| 2010 World Championship Airgun Team Selected |
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 Eleven members of the 2010 World Championship team were selected following the Spring Airgun Championships, which served as Part II of the World Championship Team selection for the men's and women's open air rifle and pistol events. Six air rifle and five air pistol shooters qualified to represent the U.S. this August at the 50th ISSF World Championships in Munich, Germany.
The 2010 World Championship team for airgun was determined by the match scores from the first two days of the 2009 Winter Airgun Championships, which were held last December, added to the match scores from both days of the Spring Airgun Championships and the best two finals from both matches.
Olympic gold and silver medalist Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) qualified for the World Championship team in Men's 10m Air Rifle with an overall score of 2600.7 points. U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) member Matt Rawlings (Wharton, Texas) grabbed the second spot in Men's Air Rifle with a total score of 2584.2 and Jonathan Hall (Carrollton, Ga.) earned the third spot with 2577.1 total points.
Leading the Men's Air Pistol team will be 2008 Olympian Brian Beaman, who finished with an overall score of 2507.4 points. Two-time Olympian and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Jason Turner (Rochester, N.Y.) will also represent the U.S. in Munich this summer, finishing right behind Beaman with 2506.2 points. Three-time Olympian and USAMU member Daryl Szarenski (Saginaw, Mich.) grabbed the third spot after firing a total score of 2502.1 points.
Two-time Olympian, Emily Caruso (Fairfield, Conn.), lead the way in Women's Air Rifle, qualifying for a spot on the 2010 World Championship team with 1800.4 total points. Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.), a 2008 Olympian, took the second spot with an overall score of 1798.8 points and Texas Christian University's Sarah Scherer (Fort Worth, Texas) qualified in third place with 1796.4 points.
Teresa Meyer (Dearborn, Mich.) grabbed a spot on the World Championship team in Women's Air Pistol after firing 1691.8 total points, while Brenda Shinn (Riverside, Calif.), a 2008 Olympian, took the second spot with 1679.0 points.
Junior air rifle shooters will be selected to the World Championship team based on their match scores from the 2010 National Junior Olympics and National Championships. The junior air pistol shooters will qualify based on two courses of fire at the National Championships only.
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| Hunting, Fishing Heritage a Plus for U.S. Olympic Shooters |
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 Every four years, the U.S. fields an Olympic shooting team known worldwide for achieving success in a most un-contemporary way-a rich and distinctly American background in traditional field sports.
Coaches say hunting and fishing, still the primary funding mechanisms for conservation in our country, also help boost America's competitiveness on the international stage.
In recognition, the entire USA Shooting Team is serving as honorary chair of National Hunting and Fishing Day 2010, set for Sept. 25. Congress established the annual commemoration to recognize hunters and anglers for their leading role in fish, wildlife and habitat conservation. Sporting licenses and special taxes on certain gear generate $100,000 every 30 minutes, totaling more than $1.75 billion per year, for programs that benefit all who love the outdoors.
Denise Wagner of Wonders of Wildlife, the official home of NHF Day in Springfield, Mo., said, "American hunters and anglers are not only world-class conservationists, they have skills that help make world-class athletes."
National Shotgun Coach Bret Erickson agrees.
"Most members of our shooting team grew up hunting and fishing," said Erickson, himself a four-time Olympian and lifelong hunter and angler from Bennington, Neb. "Nobody starts hunting because they want to go to the Olympics, but it helps. The skills learned in hunting and, to a lesser degree, fishing-safety and comfort with firearms, basic shooting mechanics, patience, controlling emotions, concentration, ability to focus for long periods, persistence-can translate directly to competitive shooting."
This deep and unrivaled connection to outdoor traditions helps make the U.S. a surprisingly fierce contender in all three shooting disciplines: shotgun, rifle and pistol.
Erickson explained, "In many countries, Italy for example, shotgun shooting is a premier sport. Everyone shoots. And they shoot the international-style games that are relatively uncommon here in America. So before a match even begins we know we're outnumbered and outmanned. Our athletes typically haven't had as much time in their sport. Our training budgets are often smaller. And yet, in shotgun events, the U.S. remains among the top one or two countries in the world."
He added, "Most nations don't enjoy the broad freedoms to hunt like we do in the U.S., and that unique tradition and rural lifestyle produce much of our talent. Hunters have always been a reservoir of natural shooting abilities that America has relied on and successfully developed for Olympic competition."
Shooters are among the most decorated athletes in U.S. Olympic history. With 103 medals for shotgun, rifle and pistol marksmanship, only track and field, swimming, diving, wrestling and boxing have been more prolific medal producers for Americans. In fact, shooting ranks ahead of gymnastics, figure skating, volleyball and more than 30 other Olympic sports.
Buddy DuVall of USA Shooting, the national governing body for Olympic shooting sports, said, "Our team is thrilled to serve for National Hunting and Fishing Day. It's a great honor to recognize our roots in hunting and fishing, raise awareness of conservation and build appreciation for the sportsmen and women of America."
The USA Shooting Team joins a long list of sports personalities who have served as honorary chair of NHF Day. Baseball stars have included Ron Guidry, Tom Seaver, George Brett and Wade Boggs. Football pros Bert Jones, Terry Bradshaw, John Riggins and Jay Novacek, along with golfers Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman have also served. Basketball legend John Havlicek, NASCAR's Ward Burton and tennis champion Roscoe Tanner round out the sports heroes who have helped spread the word about hunting, angling and conservation.
Since launching in 1972, NHF Day has been formally proclaimed by every U.S. President.
The growing list of sponsors for NHF Day 2010 includes Wonders of Wildlife, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Bass Pro Shops, Smith & Wesson, Sportsman Channel, Realtree, Cabela's, GunBroker.com, Yamaha, and Pope and Young Club. |
| Rifle Auction Nets $175K for Olympic Shooting Team |
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A rifle sold at auction-five different times-at last weekend's Wild Sheep Foundation convention netted $175,000 to help train American rifle, pistol and shotgun shooters for the 2012 Olympics.
Auction proceeds will go to USA Shooting, the nonprofit organization that governs and promotes international shooting sports and prepares athletes for competition.
"We have a long and wonderful partnership with the Wild Sheep Foundation. In fact, since 2005 our partnership has raised more than $800,000 for Olympic shooting," said Buddy DuVall, executive director of USA Shooting Team Foundation. "This year's auction was extra special. The electricity and spirit of patriotism in the audience seemed to escalate with each bid."
The rifle, a Winchester Model 1885 engraved by Baron Engraving, featured the Wild Sheep Foundation and USA Shooting logos surrounded by scrollwork. The receiver of the rifle was plated overall in 24-karat gold. The rifle first sold for $60,000. The winning bidder then donated the rifle back into the auction to be sold again. So did the second winning bidder, and the third and the fourth. The auction ended after the fifth sale with a cumulative total of $175,000.
The auction was held as part of the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and International Sporting Expo, Feb. 3-6, in Reno, Nev. The annual event is a showcase and fundraiser for the organization's conservation mission.
Five members of the USA Shooting Team were on hand throughout the event, including a special sporting clays competition that served as fundraiser for wild sheep conservation and the shooting team. Participants included:
- Corey Cogdell-Olympic bronze medalist, 2008. Shotgun: trap. First U.S. woman ever to win a medal in her event.
- Glenn Eller-Olympic gold medalist, 2008. Shotgun: double trap.
- Matt Emmons-Olympic gold medalist, 2004; Olympic silver medalist, 2008. Rifle: men's prone, 3x40; Air rifle.
- Amber English-Junior Olympic gold medalist, 2009. Shotgun: skeet.
- Jeff Holguin-Olympian, 2008; World Championships silver medalist, 2009; World Cup bronze medalist, 2009. Shotgun: double trap.
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| Shotgun Junior Olympic Team Announced |
 Nineteen junior trap and skeet shooters have been selected to the 2010 Shotgun Junior Olympic team. The Junior Olympic team is selected annually by the USA Shooting National Shotgun Coach based on an individual shooter's performance in the last year's shooting events, including the National Junior Olympics and National Championships. Also taken into consideration for a spot on the JO team are volunteer activities, academic performance and the National Coach's judgment on potential for future success. The 2010 JO team will be supported by USA Shooting with ammo, entry fees and a team vest. Past JO team members include Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock (skeet) and 2009 World Cup Cairo bronze medalist Rachael Heiden (trap). The Junior Olympic team members will also have the opportunity to work with National Shogtun Coach Bret Erickson, a four-time Olympian. Erickson has coached several past JO team members including 2008 National Champion Miranda Wilder. The 2010 Junior Olympic team members include: Dustin Anderson (Woodstock, Ga.) Roger Zach Bollman (Defiance, Mo.) Katelyn Bonn (Portland, Ore.) Tanner Brooks (Walkerton, Ind.) Karl (Trey) Buretz (Greenwood Village, Colo.) Michael Cates (Centennial, Colo.) Morgan Craft (Hughesville, Pa.) Kyle Granger DeWitt (Bryan, Texas) Michael Flores (Sacramento, Calif.) Hunter Gallant (Cord, Ark.) Jacob Gogno (Pottsville, Pa.) Gayla Gregory (College Station, Texas) Brandi Hobbs (Edinboro, Pa.) Colin King (Mount Pleasant, Tenn.) Riley Moody (Owasso, Okla.) Austin Odom (Benton, Ark.) Dustin Perry (Lovelady, Texas) Steven Nash Porter (Bryan, Texas) Dakotah Richardson (Godley, Texas) Garrett Walters (Burs Oak, Mich.) Wesley Wilcox (Greenbrier, Ark.) |
| Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife Set All-time High Records at the Western Hunting & Conservation Exposition |
 The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife (SFW) put together a record-breaking event for this year's Western Hunting & Conservation Exposition (WHCE) held Feb. 11-14, 2010, at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah. Exhibit hall attendance exceeded 25,000, and daily seminars and evening events were at capacity, entertaining well over 3,500 people. The sale of more than 60 big-game tags raised over $10 million for wildlife conservation. The Utah Statewide Mule Deer tag brought an all-time high of $260,000, and the Arizona Statewide Mule Deer tag sold for a record $177,000. Hunters had the opportunity to purchase or enter drawings for tags worth over $2 million. SFW President Byron Bateman said, "Hunters are conservationists. They're the ones putting the money on the ground. I think we've demonstrated that here." Over 350 exhibitors displayed and sold products at the Expo. Attendance and sales were so good that next year's hall is already half sold out. According to many vendors this was one of the most successful sports shows ever. Keynote Speakers for the event were Wayne LaPierre, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and Larry Potterfield, Founder and President of Midway USA. World-class entertainment featured Josh Turner, Jo Dee Messina, and Western Underground (Chris LeDoux's band). The USA Shooting Team was also involved with the Expo, and attendees had the opportunity to meet these great Olympic athletes up close. A one-of-a-kind USA Team long rifle was auctioned at the WHCE and raised $51,000 to benefit the Shooting Team. MDF President and CEO Miles Moretti concluded, "This fourth annual event proved to be the best yet, setting records in both attendance and money raised for wildlife. Salt Lake City is the place to be for the hunter who wants to make a difference and help preserve our sport for future generations." Next year's WHCE will be held Feb. 3-6, 2011. |
| List of Approved PSA/PSI Matches for 2010 Now Available |
USA Shooting is announcing the approved lists of PSA/PSI (Performance Standard Average/Individual Event Performance Standard) matches for 2010. Athletes can achieve a PSA/PSI at these designated USA Shooting matches throughout the year. The PSA/PAI scores establish a standard for elite performances based on the competitive results in World Cup and Olympic competition in the previous quadrennial (2004 - 2008). This standard ensures our athletes are shooting at the highest levels in international competition. Athletes who do not possess a PSA/PSI score may not be eligible for full (or any) funding by USA Shooting for ISSF events. In addition, athletes who do not possess a PSA/PSI may only be eligible to be named to the National Development Team, since the PSA/PSI standard is required for National Team status. Please see Section VI of the Performance Standards of the USA Shooting Policies and Procedures for more details. The following events are approved matches in 2010 where shooters can achieve a PSA or PSI:ShotgunSpring Selection match at Fort Benning USA Shooting National Championships Fall Selection at Kerrville NSSA World International Championships Zone 3 matches at Fort Benning RifleUSA Shooting National Championships May Smallbore selection at Fort Benning Spring Air gun at Colorado Springs Winter Air gun at Colorado Springs ISSF World Cups ISSF World Shooting Championships Junior Olympics qualifiers and National Championships Fall Selection at Fort Benning Rocky Mountain Championships at Colorado Springs NCAA Championships -- Air gun only PistolAll USA Shooting Selection matches USA Shooting National Championships Junior Olympic qualifiers and National Championships All ISSF Matches Bavarian Air gun Liberation Cup-Czech Republic Wiesbaden Rapid Fire Pistol Week |
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| Ruger and GunBroker.com Team Up to Auction "U.S." marked Mark II .22 LR Caliber Pistol |
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 Ruger will be featuring the "U.S." marked Mark II .22 LR caliber pistol on GunBroker.com as their next auction item. All proceeds of the auction will be donated to the USA Shooting Team.
 This is one of the few "U.S." marked Ruger Mark II pistols ever offered for sale (other than to the U.S. Government). This pistol is a part of the Ruger factory collection in Southport, CT, and a Certificate of Authenticity will be mailed to the winner of the auction. |
| USA Shooting Announces Winners from Recent Show Drawings |
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Winners of the USA Shooting Benchmade Knife:
- Dallas Safari Club-RD Reynolds
- SHOT-Mark Juista
- WSF-Don O'Gorman
- Mule Deer-Steve Hirschi
Winner of the USA Shooting engraved Kimber .22 Conversion Kit:
Winners of the USA Shooting Limited Edition Ruger 10/22:
- SHOT-Joey Giambra
- WSF-Ken Tayener
- Mule Deer-Jalee Martin
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Rifle/Pistol Spring Selection Online Registration Now Available |
The 2010 Rifle/Pistol Spring Selection match will be held May 10-20 at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga. This match will serve as the U.S. Team Trials for the 2010 World Shooting Championships and will be for Olympic smallbore events ONLY. The 50th ISSF World Championships will take place July 29 - August 11 in Munich, Germany. All competitors are encouraged to register for the match online using the Rail Station system. Click here to view the Spring Selection match program. |
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"Champions Circle" Unveiled as First New Funding Initiative from USA Shooting Team Foundation |
The USA Shooting Team Foundation announces the first new funding initiation to immerge from the recently created foundation - the "Champions Circle" program. Established in 2008 and having received 501(c)3 non-profit status in August 2009, the USA Shooting Team Foundation's mission is to provide philanthropic support to USA Shooting, ensuring athletes have access to the best facilities, coaching, training and support of their pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic medals. The Champions Circle program has been established to provide individuals with gifting opportunities to support USA Shooting's annual budget needs while offering unique partnership opportunities for Circle members. To receive a brochure or more information on the Champions Circle please contact USASTF Executive Director Buddy DuVall at buddy.duvall@usashooting.org or 719.866.4880. |
| USA Shooting to Host 2010 ISSF World Cup USA for Rifle and Pistol |
 USA Shooting will be hosting the 2010 ISSF World Cup USA for Rifle and Pistol at Fort Benning, Ga., home of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, May 22-31. This World Cup promises to be an exciting and memorable event. Top-ranked athletes from around the world in each Olympic Rifle and Pistol event will battle for supremacy. Weather conditions, facilities, support staff and accommodations will be top-notch. Fort Benning is the home to dozens of shooting legends including five-time Olympian and two-time Olympic gold medalist Lones Wigger as well as two-time Olympic gold medalist Gary Anderson. The venue, which will also be the site for the 2011 World Cup USA where Olympic quota spots will be awarded, boasts Sius 931 systems with excellent conditions and range facilities. High scores and superb competition are the norm for this venue, and previous World Cups have provided fantastic matches for the world's greatest competitive shooters. ISSF shooting federations may begin the journey to one of the most famous matches in the world by visiting the official World Cup USA website and completing the event registration. The preliminary registration deadline is fast approaching on Monday, March 1. World Cup organizing committee members Bill Roy or Lindsay Brooke can answer questions or assist with registration. For more information, please visit the official World Cup USA website. |
| USA Shooting Partners with Zaavy |
You've been asking for it, now it's here! Personalize banners and flags for your clubs, ranges, vehicles and much more! Promote for an upcoming match or simply show your support for the shooting sports. Zaavy offers a wide variety of USAS images, other shooting images and you can upload your own artwork and logos too. Zaavy provides the easiest way for consumers, businesses, affinity groups, churches and municipalities to acquire signs, banners and flags on-line. Customers simply go to www.zaavy.com/usas, design their sign on-line, and order. In a few days it arrives on their door step saving time, money and energy over traditional printing methods. Zaavy is the preferred supplier to American Youth Soccer Association, USA Taekwondo, USA Shooting, Sea Otter Classic and supplies over 400 youth baseball and soccer leagues team and sponsor banners and flags. The USA Shooting website went live Wednesday January 27, 2010. Please visit www.zaavy.com/usas. |
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