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| The USA Junior Air Rifle Team in uniform. |
Ten junior shooters from precision rifle clubs in Palmyra, Pennsylvania and Spokane, Washington represented the United States at the 12th Annual Junior International Match held at Bisley, England 10 – 13 August. The 6 females and 4 males, aged 13 to 18, had been among the top finishers at the junior championship hosted earlier in the year by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit. CPT David Woodard (OIC), MSG Martin Keller (NCOIC), and SFC Lydia Burnett (female chaperone)—all from the NGMTU—accompanied the team to the Lord Roberts Centre Ranges, Bisley Camp, Great Britain, where 125 competitors from the U.S., Denmark, Ireland, Malta, Germany, and South Africa met for this year’s matches.
The U. S. team was made up of the first and second place precision teams from the National Guard Junior Championship matches held in June at Camp Robinson. Representing the Palmyra Junior Rifle Team were Cody Rutter, Leslie Angeli , Kirsten Weiss, Brad Stepp and coach, Erin Gestl. Representing the Spokane Junior Rifle Club were Elisha Lafond, Eric McNett, Jettie Runkel, Keith McBeth, sisters Amanda and Lauren Furrer and coach, Mike Furrer. After the June competition the Palmyra and Spokane teams were merged to form the United States team.
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| The competition continues with the standing phase of the match. |
Sponsored by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit (NGMTU), this year’s U. S. Junior Team was the most successful of the past 3 years, and by the conclusion of shooting the U.S. had won 4 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.
The team participated in 3 disciplines, 10-meter air rifle, 50-meter 3-position small-bore and the 50-meter prone small-bore. It was the first year for the U. S. to participate in the small-bore events. According to rules governing the international matches, each team was composed of three shooters of the same gender; this year was the first time the U. S. fielded both male and female teams in individual and team events.
In the individual matches, an exciting competition unfolded in the 10-meter men’s air rifle competition when both Eric McNett and Cody Rutter of the United States made it to the final round, where Rutter’s score dropped, leaving Matthew Pill of Great Britain tied with McNett for second place. During an intense final shot, Pill broke the tie with a score of 8.6. McNett followed with a disappointing score of 8.2, which secured a third place finish for the U. S.
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| Shooters from the USA team compete in the prone position.
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In the women’s individual 50-meter 3-position air rifle matches, Kirsten Weiss proved to be a force that no other female shooter could reckon with. She blazed into the final round with a very comfortable 15-point lead over the second place finisher, Sian Corish from Great Britain, and posted 658.3 which was a personal best for Kirsten.
In the women’s team 50-meter 3-position competition, the United States grabbed both the gold and bronze medals. USA 1 (Kirsten Weiss, Lauren Furrer and Jettie Runkel) scored a total of 1645 to take first place, followed by a British team in second, then USA 2 (Amanda Furrer, Leslie Angeli and Elisha Lafond) in third.
The USA ran away from the pack in the junior men’s individual 50-meter 3-position air rifle event. Eric McNett posted an impressive final score of 1204 to take gold, and Cody Rutter posted a final score of 1193.1 to secure second place silver. Brad Stepp was not too far behind in the final with a score of 1179.4 and a fifth place finish.
In the men’s team 50-meter 3-position air rifle category, the U.S. team easily walked away with the Gold after posting a score of 3306. Great Britain’s team trailed in second with 3209 points.
In the junior women’s individual 10-meter air rifle division, Elisha Lafond, Lauren Furrer and Leslie Angeli made the final round. This division included some of the best shooters from all countries involved at the Bisley matches, and there were many suspenseful moments. At the conclusion of the match, Elisha Lafond posted a score of 484.9 to secure Bronze in the individual event. Lauren Furrer’s 481.6 earned her a fifth place finish, while Leslie Angeli posted a score of 477.5 for sixth place.
In the team competition for the 10-meter air rifle event, the USA 1 team (Elisha, Leslie and Kirsten) brought home the Bronze with a total score of 1128. USA 2 team came in fourth after shooting a total score of 1121.
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Recap of the U. S. teams’ performances:
Junior Men’s 50-meter 3-position smallbore:
First place: Eric McNett, Cody Rutter, Brad Stepp
Junior Women’s 50-meter 3-position smallbore:
First place: Kirsten Weiss, Lauren Furrer, Jettie Runkel
Third place: Amanda Furrer, Leslie Angeli, Elisha Lafond
Junior Men’s 10-meter air rifle:
Second place: Eric McNett, Cody Rutter, Brad Stepp
Junior Women’s 10-meter air rifle:
Third place: Elisha Lafond, Leslie Angeli, Kirsten Weiss
Recap of U. S. individual performances:
Junior Men’s 10-meter air rifle:
Third place: Eric McNett
Junior Men’s 50-meter 3-position smallbore:
First place: Eric McNett, Second place: Cody Rutter
Junior Women’s 50-meter 3-position smallbore:
First place: Kirsten Weiss
Junior Women’s 10-meter air rifle:
Third place: Elisha Lafond |
Several “personal best” scores were achieved during the competition this year. Lauren Furrer posted a 481.6 in the junior women’s air rifle final. Keith McBeth posted a 553 in the junior men’s air rifle. Brad Stepp achieved two personal bests by shooting 1088 in the junior men’s 3 x 40 and 1179.4 in the junior men’s 3 x 40 final. Kirsten Weiss also achieved two personal bests when she shot 567 in the junior women’s 3 x 20 and 658.3 in the junior women’s 3 x 20 final.
According to Captain David Woodard, Officer in Charge of the U. S. National Guard’s junior team at Bisley, “The way these young men and women represented the United States was admirable. Their professionalism and dedication to their sport at such young ages is truly remarkable.”
“If these young people are just a small sample of the youth in America today, we are doing things right! It is a tribute to the parents, coaches and communities of our great nation when these kids perform so well at these events. The National Guard was pleased to sponsor such a fine group of young American citizens.”
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