Rhode's Golden at the ISSF World Cup Final

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- The USA’s Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) does it again.

At the 2011 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Rhode added another gold medal to her collection.

The shooters began the day in scorching conditions of 105 degrees, but California native Rhode didn’t bat an eyelash at the oppressive heat.

“I am used to shooting in these conditions,” said Rhode in an interview with the ISSF’s Marco Dalla Dea. Rhode shot 69 targets in the match and had her work cut out for her in the final as two other shooters were ahead of her.

Known for her fierce finals presence, Rhode delivered with 24 out of 25 targets–the highest final–for a one target win over Slovakia’s Danka Bartekova. This gold is extra sweet, however, as it represents Rhode’s first ISSF World Cup Final gold medal. Bartekova won the silver medal with 70 targets and 22 targets in the final.

The bronze medalist was China’s Zang Dongliang with 70 match targets and 21 targets in the final. For complete results and rankings, please visit the ISSF website.Follow the USA Shooting Team on Facebook and Twitter for updated scores and more.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Keith Sanderson, Photo ISSF

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- Pistol athletes rejoice-the USA’s Sergeant First Class Keith Sanderson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) claimed a spot on the podium at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final in Wroclaw, Poland.

Sanderson, who won the first Men’s Rapid Fire quota this year, shot 581 match points. Teammate Emil Milev (Temple Terrace, Fla.) shot 576 match points, and both athletes found themselves in the final.

In the new ISSF finals format, all athletes begin at a score of zero and achieve points or hits through a 9.7 point shot or greater.

The first competitor is eliminated after four rounds of shooting, and then one is eliminated each round thereafter until a winner emerges. Milev finished in fifth place with 19 hits. Sanderson (pictured above, photo ISSF) forged ahead with 17 hits after just four rounds and then 26 hits after seven rounds to win the bronze medal.

National Pistol Coach Sergey Luzov said the Americans have been working on “four second series consistency to improve numbers in the new finals format.” Luzov is “glad to see the hard work paying off” with improved finals scores.

Alexi Klimov of Russia won the silver medal with 30 hits and Christian Reitz of Germany shot 32 hits for the gold medal.

In Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position, the USA Shooting Team’s Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) finished in sixth place with 583 match points and 98.3 points in the final for a total of 681.3 points. The gold medalist was Barbara Lechner of Germany with 690.8 total points. German teammates Sonja Pfeilschifter shot 690.1 points for the silver medal and Eva Friedel shot 687.7 points for the bronze medal.

The USA’s Amy Sowash (Richmond) shot 578 match points to finish in tenth place. For complete scores and rankings, please visit the ISSF website.

ELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- The American women once again found the podium at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Clay Target Championship in Belgrade, Serbia.

Internationally known Women’s Skeet magician Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) shot 72 match targets to tie four other shooters for only three spots in the final. Relying on decades of experience (four Olympic medals to be exact) Rhode didn’t break a sweat as she sailed into the final with four shoot-off targets. She was joined by Katiuscia Spada of Italy and Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit of Thailand.

Kim Rhode is a four-time Olympic medalist looking to put her name in the history books with five individual medals in five Olympic Games.

Rhode, the 2010 World Champion, continued on the path to success with the highest final of 25 targets for 97 out of 100 total targets to tie China’s Wei Ning. Ning and Rhode battled it out for the silver and bronze medals in an eight target shoot-off. Ning finished with eight targets for the silver medal and Rhode won the bronze medal with seven targets. Rhode said, “It is an honor to represent the USA and bring home a medal.

This was a great test of my skills against the competition that I will face in London and my goal of five medals in five Olympic Games.

” National Shotgun Coach Bret Erickson commented, “Kim established herself as a front runner for the 2012 Olympic Games with a solid third place performance against outstanding competition.”

The gold medalist was Germany’s Christine Wenzel with 98 total targets (74+24). Olympic Training Center Resident Athletes Jaiden Grinnell (Port Angeles, Wash.) finished in eleventh place with 71 targets and teammate Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, La.) shot 65 targets.

Young Morgan Craft (Hughesville, Pa.) shot 68 out of 75 match targets to tie with Lucie Anastassiou of France for the silver and bronze medals. Craft shot one target to Anastassiou’s two targets in the shoot-off to claim the bronze medal for the red, white and blue.

Craft, a freshman at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Mo., was elated to receive the bronze medal as she said, “All the time, sweat and dedication put into my training this summer more than paid off when the bronze medal was placed around my neck on the podium while representing the USA.”

Her successful finish was even sweeter as this Championship was Craft’s first overseas trip. Erickson was proud of the junior team’s tenacity and development as he said, “I’m impressed with our junior team’s performance. Morgan had a terrific day and should be proud of her first international medal. These young athletes are the foundation for success in the future.”

Teammates Brandy Drozd (Bryan, Texas) finished in fourth place with 67 targets and Riley Moody (Collinsville, Okla.) shot 58 targets for eighteenth place. With strong shooting from all three athletes, the Women’s Junior Team claimed the team bronze medal. For complete results, please visit the ISSF website or the ISSF YouTube Channel for finals footage.

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

Dallas Safari Club
Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is a proud sponsor of USA Shooting’s Junior Team to the World Shooting Championship Team in Belgrade, Serbia. An independent organization since 1982, DSC has become an international leader in conserving wildlife and wilderness lands, educating youth and the general public, and promoting and protecting the rights and interests of hunters worldwide. For more information on DSC visit www.biggame.org.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Otis Technology Gun Care

Lyons Falls, NY --(Ammoland.com)- This has been an exciting year for Otis Technology sponsored female Olympians.

Otis Technology is proud to endorse America’s most decorated female Olympic shooter, four-time- Olympic medalist Kim Rhode as well as 2006 and 2010 USA Olympians, Tracy and Lanny Barnes.

Recently, Kim won her 14th national championship and second straight in international skeet with a total score of 265/275 in Colorado Springs. This win also qualified her for the Pan-Am Games Team. In late March, she won the Gold at the ISSF Sydney World Cup and clinched the 2012 USA Olympic spot as the first member of the USA Shooting Team to meet and exceed the point threshold for Women’s Skeet.

According to Rhode, “When a competition is won or lost by one target, or you only get one shot at that

‘once in a lifetime buck’, it is truly important that your barrels and action are clean. You don’t get a second chance. That’s why I always clean my guns thoroughly before hunting or a competition. I found that not only does it stop the possibility of a jamming problem but by having a clean barrel and chokes you have the ultimate pattern for your best performance.”

As the excitement spreads, Otis is looking forward to being a part of history as Rhode looks to achieve an Olympic record as the first USA Olympian in any sport to medal in 5 consecutive Olympics.

“I’m training and doing everything that I can to bring home another Olympic medal. My hope is this could bring shooting to the forefront of the Olympic games,” states Rhode, “2012 here we come thanks to support from companies like Otis.”

Just as Rhode has been nominated to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, Tracy Barnes has been crowned best Biathlon shooter in the World at the Veltins World Team Challenge event in Germany as she beat the very best biathletes in the world in the shootout of biathlon’s premier co-ed event. Meanwhile, at the Sprint race at the US Nationals in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Lanny and Tracy placed 3 rd and 4 th , respectively. In the Pursuit, Tracy battled her way back up the ranks to finish 2nd, while Lanny stayed in 3rd place for the second race and the last day of nationals brought a 3rd place finish for Tracy and a 4 th place finish for Lanny.

Tracy and Lanny are also training hard to make sure they are ready to bring home the gold in the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

“We brought our shooting to a whole new level this year. I think a lot of it has to do with being confident and being able to rely on our equipment because of Otis. It gets us excited about the possibility of winning a medal at the Olympics in Russia,” says Lanny Barnes. Tracy adds, “Otis has been instrumental in our shooting success at the international level. I was able to win in front of 50,000 screaming German fans because I trusted my equipment with Otis’ advanced technology. I can’t wait until next season.”

Kim, Tracy and Lanny and other Otis Pro Staff members recently came together to film Otis’ new television commercial with Tahoe Films. Watch the new commercial at www.otistec.com or on one of the industry television networks. The Otis Pro Staff team is rounded out by Xtreme Sports Shooter and 8 time World record holder, Patrick Flanigan; The world’s best all around shooter and host of Doug Koenig’s Championship Season TV, Doug Koenig; UFC Hall of Famer and 9 time welterweight Champion as well as host of Texas Trophy Hunters TV, Matt Hughes; and country entertainer and host of 3 Gun Nation TV, Mark Wills.

Otis Technology is known for manufacturing the most advanced gun cleaning systems available. The superior Breech-to-Muzzle® design combined with unmatched quality has positioned Otis as the gun care system of choice with the US military

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(Ammoland.com)- July 27 marks the one-year countdown to the opening of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, England.

Coming off of its success in Beijing, the USA Shooting Team has continued momentum through successful World Cup seasons and Olympic qualification, creating high expectations and much anticipation for London.

Five members of the USA Shooting Team have already been nominated to Team USA.

Kim Rhode leads the way for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team as she enters her fifth Olympic Games. Photo courtesy of the ISSF

In shotgun, Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) was the first American athlete nominated and will be competing in Women’s Skeet. Heading to London with four Olympic medals, Rhode is once again considered a medal contender. With a podium finish in London, Rhode will become the first American Olympian in an individual sport to win five medals in five consecutive Olympic Games. Staff Sergeant Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit will be shooting in Men’s Double Trap next July, following deployment to Afghanistan this fall to serve his country.

In rifle, two-time Olympic medalist Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) will be competing in his third Olympic Games in Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position. Sergeant First Class Eric Uptagrafft (Phenix City, Ala.) will represent the U.S. in his second Olympic Games in Men’s 50m Rifle Prone. Finally, in Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position, Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) will compete in her second Olympic Games.

To date the USA Shooting Team has secured 16 of 28 potential country participation quotas for London and will compete for additional quotas in the upcoming World Clay Target Championships and Pan American Games later this year.

Over the next twelve months, U.S. shooters will compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials to earn the final spots on Team USA. Show your support for your USA Shooting Team athletes as they qualify for Team USA by ‘liking’ USA Shooting’s Facebook Page or by visiting www.usashooting.org .

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- USA Shooting is proud to announce that Staff Sergeant Josh Richmond, from Hillsgrove, Pa. and a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, has qualified for a nomination to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

Upon approval, Richmond will be competing in his first-ever Olympic Games in London 2012 as a Men’s Double Trap athlete. At just 25 years old, Staff Sgt. Richmond has dominated the international scene since clinching the World Championship title in 2010. With consistent podium-topping performances since that time, he has surpassed the point threshold to earn a 2012 nomination.

Following the 2008 Olympic Games, USA Shooting adopted a point selection procedure for athletes to gain an Olympic nomination. Points are awarded based on competition performance at International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cups and World Championships.

It should also be noted that Staff Sgt. Richmond is a full-time Solider and member of the USAMU stationed in Fort Benning, Ga. Moreover, prior to shooting for his Olympic dreams, this fall Staff Sgt. Richmond will deploy to serve in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Starting off his quest for London 2012, Staff Sgt. Richmond took charge at the first ISSF World Cup of the season in the sun and sand of Acapulco in 2010. He shot 144 out of 150 match targets and 48 targets in the final for a total of 192 targets and the gold medal. Shortly thereafter, he finished fourth at the ISSF World Cup in Dorset, England, with 143 match targets and 45 targets in the final.

Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond

In undoubtedly his best performance thus far, Staff Sgt. Richmond started off the ISSF World Shooting Championships in Munich, Germany, by dropping only four targets throughout the entire match to enter the final with 146 targets. With a singular focus, he surged ahead to equal the final world record score of a perfect 50 out of 50 targets to finish with 196 targets and the title of World Champion. As a result of these performances, he earned the title of USA Shooting’s 2010 Male Athlete of the Year.

In 2011, a bronze medal got the season off to a solid start as Staff Sgt. Richmond shot 143 match targets and 46 targets in the final for a total of 189 targets in Chile. He continued to find the podium in Sydney with 140 match targets and 46 targets in the final for a total of 186 targets and the silver medal, Australia. In his third ISSF World Cup appearance of the year, Staff Sgt. Richmond shot 145 match targets and 47 out of 50 targets in the final for a total of 192 targets and fourth place in Slovenia.

National Shotgun Coach Bret Erickson said, “Josh is the top ranked Men’s Double Trap shooter in the world because he consistently delivers medal-winning performances. His Olympic nomination comes from outstanding performances in 2010 and 2011 and I’m looking forward to having him represent our country in his first-ever Olympic Games. If he continues on the same path as the past two seasons, he will be a contender for the gold medal.”

“It was a great feeling to know that I have qualified to compete in the Olympic Games, which has been a long term goal of mine,” Richmond said. “After I made the threshold I immediately began thanking all of the coaches, family, friends and organizations that made this goal a reality; starting with United States Army Marksmanship Unit for not only molding me into a Soldier, but giving me the opportunity to compete and win at the highest level.

“I look forward to representing the country not only in my upcoming deployment but also in the Olympic Games where my goal is to bring home the gold for the United States,” said Richmond.

Richmond is the second Soldier from the USAMU to be nominated for selection to the Olympics. SFC Eric Uptagrafft was nominated in June to compete in Men’s Prone Rifle. USA Shooting would like to congratulate Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond on his 2012 Olympic nomination, wish him success at his first Olympic Games and thank him for proudly serving our country.

About USAMU:
The USAMU enhances the Army’s recruiting effort, raises the standard of the Army’s marksmanship proficiency, and supports the Army’s small arms research and development initiatives in order to raise the Army’s overall combat readiness. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo --(Ammoland.com)- USA Shooting is proud to announce that Staff Sergeant Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) has qualified for a nomination to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

Upon approval, Richmond will be competing in his first-ever Olympic Games in London 2012 as a Men’s Double Trap athlete.

At just 25 years old, Staff Sgt. Richmond has dominated the international scene since clinching the World Championship title in 2010.

With consistent podium-topping performances since that time, he has surpassed the point threshold to earn a 2012 nomination. Following the 2008 Olympic Games, USA Shooting adopted a point selection procedure for athletes to gain an Olympic nomination. Points are awarded based on competition performance at International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cups and World Championships. It should also be noted that Staff Sgt. Richmond is a full-time solider and member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit stationed in Fort Benning, Ga. Moreover, prior to shooting for his Olympic dreams, this fall Staff Sgt. Richmond will deploy to serve the USA in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond is gunning for gold in London 2012.

Starting off his quest for London 2012, Staff Sgt. Richmond took charge at the first ISSF World Cup of the season in the sun and sand of Acapulco in 2010. He shot 144 out of 150 match targets and 48 targets in the final for a total of 192 targets and the gold medal. Shortly thereafter, he finished fourth at the ISSF World Cup in Dorset, England, with 143 match targets and 45 targets in the final. In undoubtedly his best performance thus far, Staff Sgt. Richmond started off the ISSF World Shooting Championships in Munich, Germany, by dropping only four targets throughout the entire match to enter the final with 146 targets. With a singular focus, he surged ahead to equal the final world record score of a perfect 50 out of 50 targets to finish with 196 targets and the title of World Champion. As a result of these performances, he earned the title of USA Shooting’s 2010 Male Athlete of the Year.

In 2011, a bronze medal got the season off to a solid start as Staff Sgt. Richmond shot 143 match targets and 46 targets in the final for a total of 189 targets in Chile. He continued to find the podium in Sydney with 140 match targets and 46 targets in the final for a total of 186 targets and the silver medal, Australia. In his third ISSF World Cup appearance of the year, Staff Sgt. Richmond shot 145 match targets and 47 out of 50 targets in the final for a total of 192 targets and fourth place in Slovenia.

National Shotgun Coach Bret Erickson said, “Josh is the top ranked Men’s Double Trap shooter in the world because he consistently delivers medal-winning performances. His Olympic nomination comes from outstanding performances in 2010 and 2011 and I’m looking forward to having him represent our country in his first-ever Olympic Games. If he continues on the same path as the past two seasons, he will be a contender for the gold medal.”

“It was a great feeling to know that I have qualified to compete in the Olympic Games, which has been a long term goal of mine. After I made the threshold I immediately began thanking all of the coaches, family, friends and organizations that made this goal a reality; starting with United States Army Marksmanship Unit for not only molding me into a Soldier, but giving me the opportunity to compete and win at the highest level. I look forward to representing the country not only in my upcoming deployment but also in the Olympic Games where my goal is to bring home the gold for the United States,” said Richmond.

USA Shooting would like to congratulate Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond on his 2012 Olympic nomination, wish him success at his first Olympic Games and thank him for proudly serving our country.

To learn more about Olympic shooting and Josh Richmond, please visit the USA Shooting website.

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and Facebook.

Heiden waves to the crowd shortly after winning her first ISSF World Cup gold medal. Photo ISSF

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- At the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Slovenia, Rachael Heiden (Clinton, Mich.) delivered an award winning performance in Women’s Trap.

Heiden shot 72 qualification targets to tie with four other athletes for three spots in the final. Shooting four targets, Heiden and Slovakia’s Zuzana Stefecekova and France’s Delphine Racinet advanced to the final.

Heiden attacked the field, hungry for the gold. With the highest final of 23 targets, she surpassed the competition to secure the highest spot on the podium with 95 targets.

The silver medalist was Stefcekova who also advanced to the podium with 21 targets in the final for a total of 93 targets. Yingzi Liu of China (74+18), Katrin Quooss (74+18) of Germany and Sonja Scheibl (73+19) of Germany tied at 92 targets after the final. In a brief shoot-off, Liu secured the bronze medal with four targets. Quooss finished in fourth with three targets and Scheibl missed her shoot-off target to finish in fifth. The sixth place finisher was Racinet with 72 targets and 18 targets in the final for a total of 90 targets. The USA Shooting Team’s Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) shot 72 match targets to qualify for the shoot-off, but finished in eighth place with two shoot-off targets. Teammate Caitlin Weinheimer (Kerrville, Texas) shot 56 match targets. To view complete results and rankings, please visit the ISSF Website.

Catch all the latest updates and follow your team on USA Shooting’s Facebook Page.

Winchester small logoWinchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- USA Shooting is pleased to announce that 2004 and 2008 Olympic medalist Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) has qualified for a nomination to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

Upon approval, Emmons will be competing in his third consecutive Olympic Games in Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position. Emmons was the Men’s 50m Rifle Prone gold medalist in 2004 in Athens and the silver medalist in the same event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

He also placed in the top ten in Men’s 50m Rifle Thee Position in 2004 and 2008. Emmons is working toward a bright future as he solidified a nomination for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team following stellar performances in 2010 and 2011. Following the 2008 Olympic Games, USA Shooting adopted a point selection procedure for athletes to gain an Olympic nomination. Points are awarded based on competition performance at International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cups and World Championships.

Two-time Olympic medalist Matt Emmons is gearing up for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.

Emmons started off 2010 with an unprecedented three International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position gold medals. He began the season in Sydney, Australia with 1170 match points and 102.6 points in the final for a total of 1272.6 points. Emmons continued to dominate with a gold medal victory at the ISSF World Cup USA. He fired 1178 points and 98.6 points in the final for a total of 1276.6 points. He shot 598 match points and 104.1 points in the final for a total of 702.1 points. In the end of June, he upped his medal total with his third gold medal of the season at the ISSF World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia. Emmons led the pack with 1181 match points. He followed up his five point lead with 97.4 points in the final for 1278.4 total points.

Matt opted out of the ISSF World Cup Final in October of last year due to recovery from surgery. In September of 2010, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and as a result had his thyroid removed. After only an eight-week recovery, he finished second at the USAS Winter Airgun Championships and thereby earned a place at two 2011 ISSF World Cups in Men’s 10m Air Rifle. He continued to shine in February on the domestic scene, setting a new national of 1188 points in Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position qualification at the Rocky Mountain Rifle Championship. Moreover, Emmons finished the three-position match with a 19.6 point margin over the silver medalist. His final score was 1188 points in day one, 1179 points in day two and 101.6 points in the final for a total of 2468.6 points.

Back in Sydney, Australia for the first ISSF World Cup of the 2011 season, Emmons brought home a silver medal in Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position. At 1169 qualification points, Emmons was situated in the middle of the final. Facing a deficit of seven points after China’s Qinan Zhu shot a commanding 1176 qualification points, Emmons fired 101 points in the final to outlast the rest of the field and finish with the silver medal. Shortly after, he shot the highest final of the ISSF World Cup USA with 101.2 points. Emmons finished qualification with 1172 points and scored 50.7 points in a shoot-off to earn the seventh position in the final. He shot his way up to fifth place and finished with 1273.2 total points to add to his U.S. Olympic point selection total.

National Rifle Coach Major Dave Johnson said, “Matt continues to overcome personal challenges and push the limits of the sport. In Australia he won a silver medal against many odds and earned a U.S. Olympic Team nomination. I expect him to contend for Men’s 10m Air Rifle and Men’s 50m Rifle Prone and I know he’s passionate about reaching the Olympic podium again.”

“I can’t wait to have the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games next year. I have a lot to work on between now and then, but I’m really looking forward to it. I’m also very thankful of the people who have helped move me along the path and help keep me at the top. I have to thank USA Shooting and the sponsors of USAS, the United States Olympic Committee, and my coach, Dave Johnson. Further, the sponsors of USAS play a vital role in helping the whole team achieve Olympic dreams. Without them, very little would be possible. I’d also like to thank my sponsors: ELEY, H&N, Anschutz and AHG, Gehmann, and Deerassic Park. Thanks for everything, let’s go win more medals together!” said an enthusiastic Emmons.

USA Shooting would like to congratulate Matt Emmons on working hard to earn his 2012 Olympic nomination.

To learn more about Olympic shooting and Matt Emmons, please visit the USA Shooting website.
ELEYELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

About USA Shooting
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and Facebook.

Jamie Beyerle and National Rifle Coach Major Dave Johnson celebrate Beyerle's top notch ISSF World Cup USA performance.

USA Shooting

FORT BENNING, GA --(Ammoland.com)- It should come as no surprise that the ELEY Athlete of the Month for June is recent International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup USA gold medalist Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.).

As the top ranked Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position shooter in the world, Beyerle took the lead with an astounding 10.8 final shot that put her on top of the podium in Georgia.

When asked about her ELEY Athlete of the Month nod, Beyerle said, “The ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning is always an exciting one since it is home to me and nothing is better than winning on your home soil.”

Beyerle shot 585 qualification points to enter the final as the fourth ranked shooter. Despite a three-point difference between Beyerle and leader Annik Marguet of Switzerland, Beyerle surged ahead of the competition with a strong final of 98.2 points.

National Rifle Coach Major Dave Johnson said, “Jamie has been putting the world on notice that she will be a top contender in London. She has won the gold in four out of the last five ISSF World Cups and World Cup Finals; her long term hard work and perseverance continues to pay off.”

With two ISSF World Cup gold medals during the 2010 season, a fifth place finish at the 2010 ISSF World Championships and another two ISSF World Cup gold medals this year, Beyerle is well on her way to shooting in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Beyerle has been training daily in order to reach the podium, “My success the past couple months is due to the hard work I have been putting in on the range and all the support I get from USA Shooting, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, ELEY and all the other USA Shooting sponsors.”

USA Shooting would like to congratulate Jamie Beyerle for her hard work and wish her continued success for the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.

ELEYELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

USA Shooting

FORT BENNING, GA --(Ammoland.com)- The USA Shooting Team’s Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) defeated Eva Friedel of Germany and Li Peijing of China in an epic come-from-behind victory at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup USA in Fort Benning, Ga.

Beyerle entered the final in the fourth position with 585 qualification points. With the leader (Annik Marguet of Switzerland) three points ahead of Beyerle, her chances were growing slim with every shot.

Even though the competitors were challenged by the wind in the finals, Beyerle astounded the crowd as she buried a 10.8 for her final shot. Her competitors all marked mid 9s and 8s for their final shots, so Beyerle’s deep ten was golden.

National Rifle Coach Major Dave Johnson said, “Jamie has continued to build her resume and experience. She was patient in what could have been a very frustrating day in challenging wind and that discipline paid off on the last shot for a dramatic gold medal.” Beyerle finished with 98.2 points in the final for 683.2 total points.

Jamie Beyerle with her gold medal victory in Women's 50m Rifle Three Position

This win makes it her second ISSF World Cup medal in Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position. Fridel won the silver medal just one-tenth behind Beyerle at 683.1 points (587+96.1) and Li picked up the bronze with 683 total points (586+97). American teammates Amanda Furrer (Spokane, Wash.) finished in seventeenth place with 580 qualification points and Sarah Beard (Danville, Ind.) shot 571 points.

The day continued to shine as Brian Beaman (Selby, S.D.) won the bronze medal in Men’s 10m Air Pistol. Beaman, the 2010 Championship of the Americas gold medalist (and quota winner) in his specialty event, entered the final with 586 qualification points and shot 100.6 points in the final for 686.6 total points.

When asked about his victory, Beaman said, “I feel like I was finally able to overcome a lot of the adversity in this sport and I now have a solid inner confidence that allowed me to excel today.”

Russian Leonid Ekimov, who finished ninth at the 2010 ISSF World Championships in this event, entered the final in the middle of the field. Nailing ten after ten, Leonid shot his way up to victory with the highest final of 104.2 points. Leonid finished with 689.2 total points. Portugal’s Joao Costa climbed his first ISSF podium since the 2009 season to win the silver medal with 587 qualification points and 100.8 points in the final for 687.8 total points. American Anthony Lutz (Tonganoxie, Kan.) finished with 571 points and teammate Sergeant First Class Thomas Rose shot 570 points.

For all scores and results, please visit the ISSF Website. www.issf-sports.org

ELEYELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

World's Top Shooters & Olympic Hopefuls Headed For Fort Benning

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Hundreds of the world’s top rifle and pistol shooters are set to converge on Fort Benning and the ranges of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in hopes of securing coveted quota slots for the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.

USA Shooting will host the 2011 International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup USA for Rifle and Pistol May 14-22 on the military post. More than 800 athletes and officials from 73 countries have registered for the gigantic event, which could end up as the biggest international shooting event to ever occur on American soil.

“The World Cup is the entryway to the 2012 Olympic Games,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Hodne, commander, USAMU. “For some, Fort Benning will be the location where they earn their individual or country quotas for London in the summer of 2012. I could not think of a better place than the USAMU, the ‘Home of Champions,’ to solidify a position on any Olympic Team.”

The ISSF World Cup Series, together with the ISSF World Championships and the Continental Championships, can award Olympic Quota Places, and it is therefore considered an Olympic qualification competition. The ISSF World Cup Series is articulated in four different World Cup stages in Rifle and Pistol events and four different stages in Shotgun events.

This World Cup promises to be an exciting and memorable event. 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. This is the second consecutive year that Fort Benning and the USAMU have supported USA Shooting in hosting this international competition.

“USA Shooting is pleased to partner with the USAMU, Valley Hospitality and the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau to host the largest ISSF event ever on U.S. soil,” said Lindsay Brooke, chief of organizing committee, USAS. “This world class event will not disappoint, as we welcome the top shooters from around the world. We expect an exciting competition with Olympic caliber results, as these athletes give it their all in hopes of achieving a ticket to the Olympic Games in London.”

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, both former Soldiers of the USAMU. Current USAMU Soldier Sgt. 1st Class Eric Uptagrafft will compete at this year’s match. Uptagrafft has won two silver medals in World Cup competition in 2011 and is the leading American contender in securing one of two Olympic slots in Men’s Prone Rifle for Team USA.

“Observers can expect to see concentration, focus, and intensity of the highest degrees where even a millimeter can determine making a 2012 Olympic Team or not,” Hodne said. “Those who come to Fort Benning to watch this World Cup choose to be a part of history in the making, and U.S. Army Soldiers from the USAMU will represent the Army and their nation.”

About USAMU:
The USAMU enhances the Army’s recruiting effort, raises the standard of the Army’s marksmanship proficiency, and supports the Army’s small arms research and development initiatives in order to raise the Army’s overall combat readiness. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com.

Rachael Heiden (L) celebrates her silver medal victory at the ISSF World Cup Beijing.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- The USA Shooting Team’s 19-year-old Rachael Heiden (Clinton, Mich.) equaled the junior world record in Women’s Trap qualification at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Beijing.

Heiden, the 2010 World Championship junior bronze medalist and reigning National Champion, nailed 73 out of 75 targets after just three rounds of shooting in strong winds. In the final she shot 16 out of 25 targets for a total score of 89 targets. Tied with Italy’s Jessica Rossi (69+20) at 89 targets, the two entered a shoot-off for the gold medal.

Rossi topped Heiden after two targets to win the gold medal. Rossi, the 2010 World Championship bronze medalist, won a silver medal at the last leg of ISSF World Cup competition in Sydney. Heiden finished with the silver medal. “It feels great to win a medal, and to shoot a world record,” said Heiden in an interview with the ISSF’s Marco Dalla Dea. The bronze medal was won by Taipei’s Lin Yi Chun with 87 total targets (68+19), who also secured a quota place for her federation. The second quota place was awarded to Finland’s Satu Makela-Nummela, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist. Makela-Nummela scored 86 total targets (69+17) to finish fourth overall.

The ISSF World Cup Beijing wraps up on April 27 with the Men’s Trap final. The men shot two qualification rounds on April 26. The USA Shooting Team’s Collin Wietfeldt (Hemlock, Mich.) is leading the charge for the Americans with 49 out of 50 targets. Staff Sergeant Ryan Hadden (Pendleton, Ore.) shot 43 out of 50 targets, Zachary Bollman (Defiance, Mo.) shot 41 targets and Lance Bade (Vancouver, Wash.) scored 40 targets. For complete results, please visit the ISSF Website. Catch all the latest updates and follow your team on USA Shooting’s Facebook.

Winchester small logoWinchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Kim Rhode Takes the Silver at ISSF World Cup Beijing

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- At the third Women’s Skeet International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup final of the year, the USA’s Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) brought home the silver medal.

Despite the windy conditions, Rhode (pictured) entered the final with 72 qualification targets and only dropped the high house target of the final pair on station four to finish with 24 targets in the final. With a total score of 96 targets, Rhode was the uncontested silver medalist.

The gold medal was won by China’s Wei Ning who equaled the world record and final world record with 99 out of 100 targets. Shooting on her home range, Ning nailed 74 targets in qualification and the only straight final for the top spot on the podium.

The bronze medalist was Germany’s Christine Wenzel. Wenzel tied Thailand’s Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit at 94 targets and outlasted her in a two target shoot-off. Both women were awarded 2012 Olympic quotas as the top two federations already had their slots. The USA’s Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, La.) finished in sixth place with 89 total targets (72+17) and teammate Jaiden Grinnell (Port Angeles, Wash.) finished with 69 targets.

The Men’s Skeet athletes shot two qualification rounds and will finish with a final on April 22. The USA’s Frank Thompson (Alliance, Neb.) has a strong hold on third place with 48 out of 50 targets thus far. BJ Blanchard (Vidor, Texas) is right behind Thompson with 47 targets. Mark Weeks (Phenix City, Ala.) has 45 targets. For complete results, please visit the ISSF Website. Catch all the latest updates and follow your team on USA Shooting’s Facebook.

Winchester small logoWinchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Keith Sanderson won the first 2012 Olympic Men's Rapid Fire quota for the USA. Photo courtesy of Marco Dalla Dea, © 2011 ISSF

USA Shooting

FORT BENNING, GA --(Ammoland.com)- Sergeant First Class Keith Sanderson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) of the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program set the silver standard at the 2011 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) in Changwon, Korea.

Sanderson shot 581 qualification points to earn a spot in the final. Outlasting the competition, Sanderson and the Czech Republic’s Martin Podhrasky were left in a duel for the gold medal. Podhrasky scored 32 points to Sanderson’s 28 points for the gold.

Sanderson, however, not only won the silver medal but the first Men’s Rapid Fire Pistol quota for the USA. Spain’s Jorge Llames surprised the crowd with a solid finish of 20 points for the bronze medal and quota for the Spanish federation.

The USA Shooting Team’s Emil Milev (Temple Terrace, Fla.) finished in eighteenth place with 575 qualification points. Corporal Brad Balsley (Uniontown, Pa.) fired 582 qualification points and would have led the way into the final, but was disqualified due to a failed ammunition velocity test.

The USA protested the decision and it was determined that the chronograph (the machine used to test ammunition velocity) used was faulty. Balsley re-tested and passed on a second chronograph. Another federation, however, protested the second decision and the ISSF Jury of Appeals overturned the decision, preventing Balsley from shooting in the final.

For all scores and results, please visit the ISSF Website.

ELEYELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Scholastic Clay Target Program

Shelby Township, MI --(Ammoland.com)- The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) announced today that USA Shooting teammates Kim Rhode and former Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Champion, Caitlin Connor, captured Gold and Silver Medals respectively in Women’s Skeet at the ISSF World Cup Championships being held in Sydney, Australia. SCTP is the Official Clay Target Youth Development Program of USA Shooting.

Rhode, the four-time Olympic Medalist, made it to the finals with the highest qualification score of 72 hits and then proceeded to shoot a perfect score, 25 out of 25, in the finals round to win Gold. Teammate Caitlin Connor, one of six former SCTP National Champions who are competing at the ISSF World Cup, entered the finals just one target behind Rhode with 71 hits and also shot a perfect score of 25 out of 25 in the finals to win the Silver Medal.

The 2011 Sydney World Cup, the second leg of the ISSF World Cup Championships, has 64 nations represented with 721 competitors in the Olympic sports of rifle, pistol and shotgun.

For more information on the ISSF World Cup Competition or to view the ISSF Finals LIVE on the internet visit: www.issf-sports.org/

ISSF World Cup Sydney 2011

USA Shooting has 34 athletes participating in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun at the 2011 Sydney World Cup. 40% of the USA Shotgun Team (6 athletes) and all three members of the Men’s Skeet Team are former SCTP National Champions. The USA Shooting Team has the youngest Men’s Team, competing in the ISSF World Cup Series and at the World Clay Target Championships in Belgrade, Serbia later this year.

Athletes are members of the United States National Team at USA Shooting; based at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. USA Shooting is the National Governing Body for Olympic Shooting Sports in the United States.

About SCTP
SCTP is a youth development program where adult coaches and volunteers model sportsmanship, responsibility, and teamwork while using shooting sports programs to teach these and other positive life skills to SCTP athletes. SCTP activities are designed to incorporate two indispensable elements – FUN AND SAFETY. The safe handling of firearms is the primary focus of all SCTP clubs.

To learn more about SCTP call (586) 737-0805 or visit their website at www.shootsctp.org.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- Just seven months after securing the title of Junior World Champion in Men’s Skeet, Jon Michael McGrath (Tulsa, Okla.) finished the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Sydney with a golden glow.

Olympic Training Center Resident Athlete McGrath was on target for not only qualification, but also the final.

Shooting 124 out of 125 targets after five rounds left McGrath tied with three other shooters headed into the final.

Jon Michael McGrath celebrates his gold medal victory in Men's Skeet.

McGrath and Georgios Achilleos (Cyprus) were the only shooters that remained focused enough to shoot clean finals (25 targets). With just a two target shoot-off, McGrath bested Achilleos for the gold medal for a total of 149 +2 targets.

At just 18 years old, McGrath is one of the youngest members on the National Shotgun Team, yet didn’t let his youth cloud the path to success. Achilleos, the 2010 World Championship bronze medalist, finished with the silver medal in Sydney. Russia’s Valerly Shomin, the reigning World Champion, secured the bronze medal with 148 total targets (124 + 25). The USA’s TJ Bayer (College Station, Texas) and Sergeant Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) finished in the middle of the field with 119 targets.

The USA Shooting Team leaves Sydney the most victorious and medal-winning federation with eight total medals-three gold and five silver medals-won. China finished with a close second of eight medals-two gold, one silver and five bronze medals. Moreover, the USA brought home a very important quota for Men’s 50m Rifle Prone won by Sergeant First Class Eric Uptagrafft (Phenix City, Ala.).

The medal winners are as follows:

• Gold: Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.), Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position
• Gold: Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.), Women’s Skeet
• Gold: Jon Michael McGrath (Tulsa, Okla.), Men’s Skeet
• Silver: Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.), Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position
• Silver: Amy Sowash (Richmond, Ky.), Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position
• Silver: Sgt. 1st Class Eric Uptagrafft (Phenix City, Ala.), Men’s 50m Rifle Prone
• Silver: Staff Sergeant Joshua Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.), Men’s Double Trap
• Silver: Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, La.), Women’s Skeet

For complete results, please visit the ISSF Website. The USA Shooting Team will be traveling to Changwon, Korea, from April 12 to19 for the second leg of the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup. The shotgun team takes a rest for a week before competing in Beijing, China for the third ISSF Shotgun World Cup. Catch all the latest updates and follow your team on USA Shooting’s Facebook

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado --(Ammoland.com)-  USA Shooting is pleased to announce that four-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) has qualified for a nomination to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

Upon approval, Rhode will be competing in her fifth consecutive Olympic Games and chasing the record books as the first American Olympian to achieve five medals (in an individual event) in five Olympics. With podium-topping performances the past year, Rhode was the first member of the USA Shooting Team to meet and exceed the point threshold of 45 points for Women’s Skeet. Following the 2008 Olympic Games, USA Shooting adopted a point selection procedure for athletes to gain an Olympic nomination. Points are awarded based on competition performance at International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cups and World Championships.

Kim Rhode is shooting for Olympic history with a nomination to her fifth Olympic Games.

In 2010, Rhode started the ISSF World Cup season with a bang by winning a gold medal in Acapulco. She repeated her performance in Beijing where she equaled her own world record of 98 out of 100 targets. Rhode then placed fourth at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, Italy, earning three additional points. Yet, the greatest feat of her 2010 season came at the ISSF World Championships in Munich, Germany. Rhode nailed 97 out of 100 targets for the gold medal and title of World Champion for the first time in her career. She started the 2011 season with a fifth place finish at the 2011 ISSF World Cup Chile and sealed the deal with a gold medal performance at the ISSF Sydney World Cup on March 30. Rhode has now reached a point total that cannot be surpassed by other U.S. athletes based on remaining competitions with available Olympic qualification points. Though it didn’t add to her point total, Rhode was also USA Shooting’s Athlete of the Year for the third year in a row. “It is such an honor to be nominated for my fifth Olympic team and to have the opportunity to bring home a fifth medal for the United States. None of this would be possible without the support of all my sponsors like Winchester and all the family and supporters at home who have helped support me in this endeavor,” said Rhode.

With a shooting career that began in her early years, Rhode won her first Olympic medal-gold-in Atlanta in 1996 in Women’s Double Trap as a 17-year-old. Four years later, she won the bronze in Sydney, and then the gold in Athens in 2004. Since Women’s Double Trap was removed from the Olympic program after the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Rhode now competes in Women’s Skeet. At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Rhode continued her winning streak with a silver medal. USA Shooting would like to congratulate Kim Rhode on an excellent start to 2011 and qualifying for a nomination to the 2012 Olympic Team. To learn more about Olympic shooting and Kim Rhode, please visit the USA Shooting website.

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and Facebook.

Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation

Shelby Township, MI --(Ammoland.com)- The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) announced today that six former Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Champions are competing as members of The USA Shooting Team at the ISSF World Cup Championships being held in Sydney, Australia from March 22nd thru April 1st. SCTP is the Official Clay Target Youth Development Program of USA Shooting.

The six former SCTP National Champions competing at The ISSF 2011 Sydney World Cup are:

• Vincent Hancock – Age 22, Eatonton, GA (SCTP National Champion) – Men’s Skeet
• Jon Michael McGrath – Age 18, Tulsa, OK (SCTP National Champion) – Men’s Skeet
• T. J. Bayer – Age 17, Bryan, TX (SCTP National Champion) – Men’s Skeet
• Caitlin Connor – Age 21, Winnfield, LA (SCTP National Champion) – Women’s Skeet
• Josh Richmond – Age 25, Hillsgrove, PA (SCTP National Champion) – Men’s Double Trap
• Miranda Wilder – Age 17, Diana, TX (SCTP National Champion) – Women’s Trap

The 2011 Sydney World Cup, the second leg of the ISSF World Cup Championships, has 64 nations represented with 721 competitors in the Olympic sports of rifle, pistol and shotgun.

For more information on the ISSF World Cup Competition or to view the ISSF Finals LIVE on the internet visit: www.issf-sports.org/

The USA Shooting Team is coming off a very successful competition at the ISSF World Cup in Concepcion, Chile a few weeks ago where Vincent Hancock, Jon Michael McGrath, and Frank Thompson tied the World Record in Men’s Skeet and captured a Gold Medal. Out of a possible 125 targets, Thompson finished with a competition score of 123, Hancock with 122 and McGrath with 121 posting a combined score of 366/375. The Women’s Skeet, Men’s Double Trap and Women’s Trap Teams all won medals as well. Jaiden Grinnell finished with a competition score of 96/100 targets plus 21 targets in the Match Finals Shoot-Off and Josh Richmond finished with a competition score of 189/200 to win individual Bronze Medals in Women’s Skeet and Men’s Double Trap respectively.

USA Shooting has 34 athletes participating in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun at the 2011 Sydney World Cup. 40% of the USA Shotgun Team (6 athletes) and all three members of the Men’s Skeet Team are former SCTP National Champions. The USA Shooting Team has the youngest Men’s Team, competing in the ISSF World Cup Series and at the World Clay Target Championships in Belgrade, Serbia later this year.

Athletes are members of the United States National Team at USA Shooting; based at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. USA Shooting is the National Governing Body for Olympic Shooting Sports in the United States.

About SCTP
SCTP is a youth development program where adult coaches and volunteers model sportsmanship, responsibility, and teamwork while using shooting sports programs to teach these and other positive life skills to SCTP athletes. SCTP activities are designed to incorporate two indispensable elements – FUN AND SAFETY. The safe handling of firearms is the primary focus of all SCTP clubs.

To learn more about SCTP call (586) 737-0805 or visit their website at www.shootsctp.org.

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Nine Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit are gearing up to compete in an International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup series event in Sydney, Australia. Competition kicks of March 23.

750 shooters from 68 counties are making the trek Down Under to shoot at the combined World Cup event, pitting the best in the world from rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooting disciplines.

Shotgun shooters Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond and Sgt. Jeff Holguin are slated to compete in double trap. Shooting in Men’s Trap is Staff Sgt. Ryan Hadden, and Sgt. Vincent Hancock will compete in Men’s Skeet.

Richmond, the current world champion and number-one ranked double trap shooter in the world, has already qualified for nomination to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee. He earned a bronze medal in the year’s first World Cup last month in Chile.

After months of training, the road to the 2012 Olympics begins in earnest in Sydney for members of the International Rifle team. Rifle shooters Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker, Sgt. 1st Class Eric Uptagrafft, Sgt. Joe Hein and Sgt. Matt Rawlings are set to compete in their first international match of 2011.

Pistol shooter Sgt. Brad Balsley will be competing in the Men’s Rapid Pistol, looking to build upon a successful 2011, his first year competing on the grand stage of World Cup competition. Thirty-four Olympic Quota places, the “entrance tickets” to the 2012 London Olympic Games, will be assigned to the top performers during this World Cup Stage.

About USAMU:
The USAMU enhances the Army’s recruiting effort, raises the standard of the Army’s marksmanship proficiency, and supports the Army’s small arms research and development initiatives in order to raise the Army’s overall combat readiness. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com.

Josh Richmond (L) wins the Men's Double Trap bronze medal. Photo (c) 2011 ISSF

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- The USA Shooting Team just completed the first International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Concepcion, Chile.

The first of four shotgun World Cups, this particular event served as the first opportunity in 2011 for athletes to win Olympic quota slots.

Though the United States did not add to its current total of seven shotgun quotas, athletes found the podium. The World Cup began with a competition in Men’s Double Trap. Staff Sergeant Joshua Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) claimed the bronze medal with 143 targets in qualification and 46 out of 50 targets in the final to finish with 190 total targets. The bronze medal gives Richmond a leg up on the competition in the U.S. Olympic selection points. He currently has exceeded the threshold of 45 points with 48 total points, and is well on his way to earning a nomination for London 2012. National Shotgun Team members Sergeant Glenn Eller (Katy, Texas) and Sergeant Jeffrey Holguin (Yorba Linda, Calif.) finished in eleventh and twentieth place respectively.

Next on the program was the much anticipated Women’s Skeet event. This event is particularly competitive because only one quota is awarded per federation and the American women are currently vying for points in U.S. Olympic selection. Though Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) has a commanding lead, 19-year-old Jaiden Grinnell (Port Angeles, Wash.) proved she can be competitive at a world-class level. Grinnell and Rhode were tied with five other shooters headed into the final at 72 targets. After finishing with 24 targets each in the final, the American duo entered a shoot-off for the silver and bronze with four other shooters. Grinnell stayed strong for 21 targets for the bronze medal and Rhode finished with 15 targets for fifth place. National Coach Bret Erickson said, “Fantastic job by Grinnell for her first ISSF World Cup medal. Nearly 11 pairs in the miss-out was impressive work.” National Shotgun Team member Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, La.) finished thirteenth with 70 total targets.

In the other Women’s Shotgun event, the American Trap athletes missed the opportunity to shoot in the final by a few targets and finished in the middle of the pack. Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) placed the highest amongst Americans in fourteenth place with 66 out of 75 targets. Caitlin Weinheimer (Kerrville, Texas) and Rachael Heiden (Clinton, Mich.) both finished with 65 out of 75 targets.

USA’s Frank Thompson (Alliance, Neb.) finished in fifth place with 146 total targets in Men’s Skeet. In an event of only 125 qualification targets, athletes had to shoot 123 targets to even have a chance at the final. Thompson was one of four athletes with 123 targets, while the leader shot a straight 125 in qualification. Thompson dropped two targets-one on station four and one on station five-to finish with 23 targets in the final. National Shotgun Coach Bret Erickson said, “It was a fantastic match for Frank. He shot a world-class score and deserved to be there.” The Czech Republic’s Jan Sychra won the gold medal with an equaled final world record of 150 targets. Sergeant Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) narrowly missed the final with 122 total targets. Teammate Jon Michael McGrath (Tulsa, Okla.) finished in twenty-first place with 121 total targets.

In Men’s Trap, Olympic Training Center Resident Athlete Collin Wietfeldt (Hemlock, Mich.) finished in eleventh place with 120 targets. Wietfeldt missed the opportunity to shoot in the finals by one target. National Coach Bret Erickson said regarding 19-year-old Wietfeldt’s performance, “Collin showed he can compete at this level and that he is still gaining experience. He will be in that position again soon and will be better prepared for it.” American teammates Lance Bade (Vancouver, Wash.) finished in 21st place with 118 targets and Brian Burrows (Fallbrook, Calif.) finished in 53rd place with 112 targets.

Overall, the USA Shooting Team had a strong showing at the first ISSF World Cup. The future looks bright as the athletes will travel to Australia for a combined (rifle, pistol and shotgun) World Cup from March 21 to 30. The Team will continue to fight for 2012 Olympic quotas spots and U.S. Olympic Selection points. For complete scores on the event, please navigate to the ISSF Website.

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USAShooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Meet Olympic Gold Medalist Vincent Hancock & Reigning World Champion Shooter Jon Michael McGrath

Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation

Shelby Twp., MI --(Ammoland.com)- SSSF is pleased to announce that two of their brightest superstar celebrity shooters will be representing them at this year’s SHOT Show.

Vincent Hancock, the 2008 Men’s Skeet Shooting Olympic Gold Medalist, and Jon Michael McGrath, the reigning Men’s World Skeet Shooting Champion, will be on hand to take photos and sign autographs as well as to share how the SCTP program has enriched their lives and helped them achieve their goals in the Shooting Sports.

About Vincent Hancock
At twelve years old Vincent Hancock told his father that he wanted to win Olympic Gold someday and a few short years later that is exactly what he did. The twenty-one year old Georgia native won an Olympic Gold medal in Skeet Shooting in Beijing, China in 2008. Hancock has racked up an impressive collection of titles and awards including 2005 USA Shooting Male Athlete of the Year and International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shooter of the Year to name a few. Recently he was named to the 2011 World Clay Target Championship Team. Hancock is employed as a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) and lives in Fort Benning, Georgia with his wife and daughter.

About Jon Michael McGrath
Oklahoma’s Jon Michael McGrath has more shooting experience and titles compared to shooters twice his age, titles such as 2010 Junior Gold Medalist at the World Shooting Championship and 2010 National Junior Olympic Championship Gold Medalist most recently. McGrath was also named as a member of the 2011 World Clay Target Championship Team. McGrath is currently a freshman at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

About The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is an educational-athletic organization that exists to introduce school-age youths to the clay target sports and to facilitate their continued involvement by providing, promoting, and perpetuating opportunities to safely and enjoyably participate and compete in a high-quality, team-based sport led by trained adult coaches focused on enhancing the personal growth and development of their athletes.

To learn more about SSSF visit their website at www.shootsctp.org.

Jamie Beyerle shoots her way to Athlete of the Month accolades. Photo courtesy of Wolfgang Schreiber, (c) 2010 ISSF

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(Ammoland.com)- The United States’ top shooters are invited to compete in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final.

Jamie Beyerle, one of America’s top rifle athletes, boasts a resume that includes three medals and a quota place in Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position and yet another medal in Women’s 10m Air Rifle . . . all during 2010.

Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) was invited to compete in the 2010 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Final in both the Women’s 10m Air Rifle and Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position events. Shooting against some of the best athletes in the world, Beyerle beat all expectations.

In her first day of competition, she entered the final in the lower half of the field with 396 match points. A strong final of 103.2 points left Beyerle tied with Italy’s Elani Nardelli for the bronze medal at 499.2 points. In the shoot-off, Beyerle succeeded with a 10.5 point single shot to Nardelli’s 9.8 point shot.

The next day, Beyerle once again brought her medal winning ways to the Women’s 50m Rifle Three Position event. She finished the qualification round with 590 points, tied with only one other shooter. Beyerle beat the competition as she shot for 100.7 points in the final to win the gold medal with 690.7 total points.

National Rifle Coach Major Dave Johnson said, “She’s been shooting great and working towards this success for a long time. It’s nice to finally see things coming together. I’m looking forward to see her accomplishing planned goals for the quad in the future.”

USA Shooting would like to congratulate Jamie Beyerle, the Athlete of the Month for Nov., and wish her continued success for 2011.

ELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Civilian Marksmanship Program

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – -(Ammoland.com)- The 2010 – 2012 8th Edition National Standard Three-Position Air Rifle Rules were released in September 2010.

The National Three-Position Air Rifle Council•, which governs most three-position air rifle shooting in the USA, releases a revised rulebook every two years.

Rule changes are based on decisions made by the Council, which held its most recent annual meeting this past June. The 2010-2012 version of the rules includes several rule clarifications that are based on interpretations issued during the last two years. A few changes were also made to bring three-position rules in line with International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) rule changes.

Rule changes concerning three-position equipment were also few in number. A new Daisy replacement stock for the M888/887 CO2 air rifles was approved. This stock features an adjustable cheek-piece and butt-plate (once adjustments are set, they cannot be changed during a sporter class competition). Authorization was given for match sponsors to allow “lower-cost air rifles” at the grassroots level. New ISSF standards for checking the size of shooting trouser seat pads and the flexibility of shooting shoes were incorporated into the rules (precision class clothing). Standards for checking blinders and visors were established (see #3 below).

The following highlights three of the most significant rule changes.

1. Rule 8.6.3 – Ties for Last Position in Final. The new rulebook now gives match directors the option of conducting a shoot-off to decide ties for the last position(s) in an eight-person final. This addition was made to be inline with the tie-breaking procedures now used by the ISSF. At this year’s National Three-Position Air Rifle Junior Olympic Championship, this rule was added to the program so it could be showcased at a National 3PAR event. In the precision event, no shoot-off was necessary, but a shoot-off was required to determine the last qualifiers for the sporter final. This was the first council shoot-off and the event was well received by competitors and spectators. Under the new rule, national level matches are required to hold shoot-offs, but local matches can still break these ties by using tie-breaking procedures found in Rule 8.6.1. Information about whether or not a match will hold a shoot-off must be included in the match program. The shoot-off is run similar to a final, and must be conducted as soon as possible after qualification scores are posted. Any shooters with tied qualification score (not including x-count) for the last place(s) in the final will then compete in the shoot-off. This can be as few as two shooters, or there could be several shooters with the same numerical score. Shooters are first given a five-minute preparation and sighting period. They then shoot five shots on command, “FOR YOUR FIRST/NEXT COMPETITION SHOT…LOAD…ATTENTION, 3-2-1 START.” Shooters have 75 seconds to fire each shot. Unlike a final, scores are not announced after each shot is fired. After all five shots are completed, the range officer will announce the five-shot totals for all shooters in the shoot-off. If possible, shoot-offs should be scored in tenth ring values (requires electronic targets or Orion VIS scoring). If ties remain, single shots are fired on command until the tie is broken.

2. Rule 8.5.5 – Protests of VIS Targets. Visual Image Scoring (VIS) such as the Orion Scoring System, has revolutionized the scoring of paper targets by increasing the speed, consistency and accuracy of scoring. Like any new system, the rules concerning its practical use have continued to change as experience is gained and situations arise that warrant change. Rule 8.5.5 concerns the protest procedures for shots scored by VIS targets. Instead of challenging the entire target as was the rule in the previous edition of the rulebook, the new rule states that a specific shot or shots must be protested. Obvious errors, such as when the computer program picks up the wrong shot location, multiple shots on the same bull, or when a paper tear is picked up as a shot, can be brought to the attention of the Statistical officer and changed without an official challenge. If the competitor believes that a shot without an obvious error was scored incorrectly the shot must be officially protested. Shooters must be very confident in their protests, however, since there is now a two-point penalty per protest if the whole number value of the shot does not increase. The Council’s decision to impose a two-point penalty for lost score challenges was adopted so that the score protest procedures for VIS scoring would be essentially the same as they are for electronic (EST) targets where there has been a two-point penalty for lost score protests for several years. The two-point penalty also is intended to avoid slowing down the match when some competitors attempt to “buy points” by protesting several shots that must then be rescored. The incentive is now very high for shooters to only challenge shots that they are convinced should be a higher point value. If stated in the match program, a protest fee (of $3 or less) can be collected for each protest. If a shot is protested, the scan for that shot is then re-evaluated with a “protest algorithm.” If the shooter is granted the point, the fee is returned and score adjusted. If the original score remains the same, the fee is not returned and two points must be deducted from the score of the protested shot. All results of protests are final and cannot be appealed.

3. 4.7.7 – Headgear and Blinders. Competitors now need to be more mindful of the way in which they wear their caps or visors while shooting. If a hat is pulled down too far, the sides may be considered side blinders. While side blinders are permitted under Rule 4.7.9, they are restricted to being no more than 40mm deep (downward direction), and also must not extend past the center of the forehead as seen from the side. To prevent cap bills and visors from being pulled down so that they become illegal side blinders, Rule 4.7.7 was updated to state that when a hat or visor is worn, the area on the forehead between the eyebrows must be visible from the side of the shooter. Range officers will be able to check by coming to the side of shooter in position. From that viewpoint, they can quickly determine whether the hat or visor is high enough on the shooter’s head. It is also important to note that the cap or visor is not permitted to touch the rear sight. Some floppy visors or hats may hit the rear sight, so shooters should place their hats in such a way that they do not touch the sights.

The 2010-2012 8th Edition of the National Standard Three-Position Air Rifle Rules, with the most recent changes approved by the National Three-Position Air Rifle Council, is now available in printed version or as a downloadable *.pdf file. The new rules may be accessed immediately through the CMP website at http://www.odcmp.com/3P/Rules.pdf. Printed copies of the new rulebook may be ordered from the CMP at a cost of $2.00 each.

The National Three-Position Air Rifle Council continues to urge all coaches, competitors and match sponsors who have questions about the three-position air rifle rules to contact the National Council Rules Hotline. If you have questions or recommendations concerning the rules, contact Vicki Donoho at vdonoho@odcmp.com or 419-635-2141, ext. 1102.

2010-2012 National Standard Three-position Air Rifle Rules

Alternately you download the new rules at http://www.odcmp.com/3P/Rules.pdf

About:
The National Three-Position Air Rifle Council includes representatives of the American Legion, Boy Scouts of America, CMP, Daisy Shooter Education Program, National 4-H Shooting Sports, U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit and the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force Cadet Commands.

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Three Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit are competing in the prestigious International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup Finals Shotgun in Izmir, Turkey.

Leading the way is Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond. Richmond, the number one-ranked shooter in Men’s Double Trap, is coming off his gold-medal winning performance at the World Championships in Munich. He also won a gold medal at the first World Cup event of the year in Acapulco, Mexico.

He will be joined in Double Trap by teammate Cpl. Jeff Holguin. The 2008 Olympian, currently ranked fourth in the world, earned two bronze medals at 2010 World Cup events in Acapulco and Dorset, England.

2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Sgt. Vincent Hancock will also represent the Army and the USAMU in Izbir. Hancock won a bronze medal in Men’s Skeet at the Lonato, Italy World Cup in June and will be competing in his third consecutive World Cup final.

The ISSF only invites the top shooters in the world to compete in the exclusive World Cup finals. It is traditionally the last competition in the international shooting season. Four more USAMU Soldiers will compete in the season-ending World Cup Finals Rifle and Pistol to be held in Munich next month.

About USAMU:
The USAMU’s mission is to raise the standard of marksmanship proficiency and combat readiness throughout the Army by sharing knowledge gained from competing and winning in national/ international competitions, research and development and advanced training programs while enhancing the Army’s recruiting effort through an active public information and public relations program. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com .

Kim Rhode: Your USAS September Athlete of the Month

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - -(Ammoland.com)- If the shooting sports had an equivalent of a hat trick, triple-double, or grand slam, Kim Rhode would have accomplished it.

Rhode has won four Olympic medals since 1996-one in each Olympic Games. After winning her first Olympic medal at sixteen, Rhode dominated Women’s Double Trap and more recently, Women’s Skeet. When Women’s Doubles was removed from the Olympic program after 2004, Rhode turned her attention to Women’s Skeet and won Olympic silver in Beijing in 2008.

While all of this is certainly impressive, Rhode put the icing on the cake in August as she won her first World Shooting Championships gold medal. With her qualification score at 72 targets, Rhode entered the final tied with Slovakia’s Danka Bartekova.

Knowing that the gold was on the line, Kim stayed straight for 25 perfect targets while Danka cracked under the pressure.

“It’s great to finally win a World Title in front of my parents [who traveled with her],” said Rhode who shot 97/100 total targets.

Don’t forget that USA Shooting employs a point system to help select athletes for the Olympic Games and Rhode’s win gives her 53 total points. With the threshold at 45 points, Rhode is well on her way to qualifying for London 2012, her fifth Games. Moreover, if she medals in London she will add her name to the record books as the first individual American athlete to win five medals in five consecutive Games.

USA Shooting would like to congratulate Kim Rhode, the Athlete of the Month.

Photo courtesy of Wolfgang Shcreiber (c)2010 ISSF

Vote for YOUR SHOOTING ATHLETES to win the United States Olympic Committee’s Athletes and Team of the Month.

• Vote for Josh Richmond Here!
• Vote for Kim Rhode Here!
• Vote for Men’s Double Trap (Richmond, Jeffrey Holguin, Billy Crawford) Here!

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

PILLA Eyewear Congratulates Joshua Richmond as Winner 2010 Men’s Double Trap at the ISSF World Championship

PILLA Eyewear

Ridgefield, CT --(AmmoLand.com)- Twenty four year old Joshua Richmond, a Fort Benning, Georgia native, wearing PILLA High Performance Eyewear’s Panther Post Frame with new HDX 50R technology, featuring cutting-edge materials with superior clarity and eye protection, captured the men’s Double Trap competition at the ISSF World Championship in Munich Germany.

“I would like to congratulate Joshua on his dominant victory, including shattering a perfect 50 out of 50 targets in the final,” said Philip Pilla, Chief Executive Officer of PILLA High Performance Eyewear.

“Not only did Joshua tie a world record, but his outstanding performance helped him secure a spot on the United States Olympic Team. With two PILLA shooters already on the Olympic Team, PILLA once again has proven that the world’s best shooters have turned to PILLA Performance Eyewear for a distinct competitive advantage. Our Italian hand-crafted frames, coupled with our new HDX Anti-Reflective Lens technology, create a visual advantage for shooters wearing PILLA glasses,” stated Pilla.

“It feels simply great! To win a world title, equaling the world record and securing an Olympic spot especially since it came in such tough conditions,” said Richmond.

“My PILLA glasses proved to be the most valuable piece of equipment I had. Despite a cold, thin rain and a constant breeze blowing from the left to the right side of the range, my PILLA glasses enabled me to perform at the top of my game. My PILLA eyewear enabled me to stay calm and focused without any eye fatigue, particularly during the pressure-packed finals when the match had to be stopped twice to fix the targets angle,” stated Richmond.

“We are very excited about our entire line of PILLA High Performance Eyewear, which features more technological advancements than any other product in the industry,” said Pilla. “Because our glasses are designed for athletes by athletes, the performance gain of PILLA glasses is unmatched.”

About PILLA High Performance Eyewear
PILLA High Performance Eyewear has become the authority in performance eyewear for the competitive athlete. Designed for athletes by athletes, PILLA utilizes cutting-edge materials with superior clarity, sun protection capability and a proprietary contrast technology to enhance visual acuity and depth of field, both critical to maximizing focus and minimizing eye fatigue. With lenses available in a variety of prescription options and frames specifically and custom designed for shooting, hunting, golf, equestrian, rodeo, race car driving and aviation, PILLA High Performance Eyewear is the leading Technical Vision Provider for the Sports Enthusiast. PILLA Eyewear products are sold through leading pro-shops around the world as well as online at www.pillasport.com and at the company’s headquarters, 35 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield, CT 06877.

USA Shooting

MUNICH, GERMANY --(Ammoland.com)- Thursday was a golden, record-setting day for athletes and teams wearing the red, white, and blue.

In 2005, SSG Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) was the World Champion for Men’s Junior Double Trap, and just five short years later, Richmond once again claimed the title of World Champion.

In addition to a quota spot for the 2012 games, Richmond won the first individual (open category) USA gold medal at the 2010 World Shooting Championships in Munich, Germany. Battling wind and rain, Richmond forged ahead to the final round, while CPL Jeff Holguin (Yorba Linda, Calif.) entered a six-man shoot-off for two spots. With the poise of an experienced shotgunner, Holguin fired four times for four targets and a spot in the finals.

In perhaps the most intriguing final of this year’s World Championships, the athletes were once again dealing with rain, wind, and chilly weather. Richmond started out strong with clear, solid hits. Shortly into the final, Holguin called over a jury member as his shotgun failed to fire. After he was granted a five minute break for repairs, Holguin made a dash to his gun case for a spare trigger. Returning to the line, he picked up the pace and only dropped two targets of fifty the whole final. An interesting development occurred with only a handful of targets left: Holguin noticed that the angle of the targets had altered thus disrupting the patterns. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) referees paused the match and brought out cross-arms to measure the angle of the targets. Indeed, the right target on machine nine had been creeping towards the center. After adjustments, the jury granted Holguin a re-fire on the pair, which he crushed.

Josh Richmond: Your new Men's Double Trap 2010 World Champion

Richmond shot straight through the fifty target final for a total of 196/200 targets. China’s Hu Binyuan (who finished with a bronze medal), the former World Record Holder of 196 targets, watched as Richmond added his name to the record books. “Josh performed as expected. He is a top-notch athlete. We have the best Double Trap shooter in the world. He did a fantastic job and shot a super final…as expected,” remarked National Shotgun Coach Bret Erickson. With a huge smile and wave to his parents in the crowd, Richmond claimed the gold medal. Despite mechanical obstacles and poorly angled targets, Holguin finished fourth with 192 targets. Their teammate, 17-year-old Billy Crawford (Johnstown, Ohio), finished 11th at 143 targets with an impressive 50/50 last round.

With all three–Richmond, Holguin, and Crawford–finishing in the top eleven places of qualification, the USA once again brought home the gold medal. Richmond and Holguin (with Glenn Eller) won the team gold medal in 2009 at the World Shooting Championships. Yet the team not only won a gold medal, but also shot for a new Team World Record of 433 targets, three above the previous record. Richmond said, “I’m happy to have won the gold medal and brought a quota spot to the USA. We [the Double Trap Team] set the standard for the rest of the US team. Now that we have a gold, I am confident that our team will continue on this pace.”

The shotgun glory doesn’t end there–the Junior Men’s Double Trap Team ascended the podium for a bronze medal. The trio of Ian Rupert (Muncy, Pa.), Derek Haldeman (Sunbury, Ohio), and Kelcey Depatis (Donovan, Ill.) nailed 392 total targets. Individually, Rupert entered a shoot-off with Russia’s Artem Nekrasov for fifth and sixth place. Nailing the first two targets, Rupert fell into sixth as he missed the second pair. Haldeman finished 12th with 132 targets and Kelcey Depatis was 16th at 122 targets.

Next, the Junior Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Position team of Amanda Furrer (Spokane, Wash.), Sarah Beard (Danville, Ind.), and Sarah Scherer (Fort Worth, Texas), demolished the former World Junior Record by a whopping eleven points. The competition was an astonishing fourteen points behind the American team. The combined effort of 1747 total points (586 points from Furrer, 582 from Scherer, and 579 from Beard) was the golden standard.

Maintaing the pace, the Women’s 50m 3 Position Rifle team event was a nail-biter to the end. With the strong German team in first, many had written off the US team as Sandy Fong (New York, N.Y.) entered her kneeling position with only thirty minutes left. Blowing expectations out of the water and shooting like a rock star, Fong fired downrange for ten after ten. With a total of 198 points kneeling, Fong helped secure the gold medal for the USA Shooting Team. Also adding to the noteworthy performance, were Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) who shot a personal-best and new national match record of 593 points and Amy Sowash (Katy, Texas) with 585 points.

For complete scores and rankings, please visit the ISSF Website.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

Matt Emmons won the first Olympic quota spot for Team USA in London 2012

USA Shooting

MUNICH, GERMANY --(Ammoland.com)- There is a reason Matt Emmons is top-ranked shooter in three different events; there is a reason Emmons has two Olympic medals; and there is a reason Emmons was named one of USA’s 12 featured (hopeful) athletes to watch for in London 2012.

Today, Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) demonstrated yet another reason why he is one of the top shooters in the world. Emmons secured the first Olympic quota for Team USA in London 2012. With nerves of steel and unwavering confidence, Matt nailed ten after ten after ten. With just one nine (9.7) the entire final series, Emmons maintained a high level of excellence for the bronze medal in Men’s 50m Rifle Prone.

“It’s great to be the one who grabbed the first Olympic Quota for America,” said Emmons after the match in an interview with ISSF TV.

“Of course, I am not automatically qualified. The quota goes to the USA Shooting Team, and all the American shooters are passing through a qualification system in order to decide who will go to the next Games.”

Emmons finished with 702.2 total points–598 in the match and 104.2 in the final. Emmons was proud of his performance and said the match was “fantastic–I felt I did my best today.” SFC Eric Uptagrafft (Phenix City, Ala.) also shot in the final, but two 9s left him in seventh place. He added a 102.3 point final to 598 match points for a solid 700.3 point total. Teammate SGT Michael McPhail (Darlington, Wis.) finished 15th with 576 points after missing four points in the last three series.

In Junior Women’s 10m Air Rifle, the USA’s Sarah Scherer (Fort Worth, Texas) finished 30th with a match score of 393 points. Scherer struggled in the beginning, but finished with a strong 100 in her fourth series. Also competing for the United States was Denise Martin (Chewelah, Wash.), who finished 41st with 391 points. Finally, Janine Dutton (Eagle River, Alaska) was 64th with 389 points.

Major Dave Johnson, the National Rifle Coach, commented, “I’m pleased with the team’s performance and hard work. US Olympic shooting is a successful program and I’m glad that we could be the first sport to bring a quota to Team USA.”

USA Shooting’s Executive Director, Robert Mitchell, echoed Major Johnson’s sentiments as he said, “Our team is shooting well and it is a good feeling to win our first Olympic quota and individual medal. I forecast this to be the beginning of more successes to come.”

BONUS: Emmons was recently named one of “12 in 12″ London hopeful athletes to watch in the next few years. Check out the article from the United States Olympic Committee’s Brandon Penny wrote on Emmons.

For complete scores and rankings, please visit the ISSF Website. www.issf-sports.org

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

The USA's Meghann Morrill battled nerves and poor lighting conditions during the Women's 10m Air Rifle final competition.

USA Shooting

MUNICH, GERMANY --(Ammoland.com)- The United States was a day late and a quota short with today’s shooting. Yet, the good news is that two Americans made it to final competition in two different events.

First, in Men’s 50m Free Pistol, SFC Daryl Szarenski (Seale, Ala.) finished sixth overall after a 93 point final. Szarenski was two places shy of a quota spot. Also finishing for the USA was Jason Turner (Rochester, N.Y.) in 44th with 549 points and John Zurek (Tuscon, Ariz.) at 544 points and 55th place. Szarenski still has an opportunity, however, as both he and Turner will compete in Men’s 10m Air Pistol on Tuesday.

Newcomer, Meghann Morrill (San Antonio, Texas), surprised the crowd with a 398 point qualifying score in shooting three consecutive 10s to finish strong. Morrill entered the final in third place, yet experienced difficulty on the finals range. She shot a 100.1 point final for 498.1 points and eighth place–two places shy of a quota.

It should be noted that her competition was extremely talented; Yi Siling of China set a new Women’s Final World Record of 505.6 points. Siling tied the 400 point match score world record and set a new record with an outstanding 105.6 point final and an uncommon 4.2 point gap between her and silver medalist Wu Liuxi (also of China). Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.), finished 13th with 396 points and Emily Caruso (Fairfield, Conn.) finished 33d with 394 points. Their combined effort landed the Americans the bronze medal in team competition.

In Junior Men’s 50m Pistol, the USA finished 18th with Will Brown (Twin Falls, Idaho) and 538 points, Matthew Pueppke (Amenia, N.D.) in 42nd with 518 points, and Christopher Hudock (Raleigh, N.C.) in 46th with 514 points.
Later in the day, the Men’s Prone contingency–both junior and open men–dominated with team medals. The men’s team of Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.), SGT Michael McPhail, and SFC Eric Uptagrafft, were the golden stars of the event winning a second consecutive world championship in the Men’s Prone event. The same trio topped the podium in 2006 at the World Shooting Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. The junior men’s team of Ryan Dunham-Bender (Delta Junction, Alaska), Michael Seery (Toledo, Ohio), and Jimmie Cooper (Columbus, Ga.) began the competition with a large deficit in the first half, but came back in a big way as they missed one point in the last combined sixty shots. Their stellar performance earned another team medal–bronze–for the red, white, and blue. Individual competition for both events will occur on Monday, August 3rd.

For complete scores and rankings, please visit the International Shooting Sports Foundation (ISSF) website at http://www.issf-sports.org.

ELEYELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

Dallas Safari Club
Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is a proud sponsor of USA Shooting’s Junior Team to the World Shooting Championship Team in Munich, Germany. An independent organization since 1982, DSC has become an international leader in conserving wildlife and wilderness lands, educating youth and the general public, and promoting and protecting the rights and interests of hunters worldwide. For more information on DSC visit www.biggame.org.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

With unparalleled intensity and unwavering calm, Miranda Wilder won a ten target shoot-off for gold. Miranda Wilder dominated the Junior Women's Trap event at the World Shooting Championships

USA Shooting

MUNICH, GERMANY --(Ammoland.com)- Women’s Junior Trap put America on the podium–twice, that is. First, Rachael Heiden (Clinton, Mich.) stepped up to the line to battle for the bronze medal with Zhu Jingyu of China.

The two were tied at 68 targets and it took Heiden, your Women’s National Champion in Trap at both the open and Junior Olympic level, one target to douse Jingyu’s hopes of a medal. Next up, young American Miranda Wilder (Diana, Texas) and Australia’s Catherine Skinner, tied at 69 targets, remained neck and neck for nine shoot-off birds.

Skinner stepped up to the fifth post and fired a disappointing miss on a left climbing target. A good showing of American fans, some even superstitious, anxiously awaited Wilder’s opportunity. Taking her time preparing, Wilder (pictured above with a fierce look) stepped up to the line and calmly broke the target as if a World Championship title was not on the line.

She was greeted by a line of well-wishing and hugging American teammates and officials. The third American junior shotgunner, Ashley Carroll (Solvang, Calif.), finished 25th.

Shortly before Wilder won her world title, the USA was represented in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle final by Matt Emmons. The crowd in the final hall gasped as Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) shot a disappointing 8.4 point tenth shot. Emmons entered the Men’s 10m Air Rifle final in sixth place with a match score of 597 points and scored a decent final of 101.5; yet, his tenth shot moved him from second place to seventh–just one place shy of a 2012 Olympic quota spot. Other finishers include SPC Matt Rawlings (Wharton, Texas) in 20th place and Jonathan Hall (Carrollton, Ga.) in 68th.

Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Ak.) caught a rough break as she missed the finals by one bird. Tied with Maria Volkova of Russia, Cogdell finished in eighth place out of medal contention. SFC Terri DeWitt (Columbus, Ga.) finished 26th with 67 targets and Susan Sledge (El Cajon, Calif.) was 33rd at 66 targets.

In Junior Men’s 10m Air Rifle, Dempster Christenson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) finished 13th with 591 points. A few places down, Michael Kulbacki (DuBois, Pa.) was 37th with 585 points and Dustin Chesebro (Laramie, Wy.) finished 46th with 584 points.

For complete scores and rankings, please visit the International Shooting Sports Foundation (ISSF) website.

Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is a proud sponsor of USA Shooting’s Junior Team to the World Shooting Championship Team in Munich, Germany. An independent organization since 1982, DSC has become an international leader in conserving wildlife and wilderness lands, educating youth and the general public, and promoting and protecting the rights and interests of hunters worldwide. For more information on DSC visit www.biggame.org.

ELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk.

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

USA Shooting

FORT BENNING, GA --(Ammoland.com)- USA Shooting is eager to welcome more than 400 competitors from 52 different countries as we embark on the 2010 ISSF World Cup at Fort Benning, Ga. In conjunction with the United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), Valley Hospitality, and the Columbus Visitors Bureau (CVB), USA Shooting is pleased to host this great event. The Opening Ceremony will commence Sunday evening at the prestigious National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Ga.

The World Cup will feature 10 different Olympic rifle and pistol events. From Women’s 3-Position to Rapid Fire to Men’s Prone, you’ll find the best of the best here at the Phillips and Pool Ranges at Fort Benning. In addition to the top three- US Shooters from each event of Spring Selection, the World Cup will feature top US athletes such as Matt Emmons, Daryl Szarenski, Jamie Beyerle, Jason Turner, Amy Sowash, and Emily Caruso. Please visit the websites below for immediate results, more information, and our sponsor announcement.

Want more information on World Cup? Please visit our official World Cup website (http://usashooting.sports.officelive.com/default.aspx).

For live coverage and immediate results, please visit the ISSF Website (http://www.issf-sports.org).

US Rifle National Coach Dave Johnson on Twitter? The rumors are true: get up-to-date feeds, results, and comments from Coach Johnson at his twitter account (http://twitter.com/OlympicSho).

ELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams: ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit www.eley.co.uk

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga --(AmmoLand.com)- The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, in conjunction with USA Shooting, will host the 2010 World Cup USA May 22-31. This spectacular event, the third of four World Cup’s being held this year, is conducted by the International Shooting Sport Federation. So far, more than 400 of the world’s top-level shooters from 49 countries have committed to the event.

Shooters competing in two Olympic shooting disciplines—rifle and pistol—will be competing for medals and world records. This is also the same range where 2012 Olympic quota slots will be earned next year. Opening ceremonies will be held at the National Infantry Museum.

For more information on the competition, venues, match schedule, etc., please visit www.usashooting.sports.officelive.com

Media are invited to attend and must coordinate with the Public Affairs Office before coming to post. Call (706) 545-5436, or e-mail michael.molinaro@us.army.mil for more information.

About USAMU:
The USAMU’s mission is to raise the standard of marksmanship proficiency and combat readiness throughout the Army by sharing knowledge gained from competing and winning in national/ international competitions, research and development and advanced training programs while enhancing the Army’s recruiting effort through an active public information and public relations program. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com .

Olympic Medalist Kim Rhode

Beijing, China – -(AmmoLand.com)- America’s four-time-Olympic medalist Kim Rhode has taken one more powerful step toward realizing her Olympic dream of making history in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Rhode won the Gold Medal and equaled the existing world record at the 2010 ISSF World Cup in Beijing, China. Chinese shooters Shi Hong Yan and Wei Ning were the silver and bronze medalists.

Rhode returned to the scene of her historic silver-medal-winning performance and was nearly perfect throughout the competition. By shooting a 74 of 75 targets in the first three rounds and a final round of 24, Rhode won this competition by two targets and Rhode has earned more valuable points in her quest to again represent the United States in the 2012 London Games.

If Rhode does participate in these upcoming Games and if she does earn one more medal, she will become the first American Olympian in history from an individual sport to have earned medals in five consecutive Olympic Games, a feat that has taken her 20 years to complete.

USA teammates Amber English and Jaiden Grinnell finished in ninth and eleventh place with scores of 69 and 68, respectively.

Rhode was very pleased with her performance and the fact that she flirted with setting a new world record. “This is an exciting time for me. I was hoping to get a 99 but is just was not meant to be,” observed Rhode. On competing again in Beijing, Rhode said “This city is so incredible. I love coming back here. Things are a lot different now than they were during the Olympic Games but it still is such an amazing place to compete.”

Next month, Rhode will compete in London at another ISSF World Cup and she also plans to compete in Germany and Turkey for championship competitions.

Kim Rhode's Olympic Team Hopeful

Acapulco, Mexico --(AmmoLand.com)- Kim Rhode took an important first step towards her quest to set an all time record for individual American Olympic athletes by winning the initial International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup competition in Acapulco, Mexico.

The four-time Olympic medalist Rhode, 30, started the final round in the lead with 72 hits after the qualifications, tied with Italy’s Diana Bacosi. In the final round, Rhode did not miss a single target while Bacosi missed three allowing Yu Xiumin to claim the silver medal with another perfect final round.

Rhode’s final perfect score gave her a combined total of 97 targets, one better than the Chinese silver medalist who finished with a 96. Amber English also shot a combined score of 96.

“It hasn’t been easy. My shotgun got stolen a couple of months ago. I got a new one, but of course it took me time to get used to it,” said Rhode, after the award ceremony.

“It’s great to be on the highest step of the podium today, these international competitions are really important now, on the path leading to the 2012 Olympic Games.”

Xiumin tied the second American finalist Amber English who was the early leader in the World Cup and edged her in the shoot off for the silver medal. Yu, a 2006 Asian Champion, had won her last ISSF World Cup medal in 2007 in Maribor.

Amber English secured the Bronze medal, joining her teammate Rhode on the podium. The 20-year-old shooter had never won an ISSF World Cup medal before.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Co --(AmmoLand.com)- 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.

For complete results from the 2010 Spring Airgun Championships, please visit www.usashooting.org.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Over 260 rifle and pistol airgun shooters from across the United States, as well as 40 athletes from 11 countries around the world, will gather at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., December 4-6 to compete at the 2009 USA Shooting Winter Airgun Championships (formerly knows as 3 X Air).

This three-day event will serve as a minimum qualifying score (MQS) qualifier for the first-ever Youth Olympic Games, which will be held August 14-26, 2010 in Singapore. The MQS qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games is for non-U.S. competitors only as the U.S. will not be participating in the shooting events at the Youth Olympic Games.

The 2009 Winter Airgun Championships will be a U.S. team tryout for 2010 ISSF World Cups, the 2010 World Championships (part I) and the Bavarian Airgun Championships in the Air Pistol and Air Rifle Events.

Identical competitions will take place in rifle and pistol with finals matches closing out each day of competition at the Winter Airgun Championships.

Among the athletes competing will be two-time Olympic medalist Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) along wife his wife Katy Emmons, who is a three-time Olympic medalist for the Czech Republic. Two-time Olympian Jason Turner (Rochester, N.Y./Colorado Springs, Colo.), who is the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in Men’s Air Pistol, will also be shooting in the match.

Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Resident Athletes and 2008 Olympians Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) and Emily Caruso (Fairfield, Conn.) will be competing in the Women’s Air Rifle event. Vying for titles in pistol will be four-time Olympian Libby Callahan (Columbia, S.C.) as well as three-time Olympian and U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) member Daryl Szarenski (Saginaw, Mich.) and 2008 Olympians Brian Beaman (Selby, S.D.) and Brenda Shinn (Riverside, Calif.). Stephen Scherer (Billerica, Mass.), a 2008 Olympian will also be competing in Men’s Rifle.

A full match schedule as well as complete results throughout the competition can be found by visiting USA Shooting’s website at www.usashooting.org.

ELEY is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Rifle and Pistol Teams:
ELEY Limited, manufacturer of the world’s most consistently accurate rimfire ammunition, has been the Official Sponsor and Official Supplier of .22 rimfire ammunition of the USA Shooting rifle and pistol teams since 2000. For more information on ELEY and their products, please visit http://www.eley.co.uk/.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –-(AmmoLand.com)- USA Shooting is pleased to announce that pistol shooter Keith Sanderson (San Antonio, Texas) and shotgun shooter Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) have been selected as the 2009 USAS Athletes of the Year.

These athletes were chosen based on the USAS Athlete of the Year Nomination and Selection Procedure, which is a points system that rewards performance in major competitions.

Sanderson, a 2008 Olympian, earned the Male Athlete of the Year honor after an outstanding World Cup season in 2009, winning an unprecedented three medals on the ISSF World Cup circuit. Sanderson captured the gold at the Beijing World Cup, silver in Changwon, Korea and bronze at the World Cup Munich in the Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. Sanderson also grabbed fifth place at the Milan World Cup. In addition, Sanderson finished in third place at the 2009 Rifle/Pistol Fall Selection Match at Fort Benning, Ga.

For the third consecutive year, four-time Olympian Rhode was selected as the USA Shooting Female Athlete of the Year. A four-time Olympic medalist, Rhode shot her way to two World Cup medals this year, claiming the silver in San Marino and the bronze in Munich in the Women’s Skeet event. Rhode was also the 2009 National Champion and finished in first place at the 2009 Shotgun Fall Selection Match, earning a spot on the 2010 World Shooting Championship team. Rhode also finished seventh at the 2009 Shotgun World Championships.

Sanderson and Rhode were selected as the overall USAS Athletes of the Year, but USAS also recognizes the Discipline Athletes of the Year, who earned the highest number of points in each discipline.

U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) member Michael McPhail (Darlington, Wis.) was the top male athlete for rifle, while Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) won the honor for women’s rifle for the fourth year in a row, and USAMU member Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) had the highest number of points for men’s shotgun. Sanderson is also the Male Athlete of the Year for pistol and Rhode is the Female the Athlete of the Year for the shotgun discipline. A female pistol shooter was not chosen this year as there were no female pistol shooters who met the minimum point requirement.

McPhail had an excellent year in the Men’s 50m Prone Rifle event, capturing two bronze medals on the World Cup circuit, as well as the silver medal at the World Cup Final. McPhail also finished in fifth place at the World Cup Changwon and was the 2009 National Champion in Men’s Prone.

Beyerle, a 2008 Olympian, won the 2009 World Cup Final bronze medal in Women’s 50m 3 Position Rifle. She finished fourth at the World Cup in Milan and was the 2009 National Champion. She also claimed second place at the Rifle/Pistol Fall Selection Match.

Richmond captured the gold medal in the Men’s Double Trap event at the 2009 World Cup in Munich, Germany. He took home the bronze at the San Marino World Cup and finished fifth at the World Cup in Minsk. Richmond was also the 2009 National Champion and finished fourth at the Shotgun World Championships. Most recently, Richmond won the 2009 Shotgun Fall Selection Match, claiming a spot on the 2010 World Shooting Championship team.

The overall athletes of the year will be submitted to the U.S. Olympic Committee for consideration for the 2009 USOC SportsMan and SportsWoman of the Year awards, which have been presented annually since 1974 to the top overall male and female athletes within the U.S. Olympic Family.

For more information on these athletes, please visit www.usashooting.org.

Beretta USA

ACCOKEEK, MD --(AmmoLand.com)- Beretta congratulates Vincent Hancock on his
Silver Medal win with his DT10 shotgun at the 2009 ISSF World Skeet Final in Beijing China.

Hancock takes home his second consecutive Silver Medal in this event after being tied for first place as he headed into the final. At 122 targets each, Hancock took another 21 targets to finish the competition with a total of 143 hits.

Beijing is a good venue for Hancock who last year took home from there a Gold Medal in Men’s Skeet during the Summer Olympics. This year continues to be an impressive one for Hancock who also won a Gold Medal at the U.S. National Shotgun Championships in Colorado Springs, CO.

About:
Beretta established in 1526, is the oldest industrial dynasty in the world tracing its roots through 16 generations of continuous family ownership. Firearms bearing the Beretta name have been sold for almost 500 years. Beretta USA Corp. was founded in 1977 and supplies the standard sidearm to the U.S. Armed Forces. Today Beretta manufactures, distributes and markets a complete line of firearms, accessories and apparel. Beretta also owns and operates six retail Beretta Gallery stores worldwide. For additional information visit www.berettausa.com.

USA Shooting

BEIJING, China –-(AmmoLand.com)- Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) won the silver medal in Men’s Skeet at the ISSF World Cup Final for the second consecutive year. Ryan Hadden (Pendleton, Ore) finished in fifth place in the Men’s Trap event.

Hancock, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2009 World Champion, was tied for first place with Georgios Achilleos of Cyprus at 122 out of 125 targets going into today’s final. Hancock hit 21 targets in the final and landed in second place, taking home the silver with a total of 143 hits.

The 2008 Olympic Bronze medalist, Anthony Terras of France, stepped back on the podium in Beijing, winning the Men’s Skeet final, which was held on the same range as the 2008 Olympic Games. Terras, who started the final in third place with 121 hits, came back to claim the gold after shooting 24 targets in the final to finish with an overall score of 145 hits.

Achilleos ended the final with 20 hits, and a total score of 142 targets, tying 2008 Olympic silver medalist Tore Brovold of Norway. The two athletes went into a shoot-off, which was won by Achilleos, who secured the bronze by eight hits to Brovold’s seven.

In the Men’s Trap event, USAMU member Hadden, a double gold medalist on the 2009 World Cup circuit, entered the final in sixth place after firing 109 out of 125 targets. Hadden hit 15 out of 25 targets in the final to finish in fifth place with a total of 125 hits.

Two-time Olympic champion Michael Diamond of Australia won the Men’s Trap competition, securing the third World Cup Final title of his career with a total score of 134 hits (117+17). Massimo Fabbrizi of Italy claimed the silver with 133 hits (117+16), while his teammate, Giovanni Pellielo, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist and winner of last year’s ISSF World Cup Final in Minsk, hit 12 targets out of 25 in the final, missing nine in a row, and landed in third place with a total score of 130 hits (118+12).

Sixty of the top shooters from 22 different countries qualified to take part in this year’s ISSF World Cup Final for Shotgun. These athletes qualified based on individual performances in the ISSF World Cup circuit throughout the year.

For complete World Cup Final results, please visit ISSF’s website at www.issf-sports.org.

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team:
Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.