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SAFETY

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is dedicated to the respect for and safe handling of firearms, instilling patriotism and discipline in our youth participants.  The CMP provides its constituents with the highest level of instruction in the proper control of firearms by highly-skilled coaches and veteran range safety officers in the classroom, at our ranges and wherever the CMP banner is displayed. 

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.TheCMP.org/3P/
MarksmanshipCenters.htm  for additional information.



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CMP Applications & Software

The CMP currently offers three Apps for shooting sports. Each download supports the Civilian Marksmanship Program. For more information, visit http://www.thecmp.org/
Comm/Apps.htm
.


Please note the changes for the 2014 National Match Schedule posted at http://www.thecmp.org/nm/
2014nmcalendar.pdf
.

 

 Photos may be downloaded or ordered on our website at http://cmp1.zenfolio.com/.




Printable Version

Sollars Fires Record-Breaking Score in Popular John C. Garand Match

By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer/Editor


 

CAMP PERRY, OH – Through the rainy mist of July 19, a swarm of 1,080 competitors fired in the As-Issued John C. Garand Match at the 2014 National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry. Though marksmen fought through foggy glasses and wet triggers during the rainy morning, the soggy weather eventually subsided to clear skies to the always-eager Garand crowd.

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Soggy weather put a damper on the early relays of the Garand match, but competitors and spectators still managed to find their ways to the Camp Perry ranges.

Milton Beckwith, 89, of Wethersfield, CT, still managed to find his way to the firing line, even through the rain. Beckman has been attending the National Matches at Camp Perry since 1954. Then, he was a talented pistol shooter – earning his Distinguished Pistol badge in 1969.

As he grew older, his shoulder began to hurt, and he could no longer hold the pistol out in front of him. That’s when he switched to rifle. Now, he still finds time to shoot every week at the Fin, Fur and Feather Club in Chaplin, CT.

“I just like to shoot,” said Beckwith, with a smile.

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Jason Kozora and his step-dad, Craig Downing, built the M1 Garand Kozora used during the match. The two have built around 20 rifles together.

His wife, Connie, 86, wasn’t thrilled about the idea of her husband making the trip all the way to Camp Perry for the 60th year, but, according to him, it’s the only time of year she can get anything done.

“She likes to get rid of me. She has things around the house that I won’t let be done – things painted this color or that color. So while I’m away, that happens,” he joked. 

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Milton Beckwith, 89, has been coming to Camp Perry since 1954. With the help of members of his home shooting club in Connecticut, he still manages to make the trip to the National Matches every year.

Jason Kozora, 28, of Columbus, OH, and his step-dad, Craig Downing, 50, of Cleveland, OH, built the M1 he fired in the match from a CMP barrel and receiver and other pieces and parts. Together, the pair has constructed about 20 rifles together. The M1 Garand took nearly 2 years to build.

“It’s just something I enjoy doing,” said Kozora. “I’d rather be doing this than work.”

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Milton Beckwith still found his way to the firing line, even through the rain. As chance would have it, 89-year-old Beckwith was assigned to firing point 89 during the Garand Match.

Competitors in the National John C. Garand Match fire “as-issued” U.S. M1 Garands through a Course of Fire that is designed in a way that allows experienced and inexperienced marksmen to easily complete. Because of this, the match attracts a large number of recreation-oriented shooters to enjoy a day of camaraderie, history and competition.

Winning the overall match was Larry Sollars, 43, of Cumming, GA. Sollars also set a new record for the event, with a score of 293-9x. The previous record of 293-6x was fired by Kurt Palmer in 2009.

“I was shocked,” Sollars said. “I knew the score was good when I finished, but I didn’t think it was a match winner. I thought surely someone would shoot better.”

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Competitors in the John C. Garand Match fire “as-issued” U.S. M1 Garands through a course of fire that is easily completed by both new and experienced marksmen.

Sollars and his friends were out eating lunch after the match when the group informed him that he was actually in first place. After that, he started to keep an eye on Competition Tracker throughout the day.

“Late in the day, I finally realized that it was a new record too. It was incredible,” he said.

Though he earned his name in the record books, it almost wasn’t meant to be. Sollars wasn’t even going to shoot in the match, but his friend, Ben Franklin, 56, of Woodstock, GA, convinced Sollars that he should, since he happened to arrive to his hotel a day early and had nothing to do.

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Over 1,000 competitors arrived in the wet conditions on July 19 to fire in the always-popular John C. Garand Match.

“When he saw the rain outside, he was quick to point out that it was my idea to shoot the match,” Franklin joked. “But it cleared up as soon as we started. He really owes his win to me.”

Proving his skill with a Garand, Sollars has advice for anyone else looking to master any CMP Games Match.

“Come out to shoot and have a good time. Don’t set your expectations out of sight. Just shoot your scores. Shoot your game. It helps relieve some of the pressure. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” he said.

Coming in second place in the match and winning the High Senior Award was Robert Steketee, 64, of Haslett, MI, with a score of 292-11x. Kenneth Davis, 60, of Lucasville, OH, followed closely in third with a score of 292-8x. Robert Hudson II, of Halifax, VA, was the High Junior with a score of 285-8X.

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Larry Sollars was the overall winner during the Garand Match. He also recorded a new match record, with his score of 293-9x.

New this year was the Grand Senior Award awarded to the high competitor (70+). Of the 68 competitors that were 70+, Michael Jozefov Jr. of Brunswick, OH, earned top honors firing a 278-4X.

For more information on the John C. Garand Match and other National Rifle Matches, visit http://www.thecmp.org/NM/Rifle.htm. Results can be viewed at https://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&match=11024. Photos of the match can also be found at cmp1.zenfolio.com/.

 

 



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

Email:  info@thecmp.org

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@thecmp.org

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

Mail & Shipping:
Civilian Marksmanship Program
1401 Commerce Blvd
Anniston, Alabama 36207
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