submitted by Debbie Lyman
Wallingford winds were whipping the whirling blades on the wind flags on Saturday, June 6, but 15-year old Lillian Davenport, Metacon Rod & Gun Club Junior Rifle Club, just tightened her sling and fired her shots off as fast as she could load the bullets. Her strategy landed her the win for the metallic sight aggregate with a final score of 1577-80x. Also having 80x, but trailing her by five points, was Blue Trail Range Junior Rifle Club’s (BTR JRC) Michael Acampora, garnering him 1st Master/Expert. Three x’s behind Michael was Eric Sloan for the third highest score of the day. Veteran Leonard Remaly, from Massachusetts, fired a fine 1569 for 4th. Finally, Katlyn Kutz, Cos Cob Revolver & Rifle Club was next in line with her 1566-62x which netted her 1st Sharpshooter/Marksman. In the individual matches, the guys and gals split the prizes. The boys, Eric & Michael won the Dewar and 100 Yard matches, respectively, while Lillian and New Hampshire’s Bailey Urbach won the shorter distances in the Metric and 50 yard matches (in that order). In spite of the tricky wind conditions, the day was a gorgeous one and not many parents were seen moving too fast out of their lawn chairs to pack up for the day.
Sunday morning, while the scopes were mounted on rifles, the sun rose over the Quinnipiac Valley mountain ridge to present the shooters with a nice still morning for their first match of the day; the Dewar Course. 72% of the scores were in the 90’s with quiet Sophia Cuozzo, Stratford PAL, showing everyone how it was done by posting a 399-25x. She had just been out to the range to shoot Thursday’s Midnite Moonlite match to match sights to her gun, proving that “practice does make perfect”, and that the league is a perfect training venue. As the Seniors walked back to the firing line, you could hear them muttering that something had to change; these young kids just couldn’t keep on winning these individual matches. So, now it was time to shoot at 100 yards, and years of experience at shooting at long distances and reading different wind conditions at the firing line and down range paid off. When the match was over, veteran Craig Samuelson, Easton, CT, posted a 400-23x for the win; the only 400 for the match. The next match, the Metric, went back to the Juniors as Eric Sloan posted the only 400. The final match of the day, 50 yards remained with the seniors, but this time the laurels return to Leonard Remaly with his 400-35x. Firing their first 400’s in a match were Emma Acampora (1st Sharpshooter with 30 x’s) and Dylan Lorence with 28 x’s (I don’t think catching a whopper of a fish on his dad’s boat matched as wide of a grin as him picking up his Eley cartridges from the match). Emma just took her first 400 in stride as that’s just the way she handles things. “No big deal” … “it’s only going to happen again and again, now” … “old hat” … “watch out brother Michael, now that I’ve done it once, it’s all over”. Oh, and yes, brother, Michael fired a 400 as well for 1st Master/Expert. Sophia Cuozzo, as quiet as Emma, joined the five-person group with 25x’s. And speaking of quiet girls – Sophia ended up with the 2nd highest aggregate of the day with her 1596, just losing to veteran Any Sight Match Winner Craig Samuelson by one point. Thank heavens someone can beat the kids! Not to be outdone, Kaitlyn Kutz also fired a personal best Regional of 1589 for 1st Marksman and Eric Sloan won 1st Master/Expert with a 1594.
When it came time to look at the two-day aggregate, the scores showed just how tough the conditions were. Most of the same competitors at the top of the leader board in 2014 were at the match this year, but last year’s event was won by TCU MIA Claudia Duksa with a 3198. This year, Murray State-bound Eric Sloan’s fortitude at not giving up and strength of mind to continue to work with the wind, netted him the two-day Match Winner Gold Medallion and Camp Perry (Bristol, IN) waiver, firing a 3166-185x. Following two points behind was Michael Acampora for High Junior, posting a 3164, and 3rd highest score went to Len Remaly (3162). Sophia, who should be a great contender at the nationals this year and good candidate for the Women’s Randle team posted a 3156 (a personal best as well to lsat year’s score of 3143) for 1st Sharpshooter/Marksman.
The best accolade for the day, though, was when Mr. Pasko was given the “hero’s cheer” for finding Lillian’s custom-molded ear plugs out at the 100 yard line. It took him two trips out to the targets during cease fires, but his determination paid off, much to Lillian’s gratitude. Perhaps all juniors witnessing the event will now add “leave ear plugs on firing line before going down range to change targets” to their diary?
Complete results are posted on the Blue Trail Range website at http://bluetrailrange.com/match-results/ where programs for upcoming events are also be posted [including the Nutmeg State Games for this weekend–email Deb at nra.cmp@gmail.com–if you haven’t done so already–to sign-up for the Nutmeg State Games (June 11 & 12—Air Gun, June 13 3Pos; and June 14 Prone)]. And, then the 3-Position Regional follows on Jun 20 & 21.
2015-ct-prone-regional (PDF, 101KB)
