The New Jersey Team:

• Experts: Paul Adamowski, Norm Glitz, Mark Jenkins, Rich Baughman, and Nick A.

• Sharpshooters: Mike Westock, Logan Ball, John Gunn III, Ed Glidden, Fred R., Tom S., and Andy Kmeicik

• Marksmen: Dave Souders, Sue Westock, Bruce Daniels, Paul T., Al Weinerman and Harold Weiner

First, the overall picture. The weather was decent during the individual matches except for centerfire day when the wind kept scores down. Heavy rains forced the cancellation of the .45 cal. team matches and the team championship was based on the scores fired in the .22 caliber and centerfire matches. (Unlike 1990 when weather and range conditions forced the cancellation of the .45 matches altogether and no refunds were given, the NRA refunded fees for this year’s .45 team matches!) There were a total of 680 competitors in the NRA championships, a decrease from last year’s 780. This was the first year of the NRA’s "Made in America program," which allows juniors to shoot "made in America" .22's throughout the three-gun championships but drew only two competitors.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant Brian Zins won again this year, his record-setting Seventh National Championship (just like Lance Armstrong and his record-setting Seventh Tour de France win) and Kimberly Hobart won another title as High Woman.

The size of gun boxes drew much attention. Dave Lange of Glen Rock thought his Extra Large gun box might draw some glances but it was dwarfed by "The Condo," made by an Army shooter (pictured separately, next to a regular size gun box). Although "The Condo" caused much discussion, no protests were filed and the owner used it throughout the matches

The NRA continues to add other events to the days preceding the National Championships. With only one day between the first day of the CMP’s Small Arms Firing School and the NRA’s Preliminary Match, shooters face an array of choices between more Small Arms Firing School, "practice," and two revolver matches! This was the second year of the NRA’s Distinguished Revolver program, drawing 237 shooters, an increase from last year’s 193 shooters. This revolver program is similar to the CMP’s Distinguished program in that the top ten percent of the non-Distinguished shooters earn "Leg Points" and it takes 30 points to make Distinguished. This year in the revolver match, Dave Lange fired an excellent score of 267-3X, good for 12^th place overall and six points towards NRA Distinguished. This was the fifth year of the Harry Reeves Memorial Revolver Match, fired with any centerfire revolver over the National Match Course. Dave Lange (257-3x) and Heinz Schroeder of Dumont (254-2X) earned Harry Reeves T-shirts by placing in the top 100.

The NRA championships are conducted over three days with competitors using a different type of pistol each day (.22 caliber, any centerfire pistol, and .45 caliber). Each day, each shooter completes four individual matches (Slow Fire, National Match Course, Timed Fire, and Rapid Fire) comprising a "900," the maximum possible score, with that pistol. At the conclusion of each day’s individual matches, team matches are fired where each member fires the National Match Course (ten shots, each, of slow fire, timed fire, and rapid fire, for a possible total of 300 points).

The NRA gives special recognition to "unsupported" civilians, those who do not receive any money, ammo, guns, etc., from sponsors during the year. When the final results are tabulated, the top ten unsupported civilians in each class are named to the "NRA/USA Civilian Pistol Team." This year THREE NEW JERSEY shooters, all Sharpshooters, achieved that honor!  This was a particularly noteworthy achievement for Mike Westock of Cranbury because it was his first year in competition and his first trip to Camp Perry! It was not quite so remarkable for Junior John Gunn of Runnemede who just keeps getting better and better! It was a remarkable achievement for Ed Glidden of Old Bridge because he had not been to Camp Perry for the past 20 years! A very large CONGRATULATIONS to these shooters for their extraordinary accomplishment!

In the individual matches, awards are given to the top ten percent of the shooters within a particular classification and category. It is a major accomplishment to place in that top ten percent at Camp Perry. Expert Mark Jenkins of Hopatcong won awards in eight matches, more than any other team member. Mike Westock and Ed Glidden each won four awards in their class and John Gunn won three. Master John Gemmill of Cliffwood Beach won three place awards and was High Senior Master in the overall aggregate. Master Bill Vargo of South River and Experts Norm Glitz of Hamilton Square and Rich Baughman of Ringwood also earned their place in the sun by winning an award.

In the Team Matches, we were again able to field a Junior Team, comprised of Captain Logan Ball of Englishtown, John Gunn, David Souders of Chatham, and Mike Westock’s daughter, Sue, who was able to take time from her frantic soccer schedule to join us at Camp Perry. The team was coached by Ed Glidden, who handily managed the feat despite a prolonged absence from Camp Perry! The Juniors competed in the State Association Sharpshooter class and acquitted themselves well. Logan and John each shared the spotlight as the high shooter on the team for that day’s matches.

We also fielded two adult teams. The Master team captained by Allan Kutyla of Montville also included Jim Aglione of Mahwah, John Gemmill, and Bill Vargo. The team’s best showing was in the .22 matches, where they came in 6^th out of 14 teams. John was the high scorer on the team on both days. The Expert team consisted of Captain Paul Adamowski of Marmora, Rich Baughman, Norm Glitz, Mark Jenkins, and Mike Westock. Mike made this team, despite being a "mere" Sharpshooter, because he has been shooting so well and his scores are rising so rapidly that we call him "The Rocket." Mike earned his way onto the team each day by firing well in the individual matches. Mark Jenkins shot a sensational 293-12X on .22 day to lead the team and Norm Glitz was high shooter on centerfire day. The team’s best showing was on .22 day when they came in 9^th out of 20 teams.

Although they did not shoot on the State Conventional Team, two other New Jersey shooters did well in the NRA Championships. High Master Dave Lange of Glen Rock won awards in several matches, including a third place overall in the Preliminary Match and fired an excellent aggregate score of 2620, good for 9^th place overall at Camp Perry! He also fired on Team Ultradot, which won the National Team Championship! Master Kathy Chatterton of Glen Rock was High Woman in several matches and was also a "top ten percenter."

Service Pistol competition is conducted at Camp Perry on the day following the NRA matches, under the rules of the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Only "service pistols" are allowed. There are two individual matches (the President’s Match and the National Trophy Individual [or "Leg"] Match) and a Service Pistol Team Match. The CMP has changed its rules to encourage more Juniors to participate, requiring the use of .22 caliber pistols (with iron sights) and two-person teams.

Our Juniors did well! Blue Team members Logan Ball and John Gunn came in second overall, by just two points! The Red Team, consisting of David Souders and Sue Westock, came in fourth! In the individual matches, Logan did well in the President’s Junior Match, coming in third overall, and Sue came in eighth. In the Leg Junior Match, Logan was sixth overall and Sue was eighth. Well done, Juniors!

Unfortunately for us, this was the last opportunity for Logan Ball and David Souders to compete as Juniors. Although we have some excellent candidates for next year, we are always looking for more juniors so, if you know of one who would like to go to Camp Perry next year, please contact John Gemmill at (732) 566-3096.

The President’s Pistol Match was won by James Henderson with a record score of 389 (out of 400). Dave Lange fired an excellent score of 364, good for 32^nd overall, earning yet another President’s 100 medal. In the Leg Match, the official cutoff score for points was a relatively high 265-2X. That cutoff may be lowered as more scores come in from matches fired before Perry. Either way, Dave Lange earned a General Custer medal with an terrific score of 278.

Our adult Service Pistol team fired a score of 1035, good for 14^th place overall and tenth place out of the 16 state teams. John Gemmill was team captain and the firing members of the team were Dave Lange, Norm Glitz, Allan Kutyla, and (new shooter) Mike Kirk of Oradell. Dave Lange and Norm Glitz both fired wonderful scores of 271 for the team. Paul Adamowski was the other non-firing team member.

One of the highlights of the CMP Awards Ceremony occurred when Mike Kirk and Paul Adamowski were called to the stage and presented with their recently-earned Distinguished Pistol Shot badges!