Back to First Shot Front Cover!   
CMP Home Page TFS Articles Archives CMP Competitions Home Page CMP Forum CMP Sales  AUGUST-2011

Click here to sign up to receive CMP Shooters' News Email Updates

Click here to go to the CMP Forum to read & post questions.


We want your feedback! Please let us know what you think about TFS. Do you have an interesting story or article that you would like to share? If so, please let us know!


Upcoming CMP Events:
Tuesday & Thursday Night Open Public Shooting
CMP Marksmanship Centers,
Port Clinton, OH
Anniston, AL
Shooters, including aspiring new shooters are invited to take advantage of a new opportunity to do practice shooting.  Both ranges consist of 80-point, 10-meter air gun range and are fully equipped with electronic targets that accommodate air rifle, air pistol or National Match Air Rifle shooting.  Instruction and equipment are also available.  Visit http://www.odcmp.com/
MarksmanshipCenters.htm for additional information.

 

CMP iPhone App - CMP is the official app for keeping score at Civilian Marksmanship Program sponsored shooting events. It features an easy to use interface that allows for quick recording of your score after each string. The CMP app calculates your shooting percentages automatically to let you know how you are doing throughout the event. You can also enter notes and record conditions so that you have a permanent record of details of each event.  This application is sponsored and endorsed by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this software are donated to the CMP.  The CMP app is designed for both the iPhone and iPad.  This application is sponsored and endorsed by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this software are donated to the CMP.  Visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cmp/
id379873392?mt=8# to view and purchase the CMP app.


 

Printable Version

Enthusiasm for Competitive Recreational Match Grows as National Rimfire Sporter Celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary

By Steve Cooper, CMP Writer


CAMP PERRY, OHIO – What started as an introductory recreational match in 2002, the National Rimfire Sporter Match is now bigger and better than ever following its 10th firing here Sunday, 24 July.
Saginaw, Michigan area residents Mike Mullally, 64, and his grandson, Briar, 14, enjoyed their second National Rimfire Sporter Championship and the father-daughter team of Donald LaBeff, 56, and Amanda LaBeff, 29, participated for the first time.

Since the John C. Garand Match had proven so successful in getting M1 Garand owners involved in fun-oriented target shooting competitions, the Civilian Marksmanship Program decided it was time to create a "Garand Match for Rimfires."

The new match was tested in Georgia in April 2002 which was followed by the first National Rimfire Sporter Match at the National Matches that year. Like today, the first match began with a clinic that covered safety and range procedures, course of fire and shooting techniques. Chief Range Officer Duane Tallman, of Jonesboro, Georgia was the first clinic instructor.
The Rimfire Sporter Match provides an excellent opportunity for families to come to the range where each member of the family can participate in recreational target shooting in a friendly, safe environment.

On July 20 of that year, 41 enthusiastic shooters participated in the first National Rimfire Sporter Match at Camp Perry on July 20. Russell Kapping of Buffalo Lake, Minnesota fired a 582 with a telescopic sight (T-Class), and Phil Croyle of Cleveland, Ohio fired a 529 in the O-Class (open sights). Kapping used a scope-sighted Ruger M10/22 semi-auto and Kapping fired a CZ-452 bolt action rifle. Overall, 10 shooters won gold achievement medals, two won silver medals and six won bronze.
CMP armorer Leon Rutherford, left, who works at the CMP South store in Anniston, Alabama, befriends Thomas Reed, 37, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Once the two got over being intrastate sports rivals, they took a few moments to have a friendly conversation about marksmanship.

In 2011 four relays with nearly 500 entries fired the match in the biggest turnout ever. Since the program’s inception, the CMP has tweaked the program, adding a Tactical Rimfire class and an Adult-Junior team element in 2010. Though some refinements to the course of fire have been made, the core purpose of introducing recreational competitors to a larger, family-oriented audience remains the same.
CMP North General Manager, Christie Sewell, presented special recognition certificates to shooters who have participated in all 10 National Rimfire Sporter Matches. From left, they are Keith Custard, Leo J. Sejnowski, Rex Walter, John Hojnacki and Ernest Oelker. Roger Wedge, who attended and fired in the 10th Anniversary match had to leave prior to the awards ceremony and is not pictured.

CMP gave special recognition to six shooters at this year’s National Matches who have participated in all 10 National Rimfire Sporter matches. They are: Ernest Oelker, 65, of Youngstown, Ohio; Leo Sejnowski, Jr., 64, of Eastlake, Ohio; Keith Custard, 60, of Beaver, Pennsylvania; Roger Wedge, 53, of Fostoria, Ohio; Rex Walter, 52, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania and John Hojnacki, 51, of Homerville, Ohio. Each 10th anniversary competitor was presented a commemorative certificate of appreciation.
Each of the six shooters who have participated in all 10 Rimfire Sporter matches received this certificate.

Mike Krites, 54, of Cridersville, Ohio, the 2010 Tactical Rimfire champion, was back for his fourth year of competition and came to the match with Dave May, 58, of Spencerville, Ohio who fired in his third Rimfire Sporter match this year.

Both shooters said they enjoyed their return to Camp Perry and agreed the match is great for bringing young shooters into the sport, citing that it is more laid back.

Krites plans to bring his son-in-law, currently serving the military in Iraq and his grandson to the matches next year.

“I really enjoy it – there’s no special equipment or reloading required and the volunteers who do the running around make this a good event,” he said.

Thomas Reed, 37, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, participated in his first rimfire sporter match and earned a bronze achievement medal.

“I was one point away from gold in practice, but it’s different up here,” he said. “I am thrilled to be here and I’m tickled with a bronze medal,” he said. “I’ve met the nicest bunch of people here and you get that feeling when you come into Camp Perry – it’s a rush,” he said.
Members of the Moraine Conservation and Sportsmen’s Association take a moment for a photo after receiving their team and individual awards. Their coach, Mike Ripley, is pictured second from the left in the front row.

Coach Mike Ripley, 44, of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and a dozen or so shooters from the Moraine Conservation and Sportsmen’s Association in Butler, PA, made the trip to the National Rimfire Sporter Match to help work on fundamentals and give their team the experience of shooting on a big range at a national event.

“It’s a great event – we’re meeting people from all over the U.S., including some friends we’ve made from Arizona and Iowa,” he said.
The Sandusky County Sportsman’s Club, Ohio, made their team debut at the National Rimfire Sporter Match in 2011. The team was easy to spot as they sported bright orange shirts that read “X-Ring Mafia” on their backs.

The Sandusky County Sportsman’s Club, Ohio, made their team debut at the National Rimfire Sporter Match in 2011. Sporting bright orange shirts that read “X-Ring Mafia”, its members came in from Gibsonburg, Bowling Green, Toledo and Rossford plus several communities in between. The club has more than 950 members says Mark Montgomery, competitions chairman.

For complete results of the 2011 National Rimfire Championship, log onto http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_matchResult.cgi?matchID=7138. To view photographs from the event, log onto our photo Web site at http://cmp1.zenfolio.com.
 
NEXT ARTICLE

Back to the Top


TO CONTACT THE CMP
PROGRAMS:  For marksmanship training, competitions, National Matches, safety information and youth marksmanship.

Email:  info@odcmp.com

Camp Perry Program Center
Phone: (419) 635-2141      Fax: (419) 635-2802

Mail & Shipping:
Civilian Marksmanship Program
P.O. Box 576 (mail)
Camp Perry Training Site, Bldg #3 (shipping)
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
SALES:  For government surplus rifles and ammunition, CMP products and CMP memorabilia. 

Email:  custserve@odcmp.com

Anniston Distribution Center
Phone: (256) 835-8455     Fax:  (256) 835-3527

Mail & Shipping:
Civilian Marksmanship Program
1401 Commerce Blvd
Anniston, Alabama 36207
Spam and Virus Filtering Provided byISP Services