2014 Rhode Island Conventional Prone Championship and NRA Regional
by Digby Hand
Reigning Rhode Island Outdoor Three Position Champion Alex Muzzioli came out of the gate fast at 2014 Rhode Island Conventional Prone Championship and NRA Regional on June 22. Looking to become a rare single year double outdoor Rhode Island champion and the first junior to do so when he fired a metallic sight match winning 400-34X in the 50 yard match. He was three Xs ahead of Hap Rocketto, of Quaker Hill Rod and Gun Club, four up on Bay State Truck and Trailer’s Erik Hoskins, and seven over Hudson, New Hampshire’s Brian Jylkka.
Muzzioli, of the Newport Rifle Club, stumbled a bit after his clean at 50 yards facing the always difficult Meter target. Jylkka won the match with a 398-28X with Hoskins and Grasso Tech Rifle Coach Shawn Carpenter right behind, each with a 398-25X. Muzzioli was still in contention with a 397-27X while Rocketto spit the bit, dropping five points.
With the Dewar Match competitors were able to switch to any sights which 100% of the line did. Rocketto, a firm believer in the old aphorism “Where there is scope there is hope” lost no time in proving it true by pounding out a 200-19X at 50 yards to which he added a 200-15X at one hundred for a match winning score of 400-34X. The only clean score of the match changed the leader board with Rocketto jumping up to second place tie with Jylkka, five down, behind first place Hoskins who had lost four points the last two matches. Carpenter and Montville High School Rifle Coach Steve Rocketto were knotted at six down. Muzzioli, after cleaning 50 yards, had some trouble at 100 yards and was effectively knocked out of the grand aggregate.
With 40 shots any sights at 100 yards on a calm day it was Hoskins match to lose, and he did not, posting the only 400 at long range. Although out Xed by Hap Rocketto Hoskins held a single point advantage at the end of the day, good for the Gold medallion and a National Championship waiver. Rocketto came in second and, as the Ocean State restricts its titles to legal residents, he added the 2014 crown to his resume. Carpenter came back from a first card 199-13X to clean his second card at 100 yards bringing him with one point of Rocketto and the bronze medal.
Bob Lynn, Black Hawk Rifle Club, was the Master Class winner while Steve Rocketto bested the combined Expert/Sharpshooter class.
Joe Graff and Nicole Panko handled range and statistical duties at the event which was hosted by the Smithfield Sportsmans Club, Smithfield, RI.
2014-ri-conv-prone (PDF, 50KB)
