The 2010 Middlebury Junior Rifle Match
by Digby Hand
One of Connecticut’s classic junior matches is contested on a four point range in the basement of a church in Middlebury the first weekend of each January. The 31st Middlebury Junior Rifle Match was marked by cold weather, hot chili dogs, and tough competition.
This year 57 juniors from Blue Trail, North Haven High School, Quaker Hill Rod and Gun Club, Stratford Police Athletic league, Grasso Technical High School, Niantic Sportsmen’s Club, Xavier High School, Metacon, Middletown, and Middlefield packed the church as they worshipped at the alter of the tight hold and easy squeeze.
Shooting a three position quarter course on the A36 target Blue Trail’s Lenny Smittner opened with a clean prone-the only one shot at the match, followed it with a 99 kneeling, and slammed the door shut on the competition with a 90 standing for a match winning 289 which garnered him a trophy plate. Hard on his heels was team mate Jake Costa whose 99, 97, and 89 earned him a second place mug. North Haven’s Matt Buechele slipped in for third with a 279, creedmooring Remington Lyman of Blue Trail, and preventing a top four sweep by that club. Tom Stanley, of Blue Trail was fifth with a 277 and took home a medal.
Emily Britt, of Quaker Hill was just out of the money by a point but she was the only person to tie Smittner in any individual event when she posted a 90 kneeling.
The Lewis Awards System saw the top five presented with mementos while every tenth place after revived a medal. Those award winners were, in order, SPAL’s Amy McDonnell, Drew Denno from Niantic, Paige Aureila of SPAL, Metacon’s Sam McAdoo, Aaron Knoll of Grasso Tech, Andrew Baldwin from Middlefield, Miranda Jurra of Metacon, Niantic’s Tim Buckley, Tyler McDonough representing North Haven, and Don Stephens from Middletown.
The extensive Gilnack/Fecteau Clan saw to the running of the match from entry, to range control, to scoring, to feeding. Paul and Barbara Gilnack Fecteau and Ralph Gilnack have maintained a tradition of efficiency and hospitality unmatched for over three decades.
I read this article and wondered if the Mr. Gilnack was still active in the sport. He coached me in the late 1980’s when I was also shooting for the Crosby High School Rifle Team. I also shot some matches with him after I was no longer a junior class shooter. The Middlebury Rifle Club was a very rewarding experience and I would like to know if they are still shooting. Steven Pape
Steve,
Ralph Gilnack is still alive and kicking. He is not shooting as he has had some health issues which have slowed him down.
He is one of the grand old men of the game. I have known him for about 35 years. His daughter Barbara is married to Paul Fecteau and they are keeping the Middlebury club active and the match still goes one under their direction.
Regards,
Hap
This is very fascinating, You are an excessively skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look ahead to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your website in
my social networks
My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on
several websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another
platform. I have heard good things about blogengine.
net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress content into it?
Any help would be really appreciated!