A short note about me: When I was younger, I was a card-carrying Democrat; guns were okay as a child, when I was with my Grandpa on his farm.  As an adult, however, I wasn’t thrilled about them in my house – but guns were my husband, Larry’s, hobby.

Back to the family … When the Drakes moved west to Arizona from Nashville, TN, our first apartment was about 10 miles from Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club (RSSC).  I remember buying Larry a club membership because I thought it was a pretty part of the desert and I knew he would enjoy it.

The girls were too young to shoot, but any parent knows that they grow up fast.  In no time at all, Larry had them shooting at the main range.  We would also watch the Tuesday Night Steel matches together.  You could tell by looking at Carly and Sara they were very interested.  (I crocheted).  : )

Soon both girls were involved with the Junior Smallbore Program at RSSC.  They had the best coaches in the world and made lifelong friends.  Carly and Sara had played basketball, volleyball, participated in gymnastics and soccer, yet this was the sport they both enjoyed.  There were no parents fighting on the sidelines and the only opponent was their own set of goals.

They both received the NRA Distinguished Expert Award and competed in NRA National Matches.  Carly exceeded in Air Rifle as well.  She qualified twice to compete in the Junior Olympics at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO.  Carly also shot the National Smallbore and Air Rifle Competition in Ft. Benning, GA.  During this period of shooting Smallbore, the girls were also shooting pistols – learning from the best and smiling all the time.

It was then when I realized no two children were the same, no matter how close they are.  The great thing about shooting is that each individual can enjoy different sports on the same range.  Carly dearly loved her precision rifle and air rifle, but Sara wanted to run-and-gun.

As soon as Sara received her Distinguished Expert Award, USPSA and 3-Gun competitions became her favorites.  Sara went to the MGM/AMU Junior Camp twice and both girls attended Jerry and Kay Miculek’s USPSA Junior Camp.

Sara just recently returned from the 2010 Steel Challenge (World Speed Shooting Championship) in Piru, CA., where she had the time of her life – thanks to Angus Hobdell.  They met junior shooters from all over the country and very much look forward to keeping in touch with them.

Sara and Carly have also volunteered during the annual Desert Classic and Mystery Mountain 3-Gun Matches as range officers.

Throughout this process of raising our family on the range, the girls received nothing but encouragement from some of the greatest shooters in this country; with the support of the entire shooting community.  The “range” became more like a home than anything, and the other shooters were just part of the family; Family that you wanted to hang out with, that you wanted advice from.

Carly is now a full-time student and a full-time employee at Dillon Aero.  She is still interested in precision rifle – just with a much larger caliber.  You might see her occasionally on the cover of the Dillon Blue Press.

My baby Sara, “The Saranator”, “The Big Deal” (dubbed by Rob Leatham), has enlisted in the United States Army and leaves on September 28^th.  We are so very proud of our girls and wouldn’t have changed their upbringing one bit!

It doesn’t “take a village to raise a child” – it takes “a range”.   The Drake family thanks you all!  

In case you were wondering about my priorities, I just returned from voting in the REPUBLICAN primaries!  I also put down the crochet needle and picked up a revolver.  If you can’t beat ‘em,  join ‘em!

Gail Drake

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With each passing match, though, the margin of victory gets smaller and smaller. Rob beat Taran Butler this year by a small margin – 12+ points.  Nonetheless, he did win, and we have great respect for Rob.   More than just stating he won, we wanted to get the story from him personally on his Sweet 16th Title!

2010 USPSA Single Stack National Champion – Rob Leatham (24-Time USPSA National Champion, 5-Time IPSC World Champion)

WoU - Congratulations, Rob, on winning the Springfield / USPSA Single Stack Nationals.  What does it mean to have obtained your 16th consecutive Single Stack Nationals victory?

Rob - Thanks so much.  To tell the truth, I didn’t expect to win this year, so pulling it off makes me feel like this season is already a success. I think I won’t fully appreciate the wins until I finally lose.

WoU - Tell us about the gun and the gear you used in the match.

Rob – This year’s 1911 is the best gun I have ever shot.  It was built by the Springfield Custom Shop, using a Springfield Armory 1911 operator frame (light rail) cut to the same length as a standard frame in .40 caliber.  It has a squared trigger guard and 20 LPI checkering front and back.  Adjustable rear sight with Dawson fiber optic front, a Kart barrel and the new TGO design grips (AlumaGrips) and a Techwell TGO mag well.  The frame assembly is hard chromed and the slide is ION bonded.  This makes for a traditional but very durable look.  I use Wilson 10 mm magazines which have worked flawlessly for me since 1995!

My holster rig is a new Safariland dual belt with quick-detachable brackets that allow me to easily switch holsters and  pouches from one division to another.  The holster is the standard Safariland 5188 on a 013 rod that allows total adjustability.  It is so close in speed to an Open 013 rig that, except for the Steel Challenge, I’m not sure it is at much disadvantage.

Not since my very first single stack championship gun , which I used the first four years, have I had a gun that I wouldn’t change a thing on.

WoU – So, you’ll retire a perfect gun …

Rob – That’s the plan now, but come next year, I may have to snatch it from the safe!

WoU – The perfect gun, but you haven’t been in perfect shape for some time now. You had knee surgery earlier in the year and are now recovering from total knee replacement surgery.  How difficult has it become dealing with your knees and competing at such a high level?

Rob - Well, 20 years ago (when I initially injured my knee), it was not a big deal.  10 years ago, I started noticing a more limited range of motion – but it wasn’t really affecting my shooting much.  5 years ago, I saw that something would eventually need to be done, as I was getting along OK, but having to make up in shooting speed what I was losing in movement time.  At last year’s nationals, I knew it was time. I couldn’t stay competitive in field courses with more than a couple steps between positions.  I have always been good in and out of a position, but now I was just too slow in full speed.  More than that, I was losing the ability to shoot well on the move.  That was insurmountable to me and meant that it was finally time to cut my legs up and get them fixed!

WoU – An inside source says that you’re beginning to see some progress on your TKR.  We’re so glad to hear that!

Rob - I am – and that’s a very welcome sight for me!  I’m not the most patient person in the world.  I want to be running … now!

WoU - We admire that drive and determination.  You have had a career that has spanned decades.  What USPSA victories stand out most for you?

Rob – My first National Championship win, which was IPSC USA, before USPSA, and that first World Shoot win, both in 1983, will always be the most special.  They are what kick started my career and got the ball rolling.  Before that, I was just an amateur.  Those wins really lit a fire in me and made me want to shoot more than anything else.

WoU - How do you find the level of competition now vs. in the 80’s or 90’s?

Rob - There are many more good shooters now than then, but we’re all broken up among divisions.  Back in the early days, at any given match, there were really only 8 to 10 guys capable of consistently putting down scores good enough to win an overall.  Remember, back then there was just one division.  Everyone shot the same category, which meant you were in battle with everyone at the match.  There was no sub culture of production, limited or what have you specialists.  We all were general purpose shooters.  If you wanted to shoot more than one big match a year you had to jump into a different discipline.  Practical shooters all shot the Steel Challenge and the Bianchi  Cup, otherwise you had one National and that was it.

The battles I had in the 80’s with Jerry Barnhart are what made me tough.  No one was a better competitor, and if he was within striking distance, you were in trouble.  He would fight to the very end.  I didn’t really enjoy those wars as much then as I do now (thinking back on them).   One year, he made up 50 points on me on the last three stages of a National Match in Barry!  He really had me scared that I was gonna blow a 70 point lead.  I barely squeaked that one out.  Again … not much fun, but I do miss having Jerry on the range.

WoU - Those were some intense battles indeed.  Now, you have won more Single Stack titles than anyone.  Is it your favorite division?

Rob – Without a doubt.  As I get older, I may start losing the ability to see the sights clear enough to win.  Regardless, the closer the guns are to a daily, usable and sellable piece of equipment, the more I like them.  The low mag capacity makes accuracy more important, and conservation of the rounds you fire critical.  You can’t just shoot endless extra shots like in Open and Limited or you are going to be doing a bunch of standing reloads. It is a pure category. You can’t perform highly or win in single stack if you can’t shoot well.

WoU - What do you like about the Single Stack Division?

Rob - The purity of it.  Make every shot count.   Figure out what you are doing on a stage and execute properly.  Be deliberate and precise.

WoU - Historically at the Single Stack the GM’s are spread out all over the match in different squads.  This year was no exception. Do you prefer to shoot with a variety of shooters or do you like to be squadded in a Super Squad?

Rob – It’s fun to shoot with all levels, but I would prefer to have my competition with me. I had many great men shooters in this year’s squad who placed very high, along with the Ladies Champ Julie, and Kippi, who finished third. I think, though, that the super squad is still better for the top competitors so they can keep track of each other and see what’s going on.  At the least they should all shoot on the same day, so all the conditions are the same.  I don’t like it when someone wins shooting earlier or later than I did.  Makes me feel like they weren’t under the same pressure.  It is a National Championship … right?  At a lower level match, I love shooting with anybody!

WoU – How do you feel you performed?

Rob - Average.  I didn’t really get things going until the second day.  I was sluggish and performed poorly in the accuracy department.  I was lucky to win as this match penalizes that kind of performance more than most.  The second half of the second day is when I put my head down and started working hard.  Then the times and points started getting where they needed to be.  I was lazy early and that nearly cost me!!!

WoU – If there is one thing you can attribute to your success as a shooter, what would it be?

Rob - Tenacity and drive.  I love to shoot and hate to lose.  Winning isn’t all that important most of the time – it is just the result of a good performance. Failing to shoot well, on the other hand, feels TERRIBLE and almost always ends up in defeat. I hate to shoot poorly.  Since I have the means and time to train, I have no excuse to shoot poorly.  I may get slower on the move with my knees, but I should always shoot the best. I might get beat, but I should never loose because of lack of preparation.

WoU – Rob, congratulations once again on making history!  We wish you the best of luck with your recovery and hope you’re fully prepared for the October Nationals!  Thanks for your time.

Well, that’s a wrap for our coverage of the Top 5 men at the 2010 USPSA Single Stack Nationals.  We are honored that these incredible shooters took the time to interview with us.  Reading their responses, we get an inside look of what it takes to perform at the very top.  That and we get to read about the super cool gear they used!

We hope our Single Stack coverage will also help to further inspire our mother organization to thoroughly report and promote the top contenders at Area and National matches in USPSA publications. Winning an Area Match or National Championship (in all divisions and special categories) is a huge accomplishment and should be acknowledged. A big thank you to Paul Erhardt for sharing our posts on DownRange.TV and practical shooting blogs.  With this kind of coverage the sport’s winners are rightfully honored and celebrated!

2nd Place – Taran Butler (2010 Western States Single Stack Classic Champion, 5-Time USPSA Multi Gun National Champion)

 WoU -  Taran, congratulations on your 2nd place finish at the Single Stack Nationals.  This has been one of the closest races in SSN history!   You shot a great match and were so close to being the one to break Rob’s streak! 

Taran - Thank you for your comments., and congratulations again to Rob — to me he will always be the greatest shooter who’s ever lived. 

WoU -  That’s a kind compliment, but you’re on our list of great shooters, too!  You earned your second consecutive Western States Single Stack Classic Title earlier this year.  What exactly was your thought process for this single stack event?

Taran - My mindset coming into this match was to try and just be as accurate as I could.  I’m still fairly new to using a fiber optic front sight.   I’ve only been shooting it for a year and a half or so and it’s greatly improved my accuracy.  If I just see that dot at all during a stage, it usually turns out pretty well. 

WoU -  How did it make you feel after winning the Western States Single Stack Classic?   Underdog or Favorite coming into the Nationals? 

Taran – As far as the Western States Single Stack Championships is concerned, I’ve obviously had better performances there the last three years.  I personally like the match much better as far as the shooting is concerned, higher round count and more movement, which has always been one of my strongest suits, but you gotta be good at everything and be able to adapt to every style of shooting.

I compare what we do quite often to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) — you can’t just be into fast action hosing, which I compare to standup fighting, or just be good on the ground with ju jitsu – which I compare to more difficult shots, steel, standards, etc.

WoU - Historically at the Single Stack, the GM’s are spread out all over the match in different squads.  This year was no exception. Do you prefer to shoot with a variety of shooters or do you like to be squadded in a Super Squad?

Taran - I think it’s actually kind of cool to disperse two Grand Masters (Super Squad members) throughout the squads to get to shoot with everyone.  It’s always fun at the end to shake everyone’s hand and say how much you enjoyed shooting with someone new.  But it’s always fun to shoot with the lunacy of the Super squad, too.  Things are a lot more laid back in that squad now than it was in the past.  Everyone seems to have more of a sense of humor, which I like.

WoU - The Super Squads have had their less-than-serious moments!  : )  Did you have a standout moment or unique match experience you would like to share?

Taran - The only standout moment was to tie with Robbie on the Standards.  If you are able to do that you know you are doing something right! 

WoU -  Very memorable moment indeed – Congrats!  As a multi-gun and Limited Shooter, is there something that draws you to the Single Stack Division?

Taran - What I really like about Single Stack competitions is we’re all shooting head to head with very similar gear.  There’s something about how the gun feels in your hand and also how it makes you shoot more accurately because you don’t have any room for pickup shots or any mistakes.  It actually helps me shoot other divisions better.

WoU - Discipline … Now, tell us about the gun and your gear.

Taran - The gun I shoot is an Infiniti single stack with their gold AET Schuemann match barrel, Aftec extractor, Brazos micro dot front sight with a Champion adjustable rear sight and Techwell’s large magwell fitted to Tripp Research’s custom system’s magazines with all the extra fitting done by Salient Arms.  All is finished off with ION Bond’s diamond black coating. My holster is a Bladetech with Safariland inner belt/outer belt and 771 mag pouches. 

I have 3 sets of this gun in 40 S&W and if I ever do win this match, I don’t think I’ll ever retire the guns like Robbie.  They were too hard to get setup the way I like.

WoU - Sounds like you should definitely hang on to them!  Congrats again, Taran.  We really appreciate your input and time.  Best of luck with all your matches this year! 

3rd Place – Phil Strader (Team Smith & Wesson, 3-Time Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Champion)

WoU - Phil, congratulations on your third overall finish at the Single Stack Nationals!

Phil - Thank you, ladies.

WoU - Can you tell us about your mindset as the match approached?

Phil - My mindset wasn’t too much different than most any other match.  Obviously, there’s one guy that everyone is gunning for, and that’s Rob, but I’ve tried to keep my mind on what’s important and just have fun with the match.  I feel the reason I do so well here every year is because I truly have a great time shooting with Rob and Todd.  I can only hope that Russ continues to squad us together.

WoU - Well, you’ve certainly earned your spot among the top!  How about your gun and gear, did you have new equipment this season?

Phil – This year, I was shooting a Smith & Wesson 1911DK model in 45 caliber.  I’m thinking about having a 40 cal built (like everyone else), but I must say that this pistol shot really well.  I may just use it again next year.  My belt is CR Speed, and Blade-tech holster and pouches.

WoU - Don’t fix what ain’t broke, huh? Can you tell us a little about how you train coming into a match like this?

Phil - Train?  What’s that?  Actually, I practiced more for this match than any other.  In the two weeks before the match, I shot 250 rounds a day for 4 days each week…yes, that’s right…2000 rounds!  That’s more than I use to prepare for the Steel Challenge!  I did 90% steel shooting, although it didn’t show on the stage where I lost the match!  Oh well.  Guess next year I’ll shoot 2500!

WoU – We’ll talk to Denielle about loading those extra 500 for you.  : )  Now, how do you feel you performed throughout the event?

Phil - Overall, I was relatively happy with my performance.  It wasn’t great, but I only had a couple of disasters … and usually that’s the difference! Considering the amount of time I put into the match, I can’t complain.

WoU – Squadding – This match has always done it differently.  They mix the Masters and Grand Masters up and split them across squads and shooting days.  What do you prefer when shooting a major match?

Phil - I prefer to shoot with the best shooters.  It pushes me to do better, plus I like almost everyone we shoot with.  That certainly doesn’t dictate whether I shoot a match or not, but it’s nice.  I love shooting the Single Stack with Rob, just because we usually have pretty good battles….and he’s so cute and cuddly…like a big Teddy Bear.

WoU - Was that off the record?  : )   Back to the match – Did you have a standout moment or unique match experience you would like to share?

Phil - I really didn’t do anything that great this year (unlike last year’s last stage!).  I just stayed consistently fair to good.  Nothing spectacular.

WoU - Well, you won Stage 9, “I Think I Got It”, and were in the Top 5 on 6 others.  Looks like consistency pays off, as you’re consistently in the Top 3.  So, what does Phil Strader like about the Single Stack Nationals?

Phil - I like Single Stack because it’s hard work!  Every stage is a challenge to break down just right…especially when you shoot different majors that aren’t exactly designed with the Single Stack shooter in mind.

WoU - We like a man who is not afraid of a challenge.  Congrats again Phil on your 3rd overall!  Is there anything you would like to add?

Phil - Yes, there is something I would like to “add”…I would like to add a dedicated Revolver Nationals the Sunday after the Single Stack Nationals.  Just take a target or so out of each array, keep the stages exactly the same, make it 6 round neutral, and have a 100 person Revolver Nationals!  I think it would be a huge success. Dedicated division Nationals Championships usually are!  Case and point…Single Stack Nationals!  Thanks, Women Of USPSA, for the opportunity to respond about this great match.

WoU - Hmmm … interesting idea.   Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to chat with us, Phil.  We really appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions considering you run the highly successful Pro Am!

4th Place – Todd Jarrett (9-Time USPSA National Champion, 1996 IPSC World Champion)

WoU:  Congrats on your 4th Place finish, Todd!

Todd:  Thank you, and thanks to Women of USPSA for taking time to expand on the SSN coverage!

WoU:  It’s our pleaure … What was your mindset going into this match?

Todd:  Honesty, I was looking forward to going back to Barry … somewhere I have shot many, many matches. It almost feels like a “home club” in a way and I really enjoy shooting there. It’s familiar territory and I get to see old friends, which makes shooting the match a bit more comfortable for me.

WoU:  It’s one of our favorite ranges, too.  Now, tell us about the gun and your gear.

Todd:  This year I changed from .45 to .40 and I shot an STI Trojan. The .40 SS has more predictable recoil than a .45 but it can be challenging to keep it running, so gunsmithing and preparing ammo took a little more time before this year’s match. I had some magazine problems a few weeks before the match, so I contacted Virgil Tripp who kindly overnighted me some Cobra mags. They ran flawlessly. My holster, belt, and pouches are all Blackhawk!

WoU:  It’s good to have friends like Virgil!  : )  How do you train when preparing for the Single Stack Nationals?

Todd:  Reload, reload, reload! There is such a big difference in reloading a single stack versus a wide body – it requires so much more patience and practicing reloads is the big key. The SSN is probably the most challenging match in USPSA and I practice shooting very difficult target arrays to prepare. I focus a lot on limiting extra shots because there are so many stages at the SSN where taking an extra shot could mean the difference in having to make an extra reload or not.

WoU:  You put down some amazing runs.  How do you feel you performed overall?

Todd:  Win or lose, I’m never completely satisfied with my performance … I always find something to improve upon. This year, I was relatively pleased with the first part of my match, but got in to some trouble on the Standards stage. One bad string of fire was the turning point for my overall performance in the match. It’s amazing how one draw and six shots can really affect your confidence. Overall, I was content. Over the last few years my priorities have changed a bit, and I am ok with not always winning if I know I did the best I could do on a given day.

WoU:  Historically at the Single Stack the GM’s are spread out all over the match in different squads. This year was no exception. Do you prefer to shoot with a variety of shooters or do you like to be squadded in a Super Squad?

Todd:  This year was a real treat because Rob and Phil and I were finally invited to shoot with the ladies super squad! I have shot with Rob at almost every National match as long as I can remember. I do like shooting with new faces, but there is always an advantage to shooting with the best.

WoU:  Aw, that’s sweet to say … and we felt very fortunate to be able to shoot with you.  Which of the variety of stages that we shot stands out most for you? 

Todd:  I’ve always enjoyed speed shoots and strong hand/weak hand has always been one of my strong suits. There was a VERY tough strong/weak hand stage at this match that had me sweating. I came through it well but it will stand out in my memory among the many stages I’ve shot.

WoU:  You won the strong-hand stage, too.  Very impressive shooting!  What is it that you like the most about the Single Stack Division?

Todd:  I like the strategy that’s involved shooting single stack. It requires more patience and concentration and it helps keep up my mental game.

WoU:  Is there anything you would like to add?

Todd:  If I could only shoot one match a year, it would be the Single Stack Nationals in Barry, IL.  Thanks to Springfield for their dedication to the action shooting community for so many years. And congrats again to Rob! See ya next year …

WoU:  Once again, congratulations on your 2010 Single Stack Nationals finish! We hope to see you soon on the range!

Fifth Place – Shannon Smith (3rd in Standard Division at IPSC World Shoot XV in Bali, Indonesia )

WoU: Shannon, congratulations on your Top 5 finish!

 Shannon:  Thank you…thank you very much.  I feel so honored … maybe it will finally pay off to have a girl’s name.  : )

WoU:  That’s a good way to think about it!  : )  Now, what was your mindset going into this match?

Shannon:  Be the one to kick Rob’s a** (sorry Kippi).  I really like the SSN and feel the match suits my shooting style, so I honestly felt/feel that I had/have the ability to win the match.  I don’t think Rob can win the mach forever (though I’m not positive about that) and everyone wants to be the one to beat him.

WoU:  No need to apologize, really.  That’s not the first time I’ve heard that!   : )  Tell us about the gun and your gear.

Shannon:  As much as I appreciate Springfield for sponsoring the match in recent years, my stubborn a** has always wanted to win it with my trusty Kimber .45 that I started USPSA with in 1997.  That is what I have been shooting at the match since my first SSN, actually the Single Stack Classic, 6 or 7 years ago.

Unfortunately, last year I made a loading error and shot most of the match with 7 grains of Clays instead of 4 … though still in mostly one piece, that may have ended the run of the Kimber.  I used the opportunity to have a new gun built, using a Springfield that I was lucky enough to win while blowing up my Kimber.  I had my friend Derek Janowicz at Millennium Custom build a .40, as that seems to be the trend lately….plus cuts down one caliber I need to load for.  I only received the gun a few weeks prior to the match and it performed flawlessly as do all my guns from Millennium.

It’s a plain jane (jack), slab side, Caspian slide on the Springfield frame with Techwear grips and mag well, Dawson front sight and Bomar rear sight.  I use a CR speed belt and the same Blade Tech holster and mag pouches I started USPSA with over 10 years ago.  Wilson mags.

WoU:  Sounds like a sweet setup.  How do you train when preparing for Single Stack?

Shannon:  Nothing really special for the Single Stack Match …. other than using the single stack gun during my normal practice sessions.  Also it is early in the year and always sandwiched in with Area 6 and sometimes the FL State match, so I train less specifically for the SSN than I would like to.

WoU:  How do you feel you performed?

Shannon:  Pretty good actually. This was probably the most stacked SSN I’ve ever shot in terms of talent.  It really felt like a National Championship match with the caliber of shooters in attendance. I made a couple mistakes late on day two which always sucks, but in the grand scheme wouldn’t have made a difference in my overall finish.  I finished the match feeling like I shot well which is all one can do.  I can’t control what my competition is doing, only myself.  Obviously I would have rather finished 4^th… or 1^st… but I was happy with the way I shot and with the level of competition, I feel anything in the top ten is pretty decent.  Need to pick up the speed next year.

WoU:  Historically at the Single Stack, the Grand Masters are spread out all over the match in different squads.  This year was no exception. Do you prefer to shoot with a variety of shooters or do you like to be squadded in a Super Squad?

Shannon:  YES to both.  I prefer the Super Squad for “normal” Nationals, Limited or Open.  But for some reason the SSN has always had a ‘big club match’ sort of feel to it and I enjoy shooting with my friends from the local club.  Not that the usual suspects on the super squads aren’t friends, but I always enjoy shooting with the local boys.

WoU:  Did you have a standout moment or unique match experience you would like to share?

Shannon:  I felt I performed really well Friday night at the Abbey Steakhouse in Quincy.  I went with the Ottobeuren Strip … a twelve ounce, medium rare work of art with a side of twice baked potatoes and one or two Stella’s.  I handled it like a champ and always look forward to a return trip.

WoU:  Now that sounds memorable … You’re too funny!  : )  What do you like about the Single Stack Division?

Shannon:  I’m not a big fan of it as a division. but love the Single Stack Nationals (Classic).  I feel having the multitude of divisions we have dilutes the competition, but I suppose that is a topic for another interview.  The greatest thing about the SSN is everybody is shooting essentially the same gear.  There is just something cool about 300+ folks at the same match, shooting the same stuff.  The match itself sets up the stages for pretty much a shooting challenge … no roller coasters or can carrying … just straight up shooting. May the best man or woman win. Unfortunately it wasn’t me.

WoU:  But you’re among the cream of the crop and should be proud!  Congrats again Shannon on your 5th overall!  

Shannon:  Looking forward to it next year.  I have a feeling Rob is going down….finally! (sorry again, Kippi)  : )  Thanks for all you girls do to promote the sport!  See ya on the range!

I saw many new faces at the match and had a great squad.  I got to shoot with Nancy Huspek for the first time and really enjoyed her company and watching her shoot her Production gun.  Nancy is a strong competitor and as nice as can be.   She said of the match, “I thought the stages tested all of the different skills.   It was a fun match to shoot and we had a great squad.  I enjoyed it”. 

Although I didn’t get to shoot with Lisa [Munson], I know she shot a very strong match (with two top 10 stage finishes!) and I was glad to have her competition.  Congrats to ALL the lovely ladies who shot this match, especially to fellow high overall ladies Nancy Huspek (Production), Debbie Keehart (Limited) and Teddi Eddington (Revolver). 
 

We arrived late on Thursday after a long day of traveling and only got to walk through a couple of stages due to a huge wind/rain storm that rolled right over the range.  Kudos to all those working the match who basically had to set up all the props all over again.  And the props and stage designs were great…lots of walls and windows, several moving targets, as well as plenty of partial targets and steel.  A big thank-you to all the RO’s, who were fantastic. 

 Personally, I had a bit of a rough start to the match with a slow time on the first stage due to several pick-ups on steel.  My only penalty for the match was on Stage 8, on one of three clamshell targets that were activated simultaneously by a pressure pad.  Although there was plenty of time to get all my hits, feeling a little panic by three targets activated at once rushed one of my shots just over the target. 

I was pleased with my performance on the “quickie” stages, which are not typically my strong suit.  Keeping my concentration and shooting one-for-one on short courses is something I’ve been working on and I was happy to finish strong on those stages.  Surprisingly, my best stage of the match was a very tough strong hand/weak hand Virginia Count stage: Stage 9.  The A-zone only target for the strong/weak hand shooting was at about 14 yards away.  I was at the end of the rotation in the squad and watched everyone have at least one miss. 

We heard from the RO’s that no one had walked away clean yet.  Stand-and-shoots have been my nemesis, especially when strong hand/weak hand is involved, so I was nervous to say the least.   I felt very smooth and had decent times and when we walked down to score, I was proud to see I’d cleaned the stage.  I knew this was big overall and it really boosted my confidence for the rest of the day.  I later found out that I was winning the stage overall in the match, until unfortunately on the last day it was thrown out for reasons I’m not sure of.  I was disappointed to say the least, as it cost me about 40 points overall and 4% of the match winner (Max).  But I still know that I stepped up to the pressure and dominated on the most difficult stage of the match, which feels good.

 I also saw my first Polish Plate Rack, which I have to admit that I chickened out on (along with most of my squad) and shot the plates before activating the rack, which caused the eight plates to spin.  It was still a tough plate rack, with steel hard cover in front.  Most everyone in our squad agreed that ending on this stage (we shot the whole match in one day) was a factor in our decision to shoot the plates static – after a long day, we felt it was the safer choice.  Another of my favorite stages was Stage 11, which was loaded with no-shoots and required precise set-ups. 

 Thanks to the folks at Area 1 for putting on a fun and challenging match.  It was definitely worth the trip from the east coast and we had a blast!

The Cup’s main sponsors truly step up.  Support is led by the premiere sponsor, Midway USA.  Thank you Larry and Brenda Potterfield for your personal dedication to this match! I was also extremely proud to represent Smith & Wesson a major sponsor.  It was exciting to see our logo at the S&W Plate Event, range officers shirts and on every competitor’s shooter number.

The NRA Competition Division has worked very hard to breathe life back into the Bianchi Cup.  Suffering from declining numbers over the years The Cup is back in a big way.  This year there were 60 first-time shooters compared to what has been a fraction of that number in the past.  The NRA’s talented photographers and bloggers were on scene to capture all the action and fun.  Of course, a big thank you goes out to the match staff for working long hours to make the event possible.

There are four events at the Bianchi Cup, each 48 shots.  The Practical features a weak hand shooting string and shots from 10, 15, 25 and 50 yards.  The Barricade event requires competitors to fire from behind both the right and left sides of a barricade.  The distances for this event are 10, 15, 25 and 35 yards.  A bank of six, 8” falling steel plates make up the Plate Event. Shooters must successfully shoot strings from 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards.  Finally the Moving Target Event exposes a target that travels a distance of 60 feet in front of the shooter for only six seconds at each pass.  Arguably one of the most challenging events in the match, shooters do their best to aim for the 4” X-ring at the 10, 15, 20 and 25 yard lines.

Montana weather and sorting out issues with brand spanking new guns made my preparation for the match a bit challenging this year.  Open Division firearms have so many metal parts bolted on them that it can be a significant challenge to get these guns up and running.  My new blasters were finicky and because of reliability issues I struggled on the Practical and Plates.  Despite the disappointing finishes, I was extremely happy with my Mover where I only dropped one shot outside the 10 ring with a score of 478/480.

This was the first year I used a “stick shift” mover base on my gun with an Aimpoint Micro.  I have to say I am thrilled with the combination.  The crisp, clear red dot and light weight of the Micro really help keep the weight down on an already heavy gun.  The ingenious Warren Moore of Protocall Design crafts a unique scope base that adjusts the optic on the shroud to allow for target lead.  The whole set up made me feel more confident than ever going into this match.  Steadfast reliability of the Micro and solid construction of the mover base helped me to post my best practice runs this year.

Unfortunately my final score reflected one of my worst Bianchi Cup performances, but was still high enough to place second woman behind the talented Jessie Abbate.  Jessie showed potential last year with her 4th place finish and shot a great score to claim the win.  Vera Koo had a commanding lead going into her final event and was on pace to shoot a record female score, but after a rough run at the Mover, I slipped past and Vera placed third.  Vera competes as a both a lady and senior.  She has won more Bianchi Cup titles than any other woman in the match’s 30 year history.

I also witnessed some amazing feats of marksmanship. In the Metallic (Iron Sight) Division, Rob Leatham’s final event was the Mover.   The sport’s “Great One” had a fluke jam at the 25 yard line.  His first shot landed in the middle, a 10, but then there was a dreaded click.  Rob’s blazing fast reflexes allowed him to clear the malfunction and fire off two quick shots just as the target slipped out of view.  A ripple of awe went through the crowd gathered to watch Rob shoot.  When the target next appeared, his shots could be seen – 10, 8, 10.  AMAZING!

This year my teammate Doug Koenig tried something new and competed for the Aggregate Title (Open and Iron sight scores combined).  Using a stock Smith & Wesson DK 1911 in 38 Super I had the chance to watch Doug shoot the Plates with this gun.  The 10 and 15 yard lines seemed effortless as the steel fell methodically between the start and stop buzzers.  When he moved back to the 20 yard line I was shocked to see that, while all the shooters on the line prepared to hit prone at the blare of the start signal, Doug stood patiently.  Tink, tink, tink, tink, tink, tink! Doug knocked plate after plate down at both of the 20 yard strings.  He duplicated the performance at the 25 yard position – a CLEAN Plate Event, all from the standing position! WOW!

Of course, the battle on the Mover is one that seems to host the same cast of characters each year.  Bruce Piatt and Doug Koenig are always in this showdown as two shooters who consistently shoot clean up to this point in the match.  It’s a pressure cooker with a large crowd of onlookers and so much on the line. Doug was first and kept all his shots in the 10 ring.  His final match score was 1920 – 179x.  It was the first perfect score posted this year.  Bruce was next and drilled the X-ring pass after pass until he shot a dreaded 8 leaving Doug with the only 1920 in the match!

There were plenty of highlights after the main event on Saturday.  I watched S&W Champion Jerry Miculek engage the crowd with his showmanship and deliver super fast runs in the Production Shoot Off.  Kenda Lenseigne tried her hand at the sport in the Celebrity Shoot Off against country music singer Mark Wills.  Kenda is an OVERALL World Champion in Mounted Cowboy Action Shooting. In an exciting match up, she defeated Mark for the win.  Jim Shepherd of the Outdoor and Shooting Wires also made time in his busy schedule to shoot in the Press Shoot Off against Yamil Sued, Smith & Wesson’s Match Photographer.  Yamil took the win but Jim certainly held his own! I had the pleasure to meet mother and daughter team Gwen Cox and Paige Eissinger representing the Women’s Outdoor Media Association.  I LOVED the fact that Gwen shared that she recently learned to shoot for the first time in her 70’s. Her words, “You can teach an old dog new tricks!”

At the Saturday night awards ceremony junior girls ROCKED it.  I was so proud of my Smith & Wesson teammate Molly Smith for giving Bianchi shooting a try.  Molly was the youngest competitor in the match but also won two awards as a New Shooter in Production.  The charming Tiffany Piper of New Zealand shot her way to claim the Junior Cup.  It’s exciting to see these young women on the range and inspiring others to give shooting a try.

Without a doubt the highlight of the match for me was the opportunity to hear Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Donald “Doc” Ballard speak.  Bianchi Cup Coordinator Tom Hughes gave an introduction of Colonel Ballard’s heroic deeds, saving the lives of seven Marines by diving on a live grenade in Vietnam.   Tom also shared a wonderful story.  When he received confirmation of the Colonel’s attendance he called the Marine Corps Shooting Team and asked its Team Captain if any Marines would be attending the Bianchi Cup.  To honor the Medal of Honor recipient, he replied with “Sir, we will send seven.”

Colonel Ballard’s speech will forever leave an impression on me.  He celebrated our patriotism but closed by stating that we all have an obligation to our children.  As patriots and believers in our Second Amendment Rights it is our duty to ensure that America’s youth understands the importance of pride in our nation and protecting our freedoms.  It was a fitting message with Memorial Day just two days away and a perfect end to the Bianchi Cup

Editor’s Note:  Sorry for the delay in posting … I dropped the ball on this.  I wanted to share Julie’s coverage of the NRA Bianchi Cup with the Women of USPSA.   Her story is genuinely touching and enjoyable.  Congratulations, Jessie, Julie, and Vera on your Top 3 finishes!  We would love to hear about your matches, too.  Send us a blog post if you have time!  ~Kippi

This is the first profile that Shooting USA has done on a woman. Congratulations, Julie …
and thank you Shooting USA for the great coverage!