Hundreds of the world's best action pistol competitors competed last week at the NRA's Sixth World Action Pistol Championships in Hamilton, New Zealand, but it was the U.S. Pistol Team who walked away with four titles.
The United States was represented by 12 shooters, all with past experience in the NRA Bianchi Cup.
Doug Koenig earned the title of Open Champion with a score of 1920-181x. Koenig is also this year's NRA Bianchi Cup Champion. Vance Schmid scored a 1902-133x, making him the Metallic Sights Champion. Bruce Piatt was named the Iron Man Champion with a score of 3811-321X. Helen Jeavons won the title of Ladies Champion with a score of 1892-147x.
USA Teams A and B also took the titles of First and Second Place in this year’s Open Team Match and Metallic Team Match.
The competition holds events for both teams and individuals in the customary makeup of the NRA National Action Pistol Championships. This championship, more commonly known as the NRA Bianchi Cup, is traditionally held during Memorial Day weekend at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club’s Chapman Academy Range outside Columbia, Missouri.
Since its inception, the NRA Bianchi Cup has retained its original course of fire, consisting of four matches: Practical, Barricade, Moving Target and Falling Plates. These four events are paralleled at the World Action Pistol Championships. Each event is timed and is worth 480 points, equaling a total of 1920 possible points.
"The best of the best come together for the NRA World Action Pistol Championships in New Zealand," said Mike Krei, Director of NRA's Competitive Shooting Division. "Action pistol shooting is just one of the many programs offered by the NRA to the hundreds of thousands of citizens who enjoy practicing and preserving the Second Amendment."
For more information about the Bianchi Cup, the NRA World Action Pistol Championship or any other Action Pistol events, contact Tom Hughes at bianchicup@nrahq.org or call him at NRA Headquarters at (703) 267-1478 or (800) 672-3888, extension 1478.