Erik Hoskins going into the second stage of the Dewar match at the RI Metric Prone Regional. Erik went on to tie the National Record in this match with a 399-33x.
Dan Makucevich , 2009 RI Metric Prone State Champion.
RI Metric Regional and Prone Championship
By Digby Hand
For a serious shooter a rifle match usually brightens any day and, in spite of seemingly inevitable cloud cover of this dismal spring, a cheery group of prone shooters descended upon the Smithfield Sportsman’s Club for the 2009 Rhode Island Metric Regional and State Championship. Firing an aggregate of three matches, 40 shots at 50yards, a Dewar Course-20 shots at 50 yards and 20 shots at 100 yards, and a final 40 shots at 100 yards on the demanding international targets all of the competitors vied for Camp Perry vouchers, worth 50% of the National Championship entry fee, while the Rhode Island residents were in the hunt for various state titles.
The rustic covered Smithfield smallbore range provided the competitors with shelter from any rain which might appear. The relatively benign conditions, a very light switching wind and an overcast sky, allowed for the line to concentrate on shot execution more than condition doping, but woe betide the shooter who ignored a spinning windmill or the slight flick of a wind flag for the international target is not forgiving of errors.
Scopes adorned the rifles of almost all of the seniors and at least one of the Juniors. Jeff Doerschler, many times a national Champion in both individual and team competition, jumped out to an early lead in the 50 yard match with a 396-27X which was remarkable for its consistency, a pair of 198s. Sitting right behind him was Dan Holmes who shot a pair of 197s for a 394-23X as was Dan Makucevich and Intermediate junior Brian Jylkka with 393s. Right behind them was Massachusetts veteran Chuck Cannon, Chet Ruscio-Jeff Doerschler’s running mate, and Rhode Island’s venerable smallbore rifleman, Hap Rocketto.
With the start of the Dewar match Erik Hoskins began his play. Coming back from a mediocre 390 in the first event he posted a near perfect 200-17X in the first stage at 50 yards. The second stage is at 100 yards with a one inch ten ring and it is here that the rubber meets the road. Hoskins cleaned his first bull and leaked one out a for a 199-16X. He won the match handily. The member of the Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame added one more line to his shooting resume by tying the National Record for this event set in 1991. Jylkka, who elected to shoot in the open class with a scope, was second with a 394-26X while Holmes cruised into third posting a 393-18X. While Jylkka was in firm control of the junior category the regional winner was shaping up as a race between Hoskins-down 11, Makucevich-down 14, and Doerschler-down 16, going into the last 40 shots, not a large margin on the metric target, scope shooting or not.
On the first stage of the last match Makucevich took the lead by shooting a 196 to Doerschler’s 196 and Hoskins 192. Hoskins recovered his magic from the Dewar and shot a 200-11X to cinch the match as Doerschler posted a 197 to Makucevich’s 194-9X. Doerschler actually won the 100 yard match by a point over Hoskins, 393-20X to 392-17X while Ruscio finished third with a 392-21X.
Hoskins’ 1181-72X gave him the gold medal a Perry voucher, Doerschler’s 100 yard score allowed him to slip by Makucevich by a single point, 1177-63X to 1176-60X for silver and bronze respectively. Jylkka took junior honors going away with an 1174-61X. High senior honors went to Cannon who worked hard for his 1167-51X.
Holmes took expert honors; Ruscio was high sharpshooter, while Jessica Levin was high marksman. Brad Driscoll was best in the junior category; Mike Burzynski topped the intermediate juniors while Michele and Danielle Makucevich were high lady and sub junior respectively.
Both Rhode Island state championships as well as a matching pair of Robert Lee Hadley, Sr. Trophy Cups, emblematic of the titles, went home in Makucevich family van, Dan as open winner and daughter Danielle as junior titlist.
Complete results below:
2009_ri_metric_prone_regional
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