft, member of the 2012 US Olympic Team (Women’s 10 Meter Air Pistol and Women’s 25 Meter Sport Pistol) and wife of Eric Uptagrafft, shot an unsanctioned but regulation NRA F-class course of fire. Sandra shot well and appeared to enjoy her rifle experience and the precision and high scores and x-count relative to pistol.
Judge Jim Hinkle was CRO and called the match, David Dye was chief scorer and yours truly served as statistical officer in the absence of my bride, Linda. Dennis Lindenbaum withdrew from competition after the iron sight championship and graciously returned today to lend his scoring talents and complete his duty as Jury Chairman (other jury members included Dave Rabin and Mike Carter).
There are just four more smallbore rifle prone match dates remaining in RBGC’s 2014 season. 200-yard 3X200 matches on October 4 and November 1 and NRA sanctioned (Approved) metric 1200’s on October 18 and November 15. Contact Doug McNash (200yardrimfire@rbgc.org) for information about the 3X200 prone matches. Requests for information about NRA smallbore rifle prone matches at RGBC can be directed to me at smallbore@rbgc.org.
2014-ga-conv-state-championship (PDF, 15KB)
Tommy,
Thank you for a great 2 day match. Learned a lot about that RBGC wind!
Best,
Bob