[EDITOR’S NOTE] This writeup from Paul Nordquist adds some additional information about the Manassas regional originally reported by Bill Neff here on September 7th.
Smallbore Prone Regional-Manassas, VA-Sept 3-4, 2011
submitted by Paul Nordquist
A wise observer of the entry list for the Labor Day Smallbore Prone Regional at the Fairfax Rod & Gun Club would probably have predicted a close contest between former national champions Bill Neff (from Parsippany, NJ) and Dave Cramer (from Aliquippa, PA). And that is just the way it worked out.
Bill got off to a good start on iron-sight day losing his only points in the meter match while Dave lost a pair in the meter and, unusually, one in the 50 yard match. Bill Neff’s 1598-112X was high in the field on iron sight day with Dave Cramer right behind with 1597-130X.
On any-sight day Cramer held very tightly and stayed clean on points with a very healthy X-count in each match. His total for the day was a superb 1600-152X—good for a new Senior National Record; his 400-39X in the 100 yard match was also a new Senior National Record. Dave Cramer’s Grand Aggregate score, 3197-282X held up to top Bill Neff’s 3196-243X.
In third place in the Grand Aggregate was Chris Beal from Lewis Center, OH, with a solid 3189-228X. His father, Alan Beal, was a point behind him at 3188-217X and was high in the Expert Class.
High Master was Ben Feck, Sykesville, MD, with 3086-86X.
Robinson High School (in Fairfax, VA) rifle team member Billy Di Silvio was high Sharpshooter with a 3187-210X. With a Master class score like that it’s likely that Billy’s days in the Sharpshooter class are numbered.
It was gratifying to see the Marksman class as the largest entry class in the match. Most of them came from the Robinson High School team, the Arlington Rifle Club junior team (from suburban Baltimore, MD) and from the King George (VA) 4-H Rifle Club; their presence was welcome indeed. High in the Marksman Class was Billy Marciniak from Sewaren, NJ with a very nice 3175-209X.
Dave Cramer remains one of the most versatile riflemen in American shooting; from Intercollegiate All-American (at Indiana University of Pennsylvania) to winning the National Indoor Championship (twice) and the National Trophy Individual Championship in high power at Camp Perry to multiple Dewar Team memberships and the winning of the Gates, Tomsen, Plimpton, Sam Bond and Black Hawk smallbore trophies at Perry he has compiled a record of excellence rarely approached in our sport. His Smallbore Prone Regional win is just the latest in an illustrious series of accomplishments.
