The First Shot Archives

Listed By Date   

2014      2013      2012    2011      2010      2009      2008      2007      2006      2005      2004      2003      2002      2001 

December 2012

Grabowski and Cress Win Individual Championships at 2012 Gary Anderson Invitational 3P Air Rifle Event

ANNISTON, AL & CAMP PERRY, OH – Ariana Grabowski, 17, of Altoona, PA, won the 2012 Gary Anderson Invitational (GAI) precision air rifle class competition and Jacob Cress, 16, of Winthrop Harbor, IL, was the winner of the sporter division in the three-position match held simultaneously at the CMP’s twin marksmanship centers in Alabama and Ohio on 1 December. Grabowski qualified with a 60-shot score of 591 and finished with 690.4 aggregate points to outlast Benjamin Estes, 17, of Ozark, MO, who claimed second place with a combined qualification and final score of 687.1. Estes fired the high final score of the precision class (102.1), but came up three points shy of Grabowski.

November 2012

Christenson and Gratz Shine in Air Rifle as Brown and Pierson Win Air Pistol at Anniston’s Dixie Double

ANNISTON, AL – Dempster Christenson, 22, of Sioux Falls, SD, grabbed the early lead in the open division of the fourth annual Dixie Double and never looked back, winning by 16 points over the next closest open division competitor, SPC Erin Lorenzen, U.S. Army. Elizabeth Gratz, 16, of Sigel, IL, won the junior division, leading both days and scoring high enough to place second among junior AND open shooters, which included a field of notable U.S. and international competitors.

USA Shooting President and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Gary Anderson Receives IOC's Olympic Order

USA Shooting President and two-time Olympic gold medalist Gary Anderson (Oak Harbor, Ohio) was awarded the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Order on Thursday. International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) President and IOC member Olegario Vazquez Raña had the honor to award the IOC Olympic Order to Anderson during ISSF Meetings taking place in Alcapulco, Mexico, on behalf of IOC President Jacques Rogge.

Western CMP Games Heat Up after Cool Start in Phoenix

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Several new shooters attended the ninth annual Western CMP Games at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, 13-16 October, helping boost the total number of games entries to 521 compared to 495 last year. The fast-growing Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match helped swell the numbers, growing by an additional14 teams to a total of 40 compared to 2011.

October 2012

In Plain Sight

Some injuries or disabilities are invisible to the naked eye, but are as real as missing an arm or leg. I have been fortunate and proud to say I have met one such individual who has had to deal with not one, but two limitations most of his life. I call them limitations and not disabilities because he works hard every day of his life to overcome and surpass these limitations.

CMP Offers $1,000 Scholarships to Qualified High School Students Participating in Marksmanship

CAMP PERRY, OHIO - The Civilian Marksmanship Program is taking applications for its $1,000 annual college scholarship program, available to all graduating high school seniors who participate in rifle or pistol marksmanship competitions. Last year the CMP awarded 59 scholarships to non-JROTC students. It was the first year of the CMP’s expanded scholarship outreach program.

September 2012

New Three-Position Air Rifle Rules Released

The 9th edition of the National Standard Three-Position Air Rifle Rules has just been released. The National Three-Position Air Rifle Council whose members include The American Legion, BSA, CMP, the Daisy-US Jaycee Shooter Education Program, 4-H Shooting Sports, USA Shooting and the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force JROTC Commands, issues a new rulebook to govern three-position air rifle shooting in the USA every two years. The new 2012-2014 rulebook goes into effect immediately. The new rulebook can be downloaded from the CMP website at http://publ.com/BUSpRxp or http://www.thecmp.org/3P/Rules.pdf

Registration Now Open for NMAR and Sporter Matches in November at the CMP Marksmanship Center

CAMP PERRY, OHIO - The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites you to join us in firing the NMAR (National Match Air Rifle) Match in the fall 2012 season on Saturday, 3 November. The competition will feature a full 3X20 National Match course for advanced shooters and a half course 3X10 Sporter-Garand event for new or inexperienced shooters.

Civilian Marksmanship Program Announces Plans to Build Multi-Phase Outdoor Marksmanship Facility in Talladega County, Alabama

ANNISTON, ALABAMA – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is pleased to announce it has completed the purchase of approximately 500 acres of wooded property in Talladega County, Alabama, for the purpose of building a new CMP Outdoor Marksmanship Facility. The multi-phase, multi-year project will assist the CMP in carrying out its mission to promote firearm safety and marksmanship skills to U.S. citizens, with an emphasis on youth, near its CMP South facilities.

2012 Small Arms Firing School Brings Rookies and Veterans Together to Improve Marksmanship Skills

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – The Small Arms Firing School for rifle continues to be a huge draw to the National Matches for inexperienced and veteran shooters alike. Each year hundreds of new and seasoned rifle enthusiasts take part in the two-day program that covers the basics of safety and marksmanship for beginners and more in-depth material for those seeking greater detail.

August 2012

Rutherford Fires 198 and Armstrong Cleans 300 and 600 Yard Targets to Win 2012 National Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Doug Armstrong and Glendale “Don” Rutherford took advantage of ideal shooting conditions to fire a near-perfect team score of 398-17X out of a possible 400 to win the 2012 Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match here on Wednesday, 1 August on Viale Range. Armstrong, 52, of Lexington, NC, fired a perfect 200 with 11 center Xs and Rutherford, 60, of Tallapoosa, GA, fired a 198-6X. Armstrong cleaned the 300-yard stage with six center shots and backed it up with another clean 600-yard stage with five Xs. Rutherford fired a clean 300-yard target with one center shot and dropped two points at 600 yards with a 98-5X.

Till Wins Garand, Greathouse Wins Springfield and DeMille Wins Vintage Military Bolt and GSM Three-Gun in CMP Games Matches

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Nick Till, 38, of Howell, MI, emerged victorious in the as-issued John C. Garand Rifle Match from a field of 1,112 competitors here on Saturday, 4 August. Till’s 291-6X was just two shots off the record of 293-6X set by Kurt Palmer in 2009. Till cleaned his prone slow-fire stage and fired 98 in rapid fire and posted a 93 in offhand. Kurt Moline, 51, of Oakdale, MN, placed second in the Garand match with an aggregate total of 289-9X and SGT Patrick Saleh, 23, USMC, placed third with a total score of 288-7X. Saleh outdistanced fellow Marine MSgt James Wagner, 42, of Kailua, HI, in an X-ring tiebreaker (7-3).

Gallagher Wins 2012 National Trophy Individual Rifle Match & Sagen Maddalena Tops NTI Junior Field

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – SGT Sherri Jo Gallagher, U.S. Army, won the 2012 National Trophy Individual (NTI) Rifle Match on Tuesday, 31 July with a score of 494-15X out of 500 possible. As the match winner, SGT Gallagher’s name was added to the Daniel Boone Trophy (overall winner), Association of the Army Trophy (high Army) and the Women’s Rifle Trophy (high woman). Gallagher’s aggregate breakout scores were 98-1X, 100-4X, 100-2X and 196-8X in standing, sitting, prone rapid-fire and prone slow-fire, respectively.

California’s Jared Perry Tops Tyrel Cooper in 2012 President’s Rifle Match in a Dramatic Shoot-out after Perfect 300’s

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Jared Perry, 31, of Porterville, CA, outlasted U.S. Army SSG Tyrel Cooper, 27, of Hamilton, GA, in a 10-shot shoot-off, winning the 2012 President’s Rifle Match on Monday, 30 July on Rodriguez Range. Perry topped Cooper with an aggregate score of 398-16X to Cooper’s 396-18X after both shooters entered the final with perfect 300’s fired in the qualification round.

Navy Reservist John Brubaker Needs Tiebreaker to Win Points-Eligible M16 EIC Match & Stuart DeMotte Wins Overall Aggregate Category

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – For some, it’s a points race to finish inside the top 10 percent of all eligible non-Distinguished shooters in the match and for others it’s a warm-up for more M16/AR15 platform events that follow in the National Matches highpower schedule. For the rest of the 657 participants in this year’s M16 EIC Rifle Match, it’s an opportunity to fire a four-stage match on the big range at Camp Perry and take home some memories.

Three Prominent Arizona Junior Rifle Teammates Receive Military Academy Appointments For Rifle Shooting and Scholastic Achievement

Phoenix, Ariz. – Congratulations to Tyler Rico, Alexandria Provine and Joey Kendrick who have not only raised the bar in Arizona’s organized shooting programs, but have also been extraordinary ambassadors for the nation’s Junior shooting sports. “We are proud to honor these young teammates and are fortunate to have supported their growth and success in our junior rifle divisions that include high power, smallbore and air rifle,” said Tom Kirby, a veteran shooting coach and a Junior Division director for the non-profit, Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association (ASRPA).

July 2012

Opalewski Defends Open Championship as Guay Wins Telescopic and Villanueva Defends Tactical Class Title at 2012 National Rimfire Sporter Match

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Three shooters, none of whom are strangers to the awards ceremony at CMP rimfire sporter competitions, turned in strong performances Sunday, 22 July, at the 2012 CMP National Rimfire Sporter Match. The event drew 553 entries from the Midwest, South, Atlantic Coast, New England and as far away as Anchorage, Alaska. The Rimfire Sporter Match is an introductory competition which is fired using standard off-the-rack, non-competition type .22 caliber rifles that may be semi-automatic or bolt action. Shooters may compete in Open Sights (O-Class), Telescopic Sights (T-Class) and Tactical Rifle classes. They may also re-enter in another class as range space and time allocation allows. A total of 600 points may be earned in prone, sitting (or kneeling) and standing positions and each position is comprised of slow-fire and rapid-fire phases worth 100 points each.

U.S.M.C. Sgt Luis Esparza Wins President’s Pistol, U.S. Army SSG Patrick Franks Jr. Captures the
National Trophy Individual Pistol Match and USAMU Blue repeats National Trophy Pistol Team Match Victory

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – To the applause and shouts of “Oo-Rah” from fellow Marines at the National Trophy Pistol Match Awards ceremony at Hough Auditorium on 15 July, Sgt Luis Esparza charged up the stairs to the stage and was recognized for winning the 2012 President’s Pistol Trophy, among a field of 544 competitors. Esparza, 23, fired a 386-12X aggregate of a possible 400, in a highly-competitive match among many of the nation’s top service pistol shooters. Esparza held off three U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit competitors, SFC James Henderson, 45, SFC Thomas Rose, 36, and SPC Greg Markowski, 38, all of whom were tied for second at 384, separated by X-ring tiebreakers.

Joseph Totts Wins Junior President’s Pistol Match and Leads Juniors in Aggregate Scoring at Camp Perry

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Joseph Totts, 20, of Mogadore, OH, the defending 2011 Junior Individual Pistol champion, won the 2012 Junior President’s Pistol Match with an aggregate score of 366-3X on a warm, sunny, yet breezy Sunday, 15 July. While Totts did not repeat as Junior Individual champ, he finished four points behind the winner, Alexander Chichkov. All junior matches are fired using .22 caliber pistols.

MSgt Craig Shepard Wins Overall and Non-Distinguished M9 EIC Match in First Shot Opener in 2012 Pistol Matches at Camp Perry

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Air National Guardsman, MSgt Craig Shepard, 49, of Dearborn Heights, MI, was the overall winner of the M9 EIC Service Pistol Match and was also the high non-Distinguished shooter, which earned him his first EIC leg points toward his Distinguished Pistol Badge in the opening match of the 2012 National Matches.

Target Explodes as LTG William Ingram Jr. Fires Ceremonial First Shot of the 2012 National Matches

CAMP PERRY, OHIO - The traditional First Shot Ceremony took place July 9, 2012, marking the opening of the National Matches, held annually by the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the National Rifle Association, and the Ohio National Guard. The ceremony marks the beginning of the national pistol, smallbore rifle, and highpower rifle championship and CMP Games events.

June 2012

CMP Set to Welcome Competitors to the 2012 CMP National Trophy and CMP Games Matches

CAMP PERRY, OHIO - The CMP National Trophy Matches are set to begin on 9 July, with the First Shot Ceremony and Pistol Small Arms Firing School. The official program and registration information for the CMP National Trophy and CMP Games Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, are posted on the CMP website at http://www.thecmp.org/NM.htm.

Participation Continues to Grow at CMP Eastern Games & DeMille Wins Three-Gun Aggregate Title

CAMP BUTNER, NC – The CMP Eastern Games, held at Camp Butner, a North Carolina Army National Guard training center, grew by five percent in 2012 as 341 participants took part in traditional games events including historical military rifle, rimfire sporter and pistol competitions.

May 2012

CMP Games - Georgia Debut at American International Marksmanship Academy

BLAKELY, GEORGIA – With 3,000 acres of former cotton and peanut fields, it might seem impossible to fill them all with shooting ranges, but the newly-opened American International Marksmanship Academy is finding ways to do it. The complex contains rifle, pistol and sporting clay ranges, plus a host of military and law enforcement specialty ranges and facilities. The AIM Academy played host to CMP’s first-ever Georgia CMP Games 26-29 April and shooters from as far as south Florida and Wisconsin were treated to four days of clinics, rifle sales, CMP games matches and warm, sunny weather.

OKC Rolls Out the Red Carpet for CMP at Oklahoma Games

ARCADIA, OKLAHOMA – The membership of the Oklahoma City Gun Club opened its arms, ranges and barbecue grill to the staff of the Civilian Marksmanship Program at the introductory CMP Oklahoma Games, 12-15 April. The event was held at the club, just northeast of Oklahoma City near Arcadia. “Our friends in Oklahoma certainly know how to put on a shooting event,” said Christie Sewell, General Manager of CMP Programs. “We felt very welcome by the folks at the Oklahoma City Gun Club and they made our games event a great experience,” she said.

Update on 2012 CMP Competition Rules

The CMP Rules Committee approved the 16th edition of the CMP Competition Rules in March. The new CMP rulebook has been posted on the CMP website at http://www.thecmp.org/
Competitions/Rulebook.pdf.   for several weeks. This article provides an update and summary of changes in the 2012 CMP Competition Rules.

CMP TO OFFER FREE BB GUN SHOOTING ON PORTABLE RANGE AT 2012 PORT CLINTON WALLEYE FESTIVAL

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – The Civilian Marksmanship Program is proud to join the 2012 Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival lineup as a parade participant and offer FREE target shooting on the festival grounds Friday through Monday, May 25-28. “We are very excited to be a part of the fun at the 2012 Walleye Festival,” said Christie Sewell, General Manager of CMP North programming. “We’re honored to be a supporter of the Port Clinton community and we’re looking forward to reaching out to festival attendees who can get a small glimpse of what we do at the CMP,” she said.

“LONDON PREPARES” FOR OLYMPIC SHOOTING A Pictorial Report on Preparations for the 2012 Olympic Shooting Events

The Olympic Games are biggest, most important and most watched sports competition in the world. They take place every four years and 2012 is an Olympic year. The Opening Ceremony of the XXXth Summer Olympic Games will take place in London on 27 July. On the following morning, the first gold medal of the Games will be awarded to the winner of the Women’s Air Rifle event. That will be the first of 15 Olympic rifle, pistol and shotgun events to be contested on London’s Royal Artillery Barracks Shooting Venue during the first ten days of the Games. 390 of the 10,500 athletes who compete in the 26 sports on the London program will be shooters from at least 103 countries. Shooting in the Olympic Games is big, important and practiced all over the world. In addition to having the honor of awarding the Games’ first gold medal, Shooting’s total of 103 participating nations likely will rank third among all Olympic sports.

Hard Work and Fun Combine to Make JROTC National Air Rifle Championships a Special Event

ANNISTON, ALABAMA – For Junior ROTC air rifle competitors, the annual National Championship held at the CMP South Marksmanship Center is the culmination of an entire school year of commitment to their sport. The JROTC National Championship is their Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, Finals or Masters. The championship road began 10 October, 2011 when Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force JROTC cadets began their quest for participation in the tournament via postal competitions, shooting at targets at their home ranges and submitting them to the Civilian Marksmanship Program for scoring via postal and private carriers.

CMP Board Member William H. Willoughby to Receive Prestigious West Point Distinguished Graduate Award at U.S. Military Academy in May

WEST POINT, NEW YORK – Civilian Marksmanship Program board member MAJ (R) William H. Willoughby will be recognized by the West Point Association of Graduates on 22 May when he joins the ranks of the prestigious U.S. Military Academy Distinguished Graduate Award recipients for his lifelong commitment to the mission of the institution which has educated, trained and inspired U.S. Army officers since its founding in 1802.

“One of the best training tools I have ever tried” NMAR Air Rifle’s

No matter how well you plan an event the only factor you can never control is Mother Nature, especially if you happen to plan it in late January in Massachusetts. Despite the snow, hardy New Englanders from Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts all came together for our first NMAR NE Championship Match.

April 2012

Heather Kirby’s National Record-Breaking Performance Leads to 2012 National JROTC Precision Air Rifle Championship

ANNISTON, ALABAMA – It required setting two new national precision air rifle records to do it, but Heather Kirby, 16, of Kentucky’s Shelby County High School U.S. Marine Corps JROTC, did just that as she edged her teammate and defending national champion Connor Davis, 19, by just five hundredths of a point in aggregate scoring, 1285.45 to 1285.40, respectively.

Alexandrea Provine Tops Tyler Rico to Win 2012 National JROTC Sporter Air Rifle Championship

ANNISTON, ALABAMA – Alexandrea Provine, 18, of Flowing Wells High School Army JROTC, Arizona, was crowned the top JROTC sporter air rifle competitor at the 2012 National JROTC Championship here on Saturday, 24 March after two days of three position qualification plus finals. Provine outlasted Flowing Wells JROTC teammate Tyler Rico, 17, firing an aggregate score of 1210.4 to Rico’s 1206.4. Scores in prone, standing and kneeling each day were combined with the average of the two days’ final scores to arrive at the aggregate.

March 2012

Rodriguez Range Project Gets a Boost from Mother Nature

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – When you’re moving earth, installing drainage and erecting concrete and iron structures 200 feet from 9,900 square miles of open water on the Great Lakes in the middle of winter, there’s a good chance you’re going to suffer some downtime – maybe until springtime. But in the crazy winter of 2012, when southern states got more snowfall, ice and foul conditions than Camp Perry, it’s possible to get more work done than normal – a lot more.

NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen to Hold First Annual Camp Perry Gun Blast Benefit

The Wheelin’ Sportsmen Program of the National Wild Turkey Federation is an Outreach Program designed to provide hunting, shooting & other outdoor recreational activities for the physically challenged including our many Wounded Warriors This is accomplished by teaming up able bodied hunters & sportsmen with physically challenged individuals to provide them an opportunity to hunt, fish, shoot and participate in those activities that they could not normally do on their own because of their disability.

Szarenski and Turner to Represent U.S. in Men’s Air Pistol at 2012 Olympic Games in London

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – As expected, three-time Olympian SFC Daryl Szarenski, 43, of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) earned the first slot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s air pistol team at USA Shooting’s Olympic Trials for Airgun Part 2 here on 25 February. Szarenski led from start to finish, beginning with two days of trials at the CMP South Marksmanship Center in Anniston, Alabama in early December. He carried an 18-point lead into the second trial here and maintained his lead after two additional 60-shot matches plus finals. Szarenski scored 2537.4 points.

Gray and Scherer Earn Olympic Berths in Women’s Air Rifle at 2012 Trials for Airgun Part 2 at Camp Perry

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Jamie Gray, 27, of Phenix City, Alabama, was a model of consistency throughout the 2012 USA Shooting Olympic Trials for Airgun, first in Anniston, Alabama in early December and again at Camp Perry in late February. Remarkably, Gray fired identical qualification scores of 396 and 397 at both sites, respectively, in winning a place on the women’s U.S. Olympic air rifle team. Her two best finals were consistent as well at 103.5 and 103.2.

Hall Outlasts Rawlings in Men’s Air Rifle to Earn 2012 London Games Roster Spot

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – After an 82-day break, the second half of USA Shooting’s Olympic Trials for Airgun resumed here 24-25 February where six team slots, two each in men’s air rifle, women’s air rifle and men’s air pistol teams would be finalized for participation in this year’s London Games. The trials format forced competitors to bring their “A” games to each phase of the event because there was absolutely no subjectivity involved in nominating members to the team. No coach favoritism or previous experience mattered when the trials began.

February 2012

Cruz Wins Air Rifle Precision Class and Hollis Wins Sporter Title at 2012 Army JROTC Service Championship

ANNISTON, ALABAMA & CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Kevin Cruz, 19, of Del Valle High School, El Paso, Texas, won the precision air rifle championship at the 2012 Army JROTC Service Championship on 9 February at the CMP South Marksmanship Center in Anniston. Charles Hollis, 17, of Rayville High School, Louisiana, won the sporter division championship, also at the same venue.

Olympic Dreams for Six Shooters Set to Become Reality at 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Airgun in Ohio

Olympic dreams will be made this weekend in Port Clinton, Ohio, during the second round of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Airgun. Over 180 athletes are headed to the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) north location at Camp Perry, Feb. 24-26, for a shot at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

CMP Announces New Georgia Games at American International Marksmanship Academy, 26-29 April

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – The Civilian Marksmanship Program is pleased to announce the addition of the CMP Georgia Games to its 2012 firearms safety and marksmanship calendar of events. At least for 2012, the four-day event is an abbreviated version of CMP’s Eastern (N. Carolina) and Western (Arizona) Games plus the recently added CMP Oklahoma Games, 12-15 April.

January 2012

Matt Rawlings Narrowly Defeats Jonathan Hall in Air Rifle Open Class and Amos Peck Tops Juniors at 2012 Camp Perry Open

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – CPL Matt Rawlings, 27, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, narrowly defeated Jonathan Hall, 23, of Columbus, Georgia, in the precision air rifle open class at the 2012 Camp Perry Open held here 14-15 January. The Camp Perry Open features a two-day ISSF 60-shot X2 standing match, plus finals and a one-day junior three-position precision and sporter air rifle match with finals.

Sarah MacLagan Wins Precision and Tamara Hicks Wins Sporter Air Rifle Championships at 2012 Camp Perry Open 3x20

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Sarah MacLagan, 17, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, won the 2012 Camp Perry Open 3x20 championship in the precision air rifle category with an aggregate score of 688.4. The junior-only three-position match, part of a two-discipline event which also includes a two-day 60 X2 international standing match of juniors and open class, was held at the CMP North Marksmanship Center 13-15 January.

Samantha Bullard Wins Precision, Bass Tops Sporter Class at Gary Anderson Invitational
ANNISTON, ALABAMA & CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Samantha Bullard, 16, of Atmore, Alabama, and member of the Magic City Gun Club, led all shooters in winning the 3x20 precision air rifle event at the 2011 Gary Anderson Invitational in Anniston. Bullard fired near-record scores in qualification-plus-final and in kneeling in the open/overall category. The competition was held simultaneously with shooters at the CMP Marksmanship Center at Camp Perry on 9 & 10 December.

TFS Home