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 21st interview in the series.
Rich Girvin
Where do you call home?
I am a life long resident of Holliston, MA, a small town about 20 miles southwest of Boston.
How long have you been shooting?
I have been shooting off and on for more than forty years. I started shooting 4 position smallbore rifle in 1963. I was fairly active as a junior from 1963 to 1967. I was away from the shooting sports completely from ’67 to ’78. I returned to smallbore briefly around 1979 practicing and competing in a few matches. By 1981 I had gotten away from smallbore again. I remained active in the shooting sports with trap, and target pistol. I came back to smallbore in 2002 as a junior club coach. I started shooting again in 2007 when the Thursday night Hopkinton Prone Match series started.
How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
As a junior, the club I was in ran indoor 4P club matches. We had home and away matches with a couple of other local clubs. South Natick and Hopedale are two that I remember.
What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
I have been happily married to my wife Debbie for 38 years. We have three adult children, and one grandson.
What do you consider your finest shooting achievement.
Coaching juniors.
What is your favorite pre-match meal?
A Cliff bar, and water.
What is your favorite post match drink?
Water first. Then a cold beer.
Do you have a favorite shooting range?
The indoor range at MIT used to be a favorite. It’s just cool that a shooting range even exists in the Peoples Republic of Cambridge. Outdoors the 100 yard range at Hopkinton for convenience and camaraderie.
Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
In the short term I am working on stock modifications that I hope will bring me a more comfortable position. The long term goal is to continue to promote the smallbore sport and have some fun doing it.
What shooting skill are currently focusing your energy on?
I am trying to find an iron sight system to accommodate my changing eye-sight. I am sort of focusing on … focusing.
Thanks Rich for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!
