Camp Perry Huts
Yup, it’s hard to believe but it’s that time of year again! Team housing reservations for Camp Perry should be postmarked between March 1, 2010 and March 31, 2010. You can download all of the lodging forms you may need here==> 2010_Camp_Perry_Lodging (PDF, 57KB)
Your team housing reservation may also be made online at http://www.cplcc.com/nminfo.html. We expect the online reservation process will be available by March 1st.
American Burke falls short in biathlon
from Daily News Wire Services/Philadelphia Daily News
Tim Burke will go home empty-handed.
America’s best hope for a winner in biathlon at the Winter Olympics finished a disappointing 41st yesterday in the men’s 20-kilometer individual race in Whistler, British Columbia.
Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen denied countryman Ole Einar Bjoerndalen his sixth Olympic gold, beating his mentor.
Sergey Novikov, of Belarus, tied Bjoerndalen for the silver medal. This was the first tie for a medal since biathlon was added to the Winter Games 50 years ago.
Burke, of Paul Smiths, N.Y., missed five targets, including three on his final shoot, and finished 5 minutes back in what he figured was his last shot at a medal.
He said earlier in the week that he didn’t think he could contend in the mass start because he’s not skiing well enough right now.
Burke is the first U.S. biathlete ever to don the coveted yellow bib as the overall World Cup leader, and he was hailed as America’s best hope for a breakthrough at Vancouver in the sport that combines cross country skiing and rifle marksmanship.
But Burke was done in by a midrace snowstorm in the 10-kilometer sprint Sunday, which served as a double-whammy because the start times for Tuesday’s 12.5-kilometer pursuit were based on results from that first race. He finished in 47th in the first race and 46th in the second.
“It’s a disaster,” Burke said. “The sprint race was not fair, but today I did not succeed.”
American Jeremy Teela, of Heber City, Utah, was a late scratch because of sinus troubles. He was replaced by Wynn Roberts, of Battle Lake, Minn., who finished 10 1/2 minutes back, in 86th place, two from the bottom.
Norway’s Tora Berger won gold in the women’s 15-kilometer individual race. Elena Khrustaleva, of Kazakhstan, won silver, and Darya Domracheva, of Belarus, took bronze.
2009 Camp Perry Smallbore Prone Awards Ceremony. Photo by NRA Media Relations
We at pronematch.com really have no interest in becoming the smallbore fashion police…really we don’t. But, we’ve been a little surprised at some of the clothing that has found its way on stage at the National Match awards ceremonies over the last few years. Blue jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sneakers, and baseball caps are just a few of the articles of clothing that have graced the awards stage of Camp Perry past. All we can say is….seriously? The NRA provides instruction to shooters on attire in the National Match Program if you need a little guidance for this coming summer:
1A-17. HELP YOUR SPORT – WEAR PROPER ATTIRE:
In keeping with the tradition established by NRA in shooting events, and recognizing the publicity attracted by the National Championships, it is important to promote an acceptable image for competitive shooting. Attire worn during all phases of the Championships should be in good taste and appropriate to such a prestigious sporting event. Articles of clothing with controversial or offensive slogans or illustrations are prohibited. The Match Director is empowered to take whatever action is necessary to maintain acceptable clothing standards. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO WEAR PROPER ATTIRE WHEN RECEIVING AWARDS ON STAGE AT THE AWARDS CEREMONIES. AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR SLACKS AND A COAT FOR MEN, AND COMPARABLE APPROPRIATE ATTIRE FOR WOMEN.
We’ll end the rant here, but when you’re packing up your stuff for Camp Perry this summer (or any event with an awards ceremony) don’t forget to bring something nice to wear for when you go up on stage. If you’re not sure if you’ll be called up on stage, wear something nice anyways!
Oh and the ISSF had a detailed interpretation of their rule on shooter dress code posted on their website, if you’re interested.
Starter error frustrates biathletes, guardsman
By Lauren Gustus – Gannett News Service. Posted : Wednesday Feb 17, 2010 13:08:46 EST
Article originally posted in the Navy Times here.
WHISTLER, British Columbia — Biathlete Sgt. Jeremy Teela is a veteran of three Olympic Games and countless World Cups.
Still, he had never experienced a start like the one that unfolded during the men’s 12.5-kilometer pursuit Tuesday at Whistler Olympic Park.
Although he had earned the No. 9 position, Teela was pushed out of the gate too early and started ahead of the No. 8 skier.
“This never happens. I mean maybe some guy will get out a couple seconds early, but when they let you out a complete person ahead … that never happens,” Teela said.
In a pursuit race, athletes are staggered according to their finish in a previous race. Teela earned the No. 9 spot — best among the Americans — after he placed ninth in Sunday’s 10-kilometer sprint.
But an official at the start line yelled, “Go!” and Teela took off ahead of the No. 8 starter, Bjorn Ferry of Sweden.
“Teela was supposed to start after me,” said Ferry, whose time of 33 minutes, 38.4 seconds was good enough for the gold medal. “I saw [Austria’s Christoph] Sumann about to start and said, ‘Sumann, stop. You’re 12th, I’m 8th.’ It was strange. Some of them were 10 to 20 seconds off. That’s not good. I knew something was wrong.”
Canada’s Jean Philippe Leguellec was also forced to begin his race early. The two both had time — 22 seconds for Teela and 30 for Leguellec — added to their finish.
There were also problems with the start during the women’s pursuit earlier in the day.
“It just doesn’t feel right,” said U.S. coach Per Nilsson, who said that he’s never seen Olympic starts as poorly managed as they were Tuesday.
Neither Canada nor the U.S. made a formal complaint, in part because it was the starter — not their athletes — who was at fault. If it was a racer error at the start, the time penalty would have been more severe.
Teela, 33, realized there had been an error when he reached the shooting range in better position than he thought.
“I was bib 9, and I passed nobody on the course,” said Teela, who is a member of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. “That’s what I realized something was wrong.”
Teela had Team USA’s best finish, at 24th in 35:45.4. But he was frustrated with the starting-line mishap, which he said threw off his strategy because he thought he was racing head-to-head with medal contenders.
“It’s a real big bummer,” he said.
Teela was perfect in his first two shooting range stops — both prone — but missed two targets on each of his last two laps.
“We have a couple more races this week,” Teela said. “Hopefully the organizers figure this problem out and they make the races fair.”
You can check out Jeremy Teela’s blog at: http://www.jeremyteela.com/
TIME’s Sean Gregory gets a shooting lesson from U.S. Olympic favorite Tim Burke as he trains for the games in Vancouver.
by Hap Rocketto
In a article I wrote about National Records and mentioned how some were “good” and other were not. As you might imagine I have heard from a few folks who thought that I was playing a little fast and loose with the record program. That certainly was not my intent. Anyone who can shoot a score that is recognized at the national level has my greatest admiration.
The point I was trying to make is best illustrated by this incident, which sparked the article, in July of 1991. My National Guard Unit, The Connecticut Aviation Classification Activity Repair Depot, had just been released from Federal Service at the end of The Persian Gulf War. I was on terminal leave and entered the Metric Prone Regional. Circumstances were such that my last day of active duty with the US Army was the first day of the regional. NRA rules require that one shoot any multiple day matches in the status that existed on the first day of the tournament. Even though I was a Guardsman on the second day I was required to shoot the whole match in the Service Category.
As luck would have it there were several vacant records for the Service Category in the various metric courses of fire. I had not had a chance to train much since returning from Saudi Arabia, in fact I was just hoping I remembered to bring all of my gear to the range, and did not do as well as I would have wished. Neither did the youngster who was sharing my point. Towards the end of the second day we were sitting on the tailgate of my van commiserating with each other when a fellow All Guardsman ambled on up and proceeded to begin to gently needle me about my new National Records. I had no idea what he was talking about as the posted scores next to my name were certainly nowhere near National Record quality. He then explained my situation. At that moment my young shooting partner lost all sympathy for my plight. It took a few minutes for me to explain to him that the only reason I was being issued, note that I say issued rather than awarded or earned, a record certificate was because I happened to be in the right place at the right time. It was not being recognized for my shooting skill, or in this case lack of it, but rather being awarded a sort of grandiose certificate of attendance.
He was still a little skeptical. I then asked him what he planned to do with the match bulletin when it arrived. He said he would check it out and then probably toss it away. I suggested to him that I would like to do the same thing. It would, however, do me little good because the results would soon be published in the list of National Records and everyone I knew, once the poor scores were posted, would genially hector me. I was suffering from an embarrassment of riches. I’d be a fool not to take any National Record that strayed my way. But, there are no free lunches in this world and I knew that I would have to pay the price for backing into the four records that I established that weekend. My young friend seemed to understand and we were soon back on the tailgate talking about shooting.
The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the 26th interview in the series.
Where to you call home?
Cumberland, RI
How long have you been shooting?
My Grandfather bought me a Savage M-24 when I was twelve, which I used to plink and hunt with. I joined Stonybrook Rod & Gun Club in 1966 so I am enjoying my 44th year of competitive shooting
How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
I became friendly with someone in junior high school and his grandfather was president of a gun club. I joined and met Robert Hadley who became my coach and started me on my way. Bob was an excellent coach with tons of patience. He needed that to get me through knelling and standing. Whew!
What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
I used to be into buying and restoring old cars and trucks. I had 1957 Chevy in high school that I totally souped up with a Z-28 motor, 4-speed Muncie, and such. Oh the speeding tickets! Those where the days.
What do you consider your finest shooting achievement?
I think my first trip out to Camp Perry in 2005 to compete in the National High Power Rifle Championships where I came in 12th place.
What is your favorite pre-match meal?
Well I like to shoot on somewhat of an empty stomach. Although I found eating a couple RI Saugy’s before a match produces unusually high scores in the summer standing league.
What is your favorite post match drink?
With out a doubt that would be highly caffeinated coffee because I don’t have any before the match and a must after to avoid those nasty caffeine headaches.
Do you have a favorite shooting range?
It’s hard to pick a favorite range but the one they have at Reading is one of my favorites. Oh and New Hampshire is real nice, and Copicut, can’t forget South County, ahhh, you get the picture.
Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
Well the only goal I have is to try to have as much fun as I possibly can. You didn’t say it had to be a hard one!
What shooting skill are currently focusing your energy on?
I am working on offhand with my Elesio R-5 tube gun. I would like to pick up my average to place better in this year’s matches, especially Perry. I have been shooting in the winter league 200 yard standing matches at Old Colony Sportsman’s club with both irons and scope giving me 40 shots for record with the same rifle. That amount of trigger time is very important if I’m going to stay on my game. Although afterwards blasting away with my Sharps 45-70 might erase that gain, ya think?
Thanks Joe for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!
Biathlete Jeremy Teela. Photo by U.S. Navy Journalist 1st Class Preston Keres
Jeremy Teela placed 9th in the Men’s 10km Sprint, Sunday. The 9th place finish is the best finish by a US Biathlete in Olympic history. The next biathlon events are on Tuesday for the Men’s and Women’s Pursuit. You can view results and schedules here.
The 2010 Winter Olympics have arrived! Biathlon coverage starts right away on Saturday at 1pm with the Women’s 7.5km Sprint. For a compete schedule of Biathlon events you can go to the NBC Olympic page here.
We will be making some pronematch.com site updates over the next few days. We’re making some changes that we think you’ll like so please be patient as we make the updates.
from the NRA:
NRA Offers Adult 3-Position Air Rifle Shooting
NRA wants tournament sponsors to know that adults can participate in an NRA Open or NRA Invitational position air rifle tournament.
The air rifle is an excellent training tool for all shooters to move from air guns to the powdered guns. While not very well known, adults have always been allowed to shoot 3-position air rifle and the NRA is interested in expanding the program.
This year for the first time there is a NRA Open National Precision and Sporter Air Rifle Championship. Adults and juniors can compete together for national awards. The NRA Rifle Department is taking bids for the Precision and Sporter Sectionals now.
The NRA recognizes the growth in the air rifle community and wishes to offer competitive shooting events to those who have the desire to compete. A shooter can use the air gun as a development tool to other styles of shooting. The air rifle is a great gun for adults and juniors alike to learn the basics of shooting and a great tool in learning how to shoot.
For more information on sponsoring an NRA Position Air Gun tournament or for information on the new course of fire, please call Dian Bullock at (703) 267-1482 or contact by email, DBullock@ nrahq.org.
by Hap Rocketto
[Editor’s Note] This is a Gallery Match primer!
I have just arrived home after shooting the Connecticut Gallery Championship, a match I first shot as a high school freshman in 1962. Way back then The Gallery Match was the largest indoor match known to man. On two consecutive weekends sub-juniors, juniors and seniors fired some 3,000 sets of targets. Teams would come from all over the northeast to New Haven. The three ranges at the Old Winchester plant would be humming; kids would troop through the Winchester Firearms Museum, now located at The Cody Museum, and feast on the hot dogs and hamburgers in the Winchester Cafeteria. The high light for the youngsters would be the awarding of the Lyman Merit Medal to any kid who shot a 100 points or better. Each year you hoped to earn a bar that showed a higher per centage than the last. For many of us it was the first shooting award we would earn in match competition.
For those unfamiliar with this event, it is 20 shots for record, in four positions, in 25 minutes for juniors and adults and 20 shots prone for subbies. For many riflemen it is the most intimidating event of the year because the course of fire is so short that, while a good shooter has a good chance of winning, it is a crapshoot and any dark horse can, and has won. It takes a minimum score of 198 to be in the running and usually a 199 wins. There have been some possibles shot, the first and most of them by Freddy Cole. I have finished second four times in this match, twice with 199s and twice with 198s. There are those who feel that my karma at this match is just not good.
I opened well. I had five neat center shots that certainly would plug as “of higher value.” My first shot for record sitting was a pinwheel; I then tossed a wide nine at eleven o’clock. After gasping in amazement I settled myself, returned to the sighter and shot a ten, went back to record and shot another nine! I shrugged my shoulders, shot another ten in the sighter and finished with two more tens to record a 48 sitting. Continue reading
The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the 25th interview in the series.
Where do you call home?
I live in Glocester, Rhode Island which is in the northwest corner of the state.
How long have you been shooting?
I’ve had a lifelong interest with firearms and shooting. I received my first BB gun when I was seven so that would add up to 42 yrs. of shooting bliss. Presently I compete in three events prone and three position smallbore and highpower rifle Across The Course. I also shoot bullseye pistol.
How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
I never had the opportunity to shoot competitively as a junior. I started shooting highpower rifle on a team at the Rhode Island state range at Buck Hill in 1980 and about the same time joined the Smithfield Sportsmans Club smallbore rifle team for indoor 3P. I took a 15 year break from shooting to help my wife raise our two boys and started back up again in 2000.
What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
I was very active with boy scouts as a youth and I earned the rank of Eagle scout when I was 14.
What do you consider your finest shooting achievement?
I would have to say attaining high master classification in highpower rifle. I’ve never had any formal coaching and have been self taught for the most part. I finished 6Th overall in the CMP Springfield rifle match in 2007 at Camp Perry and have had many first and second place finishes in local matches.
What is your favorite pre-match meal?
A bowl of oatmeal and a banana and plenty of water.
What is your favorite post match drink?
A nice cup of hot coffee.
Do you have a favorite shooting range?
My favorite indoor/outdoor range would be the Smithfield Sportsmans Club in Smithfield, RI. I’ve done a lot of practicing there in the 30 years that I’ve been a member. I can’t leave out Camp Perry, the Mecca of the shooting community, as a favorite of mine also.
Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
My short term goal is to become distinguished in highpower rifle and to attain my master classification in both smallbore and pistol. Long term goal is to work on smallbore distinguished and compete regularly at Camp Perry.
What shooting skill are you currently focusing your energy on?
Presently I’m working on mastering the kneeling position in smallbore followed by working on my long range skills in highpower. Reading conditions can be challenging and costly at times.
Thanks Don for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!
New Hampshire held its 4-position sectional February third through the sixth. They had a great turnout with 16 competitors. Complete results can be downloaded below.
2010-nh-4p-sectional (PDF)
January Pickering Prone results are due February 5th! http://pronematch.com/pickering-postal/
by Hap Rocketto
Those who are familiar with Yankee Stadium know about Monument Park, a collection of monuments, plaques, and retired numbers honoring distinguished members of the New York Yankees. It was built during a renovation of “The House That Ruth Built” to contain the monuments, plaques, and flag pole which were originally in fair territory on the playing field.
It may the come as a surprise that there are plaques in that sacred Yankee Valhalla that honor three former Cardinals. The mystery deepens because the Yankees are in the American League and the Cardinals are in the National. Is it because the teams have met five times in World Series competition? As an off topic historical side light my uncle Harold, for who I am named, was the navigator of a B-17 bomber that buzzed Yankee Stadium during the 1943 series, flying so low that it was said the ‘Slats’ Marion, the Cards shortstop, could have reached up and caught it.
It is a trick question as the plaques memorialize the Masses celebrated at Yankee Stadium by Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI. All three men were Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church before being elevated to the Papacy.
This little bit of baseball arcanum, I dare not use the term trivia for, as George Will once wrote, “Nothing about baseball is trivial”, came to me over the airwaves as I listened to my favorite radio program, Car Talk, while driving to the Connecticut State NRA Three Position Championship. This little tidbit, mixed with the events of the day, got me to thinking about one of the great pitchers and characters in baseball’s vast cast of players. Continue reading
Smithfield Sportsman’s Club will be hosting the 2010 Rhode Island State Indoor 3-Position State Championship on March 27th and 28th. You can download the match program below:
The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the 24th interview in the series.
Where to you call home?
The range in Beachburg, Ontario but once in a while we come back to eat and sleep in Blackburn Hamlet.
How long have you been shooting?
Nicole has been shooting for over 28 years starting in the Army Cadets. Jacques has been shooting since he could walk but competitively for over 30 years.
How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
Nicole was shooting with the Army Cadets when she was first selected to represent Canada at the Bisley matches in England. Jacques first started with pistol shooting but soon found that shooting at 1000 yards was more fun. This was in 1994. Matches were a natural goal for the two of us because that is were you meet people.
What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
Nicole works as a gunsmith for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Jacques is totally in love with Nicole and they both enjoy nothing more than being together at a smallbore rifle match.
What do you consider your finest shooting achievement.
Nicole won the Alexander of Tunis Match shot at 1000 yards during the Canadian Nationals in 1988. Jacques won the Ontario Smallbore Provincial Match in 2004. Nicole and Jacques were both selected on the Canadian Team for the Pershing Match shot at Camp Perry in 2005. (This from Jacques: I can remember beating Nicole by 1 point during a 3200 in Schenectady, NY. A truly great achievement for me.)
What is your favorite pre-match meal?
Toast and eggs for breakfast.
What is your favorite post match drink?
Cappuccino coffee definitely.
Do you have a favorite shooting range?
Love the view in the Fall when shooting in Bell City, Connecticut.
Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
We both plan to shoot the Canadian Smallbore Championships in July followed by the Smallbore Nationals in Camp Perry. Should be a fun summer.
What shooting skill are you currently focusing your energy on?
Nicole is stuck between her studies at University, a full time job and shooting. Priorities are a bit like juggling right now. Jacques is recuperating from a bit of a health setback but getting stronger every day. Camp Perry would be fun to shoot this coming summer.
Thanks Jac and Nicole for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!
The 2010 Rhode Island NRA Metric Position Sectional
by Digby Hand
Nearly three dozen competitors converged on the Massasoit Gun Club for what they thought would be the 2010 Rhode Island NRA Three Position Sectional. In a period of change in the smallbore game they should have not been surprised to find that they actually were shooting the NRA Metric Position Sectional. The change would be no more than a case of semantics but for the fact that the NRA/USAS 50 target has replaced the old A-36 in this competition.
For many of the shooters it was their first look at the tougher target which has been a mainstay of collegiate and USA Shooting competition for some time. There is no such thing as “close enough” on the NRA/USAS 50, which is slightly smaller than the A-36. Scores have taken a bit of a dip because a bullet hole must obliterate the ten dot to earn the highest score. However, that didn’t seem to daunt anyone as they just tried harder.
The match started with 40 shots prone and of the 124 targets scored only eight were 100s, and two of those belonged to the prone match winner Hap Rocketto who opened with a pair of 99s and then parleyed them with a pair of cleans for the match winning score of 398-27. Hot on his heels was his former junior and now team mate Jenn Sloan who won the Expert class with a 395-17 just ahead of second Expert Alex Zadrozny’s 392-15.
Sharpshooter Kerry Lewis, who uses smallbore to keep her eye sharp for highpower, bested Mark Wujtewicz, of Quaker Hill, by a point 387-12 to 386-19. Nick Sautter, who just graduated from Grasso Tech and shot with their rifle team under Shawn Carpenter, was high Marksman with a 385-27. Hudson’s Mike Jylkka came in second shooting a 385-14 with Danni Makucevich, representing the Newport Club, firing a 380-11 for third.
It is often said that anyone can win a prone stage but position matches are won standing. Trying to overcome a less than satisfactory performance prone 2009 US Roberts Team member Kim Chrostowski lead the pack with a 372-7, fired with iron sights. Not giving her any breathing room Catherine Green was top Expert with a 371-5 and Megan Polonsky was right behind with a 369-5 for second Expert honors. Master Jessica Levine, while out of the money in the Master class, posted a third 369, hers with ten center shots.
Anthony “Too Tall” Squeglia broke into the money with a Sharpshooter class winning 354-3 and Jeff Caron picked up second in class with his 338-4. Sautter kept up the pressure among the Marksman by taking the class with a 354-5 to Martin MacKenzie’s second place 351-4 while Makucevich had her second third place finish with a 316.
With two of the three matches out of the way the leader board was shaping up as a real dogfight between two young iron sight shooters verses a pair of wily middle aged scope riflemen. Chrostowski held the lead with a 761. Behind her was her Roberts Team mate Rocketto at 753 just a whisker ahead of junior Brian Jylkka who had amassed 751 points with Erik Hoskins a bit further back at 746.
Kneeling would make or break the match. The first card saw Chrostowski give up a few of her hard earned points when she only managed a 92 to Rocketto’s 96, Jylkka’s 97, and a come from behind effort by Hoskins who shot a 98. Looking at the second target Chrostowski still held the lead by four points over Rocketto who was one in front of Jylkka and five ahead of Hoskins. With the second ten shot string Chrostowski’s lead evaporated when she could only muster a 90. Rocketto now was in the forefront with a 947 while Jylkka held on to second with 944 points, Hoskins still was mired in fourth with 20 shots to go.
The third string of kneeling saw things stay pretty much as they where. Chrostowski held on with a 93 to the other three, who all posted 94s. Ten shots to go and the match hung in the balance. The door was finally slammed shut on Chrostowski when she posted a 91. Her scores were consistent but just not high enough to overcome her prone deficient and points lost prone cannot be made up in the higher positions. Hoskins came through with a 97 to Rocketto and Jylkka’s 96s. The last target surge gave Hoskins the kneeling match, 384-13, by the slimmest of margins-four Xs. Rocketto dropped three points in his last two shots to end up with a 384-9. Jylkka was right behind with a 383-12.
In the Expert class Carpenter broke into the money with a 383-10 while Bob Lynn came in second when he posted a 371-9. Sharpshooter Joe Graf had a solid 375-6 to come out ahead of Squeglia’s 360-5. Sautter pulled off a hat trick by winning his third individual Expert match of the day shooting a 378-9, MacKenzie followed with a 365-6 and in third with a 364-7 was John Cialek.
The aggregate fell to Rocketto whose 1137-42 earned him the gold. Silver medalist Jylkka combined his three matches for an 1134-39 and Hoskins took home the bronze on the basis of his 1130-40.
Carpenter, Don Norris, Green and Polonsky had been going back and forth all day atop the Expert class. The men tied in prone with 391s and the girls were separated by a point at 385 and 384. While Polonsky and Green shot some of the best standing of the day Norris took Carpenter to school in standing opening an 18 point lead. But there was a change in fortune for Norris, Polonsky, and Green when Carpenter topped them all kneeling by 18, 27, and 26 points respectively. In the end all four shot an 1110! Carpenter had 30 center shots to Norris’ 29 while Polonsky poked out the center 22 times to Green’s 17. They hardly get any closer, and with a come from behind finish to boot: it was the most exciting contest of the day.
Squeglia had control of the Sharpshooter class after standing and held onto it handily with his 1096-21. Marksman standings were also fairly constant throughout the tournament. Sautter was never really challenged and neither was MacKenzie. However, Makucevich and Cialek battled it out all day with a strong kneeling, 364-7 bringing Cialek to the verge of slipping by Makucevich. In the end Makucevich held on to third by just thee centershots, 1051-13 to 1051-10.
Team competition saw six teams enter the paper match with Hudson Gold, Levine, Brian Jylkka, Polonsky, and Squeglia, winning with a combined score of 4458-112. In second place was Digby Hand Team Finney, Graf, Hoskins, Rocketto, and Sautter, who posted a 4456-143.
In the aftermath of the match there was some discussion as to what, if any, National Records might have been set because of the new target. With this match being the first of some dozen or so Metric Sectionals, the bulk being held in February and March, everything is open. In reality some of the scores shot this weekend will be superseded in the coming months so many of these shooters may earn National Records, be awarded a certificate, but never appear on the NRA website or on the printed record sheets sent out to match sponsors. Only time will tell.
While there are two other junior matches to be held at Massasoit this gallery season this was the last open match. Match Director Nicole Panko-who also provided the photograph for Hoskins and Rocketto for this article, Range Officer Brad Ellsworth, and Statistical Director Alyssa Mahan were ably assisted by Bob and Sarah Downing. Sarah, who is completing her senior year of nursing school at Salve Regina has been so consumed by her studies that shooting has been out of the question. She wanted to touch bases with her shooting cronies and so managed to cut out some time from her full schedule to help. She plans to return to the range on a regular basis after she graduates and completes her state boards in the spring.
All parties wish to thank the Massasoit Gun Club for its generosity. Hosting the winter match series is at some cost in both money and inconvenience to club members and the sacrifice for the good of shooting is appreciated by all who participate
Cumberland Beagle Club will be hosting the 2010 Rhode Island 4p Sectional this year on March 14th. You can download the match program below:
On this date in history, January 29, 1829, Timothy Pickering died in Salem Massachusetts and was interred in the Broad Street cemetery. Pickering, for whom the nation’s most prestigious indoor prone postal match is named was a Senator and a Representative from Massachusetts; born in Salem, Mass., July 17, 1745; attended the grammar school and graduated from Harvard College in 1763; clerk in the office of register of deeds in Salem; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1768 and commenced practice in Salem; selectman and assessor 1772-1777; member of Committee on State of Rights of Colonists 1773; member of Committee of Correspondence and Safety 1774-1775; held various local offices; elected to the State legislature in 1776; entered the Revolutionary Army as colonel; appointed adjutant general and elected as a member of Board of War in 1777; became Quartermaster General of the Army in 1780; moved to Philadelphia in 1785 and to Wyoming County, Pa., in 1787; member of the Pennsylvania State constitutional convention 1789-1790; special government agent on missions to the Indians; appointed Postmaster General in the administration of President George Washington in 1791, as Secretary of War in 1795, and as Secretary of State 1795-1800; returned to Massachusetts in 1802; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1802 to the Eighth Congress; appointed chief justice of court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace in 1802; elected to the United States Senate as a Federalist in 1803 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dwight Foster; reelected and served from March 4, 1803, to March 3, 1811; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1811; censured by the Senate in 1811 for breach of confidence; member of the executive council of Massachusetts 1812-1813; elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813-March 3, 1817); declined to run again; returned to his farm near Wenham, Mass.; returned to Salem in 1820; unsuccessful candidate for election to the Seventeenth Congress.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Don’t forget January Pickering Postal results are due February 5th. You can send them to hapATpronematch.com
