U.S. Team to Compete for Palma Trophy in World Long Range Rifle Championships
OutdoorHub 10.06.11
The NRA’s Competitive Shooting Division is pleased to announce that the 2011 United States Team has arrived in Brisbane, Australia to compete in the World Long Range Rifle Championships for the prestigious Palma Trophy. The competition will take place at the Belmont Shooting Complex from October 8-22, 2011.
First held in 1876, International Palma Matches take place every three to four years. The United States has won 13 of the 28 Palma Matches, an exacting and demanding long range high power rifle competition where wind conditions are especially critical.
“International Long Range competition is not new for the NRA,” said Mike Krei, Director of NRA’s Competitive Shooting Division. “The World Long Range Rifle Championships are an outgrowth of the original United States Palma Matches fired at the Creedmoor Range in New York beginning in 1876.”
The course of fire is comprised of three slow fire stages fired from the prone position. The first stage is 15 shots at 800 yards, the second stage is 15 shots at 900 yards, and the third stage is 15 shots at 1,000 yards. Targets are six feet square with a 20-inch black bullseye (10-ring), and an aiming circle of 44 inches that includes a 9-ring and an 8-ring. A perfect score for each stage is 150 points. Rifles are single-shot bolt actions equipped with iron sights, and ammunition is 7.62mm NATO/.308 Winchester caliber using a bullet weighing 155 grains.
The United States Long Range Rifle National Team members for the 2011 competition are:
- Team Captain: Dennis Flaharty
- Vice Team Captain/Adjutant: Dan Simpson
- Vice Team Captain: Dr. Tom Whitaker
- Armorer: Robert Gamboa
- Head Team Coach: Emil Praslick III
- NRA Advisor: Middleton Tompkins
Shooting Members: Bob Mead, Bryan Litz, David Littlefield, Gary Rasmussen, John Whidden, Justin Skaret, Kelly Bachand, Lane Buxton, Nancy Tompkins, Noma Mayo, Norm Anderson, Robert Gustin, Sherri Gallagher, Steve Cunico, Steve Hardin, Trevor Hengehold, Trevor Massey, Trudie Fay, Ty Cooper, and Wayne Forshee.
“I think I can speak for all NRA members in the United States in wishing our 2011 Team safe journeys and good weather as they take their place on the world stage to uphold the history and winning ways of American shooters for the past 135 years,” said Krei.
For more information about the history of the Palma Team Match and the Palma Trophy, please visit http://www.nrahq.org/compete/nat-trophy/tro-090.pdf. To learn more about Palma Competition and how to support the U.S. Team, please visit http://www.palma.org/. For more information about the National Rifle Association’s competitive shooting events or programs, visit www.nrahq.org/compete or call (703) 267-1450.
