OUTSTANDING!

Young shooters excel at the 2010 National Junior Air Gun Championships & Training Summit

Story and Photos by Kerrin Brinkman, NRA Media Relations

The Washington State Rifle and Pistol Assn. had a strong showing this year. (L. to r.: Coach John Crossman, Alan Agnew, Rena Hopkins, Dan Lowe, Scott Newman)

Never had a major convention center been so quiet. The soft "whoosh" of air being expelled from the muzzles of air guns echoed in the main exhibit hall of the Albuquerque Convention Center during the 2010 National Junior Air Gun Championships and Training Summit (NJAGC). Held June 22-26 in Albuquerque, N.M., the Championships hosted nearly 150 of the country's top young air gun competitors in this elite competition.

Shooters from all corners of the country were represented, some from as far as Connecticut and Hawaii, all hoping to see how they measured up against fellow air gun competitors in the Sporter and Precision classes. Many local teams from the Albuquerque area also came out to compete with hopes of clinching top honors in their hometown.

The NJAGC was broken down into three days, during which the young shooters competed and attended educational seminars. Day One of the event began with two relays of shooters taking to the indoor range to shoot from the prone, standing and kneeling positions.

After a long day on the range, competitors got a chance to let loose later that night at the famous "Barter Bar." Part swap meet and part social hour, the Barter Bar allows teams to set up tables where they display items to trade with other competitors. These bartering items usually relate to the team's home state, and range from the highly coveted to the fun and silly. LaCueva High School's JROTC team offered New Mexico license plates, while the ever-popular Venture Crew #123 from Honolulu, Hawaii, brought shell necklaces, Hawaiian flags and key chains. Idaho's Cedar Hill 4-H team provided personal fans and water guns to help beat the New Mexico heat, while a few tables down, a group from California brought the beach to the Southwest with beach balls and frisbees. One of the most interesting items at the Barter Bar was the Montana team's "Moose Poop," an interesting candy made from chocolate and nuts. After having a good laugh and catching up with friends, it was back to business for the second day of the event.

Everyone got a break from shooting on Day Two to attend the Training Summit, where NRA Staff gave seminars on a variety of topics. NRA National Coach Trainer (Rifle) Marcus Raab and NRA Advanced Rifle Camp Coach John Crossman spoke to shooters about the mental and physical aspects of the shot process, as well as providing information about the proper nutrition necessary for athletes to keep their bodies operating at peak performance.

The NJAGC is as much about bringing the junior shooting community together as it is about competition, so what better way to make friends than to meet up at the Barter Bar?

Next up was Sheri Judd with NRA's Youth Programs Department, who gave a seminar on the different shooting sports programs that the NRA offers for young people, and informed competitors of a variety of scholarships and monetary awards that are available. Victoria Croft, Manager of NRA's Collegiate Shooting Programs, wrapped up the Training Summit with a lecture on the opportunities available to shooters at the collegiate level.

The third and final day of the event saw competitors back on the range, shooting in their last relay to determine who would walk away with top honors. When the challenge periods ended, and final scores were released, the leader board saw some new additions as well as familiar names. In the Precision Class, a hometown hero took home a gold medal for Albuquerque. Fifteen-year-old Landon Shankles with LaCueva High School's Marine Corps JROTC team placed first with an amazing score of 1179 out of 1200.

"Winning feels great," said Shankles. "Success is when countless hours of practice meet up with that one moment of opportunity, and this was my match." Holding on to her silver medal from 2009 was Abigail Stance with the Ohio Rifle & Pistol Association with an 1177, and the bronze went to Washington State Rifle & Pistol Association's Dan Lowe with an 1172.

These three also helped lead their teams to victory, with Ohio Rifle & Pistol Association's all-female team taking first place, jumping two spots from last year's third-place finish. In second place was LaCueva High's Marine Corps JROTC team, with the Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association taking third despite last year's first-place finish.

The Sporter Class saw a new crop of champions in the individual rankings. Seventeen-year-old John White from the Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Association took gold with a score of 1106, helping his team to secure third place.

"I'm proud of the achievement. It's incredible, and hard work does pay off," said a beaming White.

Dahkota Hayes with the Montana Rifle & Pistol Association was the silver medalist with a 1094, allowing her team to take top honors for the second year in a row. Shaley Clements from the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association scored a 1085, clinching the bronze medal. The silver medal in the team category went to Venture Crew #123, Aloha Council, BSA Gold from Hawaii.

In the end, the National Junior Air Gun Championships had a balance of new and returning champions, with local competitors taking home a first-place finish individually, and a second-place finish for their team. As cheers and applause rang through the Awards Banquet, the 2010 National Junior Air Gun Championships ended with much more noise than it originally began.