The pistol phase of the CMP Nationals finished in a jumble of cancellations and rescheduling as we dodged the smoke drifting in from the wildfires in Canada. The overall championship was based on the .22 portion plus about half of the centerfire match, a first for this competition I believe, but this was Perry and things happen! Including temperatures in the 90’s and wind strong enough to knock you backward during the service pistol team matches.
Michigan shooters got together for a total of six MRPA-supported teams: five in the 2700 (including one junior team), two in the reworked service pistol team matches and one air pistol team in the inaugural air pistol national championship. Thanks to team captains/organizers Chris Perry, Cliff Roesler, Brad Wise and Mark Hayford who herded cats to make this come off. Our teams placed solidly across the board: 11th of 45 overall (Chris Perry, Jason Steele, Zach Hays, Dave Krysiak), 4th of 10 in the Oglethorpe match (burned Chris Roesler), 4th of 6 in the "At Large” competition and 1st of two entries in the state association Air Pistol Team match. Our one junior team was 4th of seven. The top Michigan State Police teams also placed well: second and third out of six in a separate competiton.
Many individual shooters excelled in their classes. Brad Wise was 20th overall (out of 789) in any sights and 12th among civilians. Neil Hays took 2nd (out of 203) Grand Seniors, any sights and 3rd in the overall Military and Police Service Pistol match. In metallic sights, Pat Grow was 13th overall while Curtis Rowe was second Grand Senior. Dave Krysiak was top Grand Senior in the .22 only class. Mark Hayford won high Grand Senior in Air Pistol. And I’m leaving out a few. It was a busy and successful week.
week.
Next up:
September 19, Indiana State Outdoor Pistol Championship
September 26 & 27, Michigan Precision Pistol Championship
Wildfire smoke the morning of .45 day (all matches cancelled).
Brad Wise, Service Pistol team captain being given an Air Pistol Team award by MRPA Pistol Director Judy Tant
Cliff Roesler, third High Senior (20th overall) in metallic sights
MRPA win in the Air Pistol Team match
(The main award ceremony was cancelled due to poor air quality.
