Muzzle Blasts Online
Oct 1997/Nov 1997	Volume 2, Number 5

1997 National Territorial Report

by Tip Curtis

Top 10 List & Top Gun Winners

Congratulations to all of the top ten winners and many thanks to all of you who participated in the 1997 Territorial.

The coming year will have a few changes in the format. Any state that wishes to have more than one territorial may do so. Pleases contact: Tip Curits, P.O. Box 203, Cross Plains, TN 37049, for approval of location.

There will be a four match sub-junior aggregate and a four match junior aggregate. Metals will be given in these aggregates as all other aggregates. I have added a smoothbore aggregate with no rear sight, 54 cal. minimum, flint only, single pull trigger. The smoothbore aggregate we had last year will be called ``sighted smoothbore aggregate.'' Both aggregates will have one animal target. All smoothbore guns will have mandatory inspection before entering the match.

Another new rule in the Territorial matches will require all competitors to turn their targets in after each relay except for matches that require two consecutive relays. Failure to do so will disqualify the target for that relay. These rules are the same as we use in our national matches.

The purpose of the Territorial matches is to give competitors national competition and national top ten recognition. Each competitor has a chance to earn the top gun patch each year. The top gun program introduced in 1996 has been a challenge to many of you.

The top gun program is as follows: scores are recorded in each aggregate category at the end of the year. The top ten scores are compiled in order. The person with the highest score in each category wins the top gun patch. The more matches a competitor competes in the US and Canada as many times as you wish will give you a better chance to compile a higher score in the top ten list. If you are in first position at the end of the year, you will receive top gun in that aggregate and ten points toward overall top gun. Second will receive nine points, third will receive eight points, etc. The more aggregates a competitor shoots will give them a better chance to compile a higher amount of points. Remember this is for men and ladies for overall top gun.

Ladies, the more aggregates you shoot, even in the aggregates that are not listed for ladies, will qualify you for the overall ladies top gun. Although you have to be in the top then in that category at the end of the year. There are quite a few lady bench, pistol, and even smoothbore competitors out there, so ladies get your guns and shoot these matches. They are for you also.

Overall Top Gun Winners

This year overall men's top gun was J.L. Hargis from Illinois. He had a first in one gun, first in hunters, second in X-stick, third in musket, third in flint, fourth in bench and seventh in offhand with a total of 56 points. H.P. Gregory with 37 points placed second. Good shooting for a great pair of competitors.

Ladies overall top gun was repeat winner Sharron Smith with a score of 24 points. Sharron had a super ladies aggregate with a score of 187 for first, (two points higher than her last years score). She placed third in the ladies offhand. This lady also shoots smoothbore and finished in the top ten with a fifth place score of 154 2X. That is fantastic shooting, Sharron. ``Ladies'' we need more shooting. Sharron needs more competition! Marnie McCausland was second with 15 points. Marnie, keep up the good shooting!

Top Gun Aggregate Winners

H.P. Gregory, West Virginia, was top gun in offhand with a 183 2X.

H.P. Gregory, West Virginia, was top gun in offhand with a 183 2X. This is one point higher than last year's winner. H.P. has the talent for raising aggregate scores. Good shooting, H.P.!

Ed Dennis, Michigan, was top gun in flint with 183 3X. This score is also one point higher than last years top score. This is a great score for offhand flint shooting. Congratulations, Ed!

Don Warner, Ohio, was top gun in bench with a score of 197 7X. Don is one of the most respected bench competitors in the country and has set many records at Friendship in all muzzleloading competition. Also, his entire family and grandchildren will give anyone strong competition on the lines. Good shooting, Don!

Stan Foster, Illinois, was top gun in musket with a 266 3X. We would like to see more shooting like that at Friendship, Stan. (How about it?) Congratulations on a great musket score.

J.L. Harris, Illinois, was top gun in one gun with a 188 3X and top gun in the hunters aggregate with 179 6X. J.L. is the best ``Marathon'' competitor I have ever seen. J.L. sets a trend that a lot of competitors would like to achieve. J.L., congratulations on a great year of competition in the territorial.

Phil Davidson, Michigan, was top gun in X-stick with a 194 5X. It sure looks like the Michigan competitors were out for blood in this years aggregate winners. Good shooting, Phil!

Sharron Smith, Michigan, was our ladies top gun in ladies aggregate with a score of 187.

Sharron Smith, Michigan, was our ladies top gun in ladies aggregate with a score of 187 which is one point higher than last years score. It would be hard to put into words the accomplishments Sharron has done for competition and promotion for the NMLRA. Sharron and Guy, many thanks for the work and support you have contributed to the territorial program. Congratulations on great shooting!

Jeremy Franklin, Alabama, was junior top gun this year with a score of 130. Good shooting, Jeremy!

Bill Carmichael, Tennessee, and Ed Wintermute, Ohio, tied for the top gun in skeet with a score of 46 birds. This is the first year for a 50 bird aggregate in skeet. This is great shooting, congratulations!

Jackie Truelove, Indiana, was top gun in trap with a perfect score of 50. This is the first year for a 50 bird trap aggregate, also. Jackie, when I put the 50 bird aggregate in the program, I predicted one of the Jasper shooters would break a perfect score and you were on my mind. You are a great competitor, congratulations!

Norman Ensley, Ohio, was top gun in pistol with a 291 10X. This score is 4 points higher than last years top score. This is a great score for pistol competition, which is only two points off the Territorial record at Friendship. Congratulations on a super pistol aggregate!

Bill Koppos, New York, was top gun in the primitive aggregate with a score of 174. This tied last years score. Good shooting, Bill!

Sub-junior top gun is Mike Blazier, Pennsylvania, with a score of 100 9X.

This year's sub-junior top gun is Mike Blazier, Pennsylvania, with a score of 100 9X. Followed by Mary Taylor, Alabama, with 100 8X, Tracy Torrance, Louisiana, 100 7X, Brittany Warner, Ohio, 100 6X, Richard Albright, Arizona, 100 5X, Charles Kuhns, Pennsylvania, 100 5X and Kyle Warner, Ohio, 100 4X. Never in the Territorial history has there been such good competition in the sub-junior class. To all of you sub-juniors, we all congratulate you for your great shooting.

David Scheid, Oregon, won top gun in the sighted smoothbore aggregate with a score of 166. Good shooting, David!

Chad Cleland, Ohio, was top gun in the unlimited longhunter aggregate with a score of 189 1X. This was nine points higher than last year. Chad this is the best unlimited scores I have ever seen on any of the targets fired on. Super good shooting, Chad!

Marnie McCausland, Ohio, was top gun in ladies offhand with a score of 172 1X. Marnie was second last year in this aggregate but 1997 was your year in this aggregate. Congratulations to a great shooter!

The 1997 Territorial attendance was down early in the year, due to the bad weather we encountered this spring. Later in the year, clubs with good weather had larger attendance than last year,. Because of this reason, we were down 190 competitors and 413 aggregates sold totaling $2,767.10 difference in revenue from last year. Total gross revenue this year was $33,982.60 with $14,560.00 going to host clubs and $19,422.60 going to the NMLRA. This is still $1,670.20 higher than we had in gross revenue in 1995. On the brighter side, we signed up 268 new members in the Territorial matches for 1997.

The Territorial matches are our memberships chance to compete on a national level. Let us take this opportunity and challenge to participate in the 1998 territorial matches. If so, you will probably be one of the top ten members next year or maybe top gun? See you somewhere at the territorial!

1997 Territorial Top Ten

Offhand Total Competitors 424
H.P. Gregory	West Virginia	183 2X
Kevin Warner	Ohio	183
Tim Marsh	Indiana	179 3X
Elwood Cullers	West Virgina	179 1X
Sam Gladden	Louisiana	179
Bill Rose	Ohio	177 3X
J.L. Hargis	Indiana	177 1X
Robert W. Elka	Michigan	176 2X
Chad Cleland	Ohio	175 4X
Butch Trahan	Mississippi	175 1X
Flint Total Competitors 315
Ed Dennis	Michigan	183 3X
H.P. Gregory	West Virginia	182 5X
J.L. Hargis	Illinois	182 1X
Elwood Cullers	West Virginia	177 3X
Bob Pollock, Jr.	Pennsylvania	177 2X
Harry Marsh	Kentucky	176 1X
Sam Gladden	Arizona	174
Bruce Henninger	Idaho	174
Zane Kent	Alabama	173 3X
Chad Cleland	Ontario	173 3X
Richard Marsh	Kentucky	173
Andy Larson	Texas-West	172 2X
Bench Total Competitors 156
Don Warner	Ohio	197 7X
Randy Kuhns	Pennsylvania	195 6X
Roy Felix	Michigan	194 6X
J.L. Hargis	Illinois	193 7X
Jim O'Conner	Massachusetts	193 6X
Ken Laverty	California	193 5X
Anthony Capriglione	New York	193 3X
Michael Wengert	Maryland	192 5X
Jim Goodoien	South Dakota	192 3X
Roy Scott	Pennsylvania	191 5X
Doug Scott	Indiana	191 5X
Musket Total Competitors 158
Stan Foster	Illinois	266 3X
Elwood Cullers	West Virginia	261 3X
J.L. Hargis	Indiana	259
Frank Collins	Texas-West	256 1X
Ray Druen	Pennsylvania	254 4X
Richard Lewis	Tennessee	254 1X
Errol McLean	New York	253 3X
H.P. Gregory	West Virginia	253 1X
Don Henson	Oregon	253
Joseph Emanuele	New York	251 1X
One Gun Total Competitors 174
J.L. Hargis	Illinois	188 3X
David Scheid	Arizona	186 3X
Kevin Warner	Ohio	181 1X
H.P. Gregory	West Virginia	180 1X
Mark Dehaase	Missouri	179 1X
Andy Larson	Texas-West	176 2X
Nelson Simonds	New York	176 1X
Anthony Capriglione	New York	176 1X
Ron Alback	Texas-West	173 2X
Elwood Cullers	West Virginia	173 1X
Johney Middlebrook	Texas-West	173
X-Sticks Total Competitors 182
Phil Davidson	Michigan	194 5X
J.L. Hargis	Illinois	193 3X
Nelson Simonds	New Hampshire	192 3X
Dan Hale	Pennsylvania	190 7X
James Goodoien	South Dakota	190 5X
Mondale Nash	Arizona	189 5X
Gary Waller	Louisiana	189 5X
Don Lemker	Oregon	189 5X
Lowell Crane	Indiana	188 7X
Rodney Ingram	North Carolina	188 5X
Tim Taylor	Tennessee	188 5X
Richard Fisher	Ohio	188 3X
Jean Reimer	South Dakota	188 1X
Ladies Total Competitors 94
Sharron Smith	Michigan	187
Elaine Brown	Ontario	185 2X
Shannon McLean	New York	184 2X
Shirle Leggett	Arizona	181 2X
Bonnie Solovan	Texas-West	181 1X
Marnie McCausland	Ohio	180 1X
Ann Reed	West Virginia	179
Tara Manzer	New York	177 3X
Gerry Rubbo	Pennsylvania	177
Vivian Moore	Ontario	176 1X
Sub-Juniors Total Competitors 60
Mike Blazier	Pennsylvania	100 9X
Mary Amelia Taylor	Alabama	100 8X
Tray Torrance	Louisiana	100 7X
Brittany Warner	Ohio	100 6X
Richard Albright	Arizona	100 5X
Charles Kuhns	Pennsylvania	100 5X
Kyle Warner	Ohio	100 4X
Justin Bradley	Mississippi	99 9X
Jared Stanfield	Tennessee	99 3X
Miranda Bergman	Arizona	99 2X
Matt Schlick	Montana	98 5X
Hunters Total Competitors 314
J.L. Hargis	Illinois	179 6X
Richard Dagenais	Maryland	178 3X
H.P. Gregory	West Virginia	175 3X
Nathan Brown	Pennsylvania	171 1X
Matt Miller	Michigan	169 2X
Bill Disbro	Indiana	164
Tim Marsh	Kentucky	163 2X
Ken Earnest	Tennessee	163
Sam Gladden	Tennessee	161 3X
John Murray	Utah	161 1X
Bob Pollock, Jr.	Pennsylvania	161 1X
Smoothbore Total Competitors 113
David Scheid	Oregon	166
Tip Curtis	Arizona	165
Wade Moffett	Maine	165
Larry Williams	Utah	160 1X
Guy R. Smith	Illinois	159 1X
Sharron Smith	Pennsylvania	154 2X
K.M. Lofy	Wisconsin	154
Jack Henson	Texas-West	153 3X
Alva Baker	Texas-West	153 2X
Laurie Brown	Oregon	153
Kirk Mathew	California	151
Unlimited Total Competitors 163
Chad Cleland	Ohio	189 1X
David Scheid	Idaho	173
Richard Dagenais	Maryland	168
Ralph Miller	Texas-West	164 2X
Steve Demarco	New York	164 1X
Bob Pollock, Jr. Pennsylvania	164
Sidney Poor	Missouri	164
Bill Rose	Ohio	163
Kurt Williams	Arizona	162 2X
Sam Gladden	Tennessee	160 1X
Jack Henson	Texas-West	158
J. Middlebrook	Texas-West	158
Junior Total Competitors 61
Jeremy Franklin	Alabama	130
Helen Wadley	Idaho	129
Erik Berggren	New York	124
Dawn Stanfield	Alabama	122 2X
Jim Whiteside	Missouri	122 2X
Matt Manhard	North Carolina	122
Joe Ash	Wisconsin	122
Jacob Canterbury	Alabama	120 1X
Morgan Steger	California	120 1X
Ryan Van Nuys	Pennsylvania	120 1X
Dusty Powers	Arizona	119 2X
Eric Bass	Mississippi	115
Jonathan Williams	Alabama	114 1X
Russell Kapping	South Dakota	112
Skeet Total Competitors 61
Bill Carmichael	Tennessee	46
Ed Wintermute	Ohio	46
Donald Wells	Indiana	45
Al Mactavish	Ohio	44
Al Schroder	Missouri	44
Marty King	Michigan	43
Pat King	Ohio	43
Bruce Ogilvie	Alabama	42
Bill Irons	Michigan	42
Colin Mullins	Indiana	42
Clyde Rice	Iowa	41
Jackson Littleton	Oregon	40
Harry Sparks	Tennessee	39
Kenny Moore	West Virginia	39
Tim Taylor	Alabama	38
Paul Mercer	Michigan	38
Sam Gladden	Alabama	36
Owen Collins	Tennessee	36
Charles Carman	Tennessee	36
Dean Borders	Iowa	36
Trap Total Competitors 134
Jackie Truelove	Indiana	50
Mike Moore	Texas-East	48
James Mathis	Ohio	48
Rex Snelling	Texas-West	47
Jerald Sendelweck	Tennessee	46
Charles Carman	Tennessee	46
Lowell Tennyson	Iowa	46
Eugene Rheem	Tennessee	45
Mike Watson	Michigan	45
Tom Veale	Texas-West	45
Harry Hauch	Michigan	44
Brian Lloyd	Ohio	44
David Pierce	Texas-West	44
Joann Rheem	Tennessee	43
Gary Ragatz	Iowa	43
Ron Fernwalt	Michigan	42
Ray Carrico	Iowa	42
Ken Lenz	Illinois	42
Daniel Alexander	Indiana	42
Bob Mongan	Michigan	41
Bruce Lloyd	Ohio	41
Kenneth Adair	Texas-West	41
Randall Judy	Indiana	41
Clyde Rice	Tennessee	40
Don Daugherty	West Virginia	40
Andy Larson	Texas-West	40
Pistol Total Competitors 217
Norman Ensley	Ohio	291 10X
Charles Lewis	Maryland	283 11X
Charles Garvey	Tennessee	282 6X
Michael Amico	Maryland	281 10X
Sam Gladden	Mississippi	281 7X
Steve Cobb	Alabama	281 5X
Larry Baird	Tennessee	281 4X
Scott Mings	Indiana	281 3X
Dan Hardman	North Carolina	280 8X
Richard Lewis	Tennessee	280 6X
Primitive Total Competitors 126
Bill Koppos	New York	174
Steven Freede	Arizona	164
Glen Hildebrand	Arizona	158
Terry Wilkerson	Ohio	154
Mondell Nash	Idaho	152
Fred Newcomb	Arizona	151
Nathan Sell	Ohio	149 1X
Wes O'Dell	Michigan	149
Rusty McGhee	Arizona	148
Darrell Serrett	West Virginia	148
Kirk Mathew	Arizona	147
Ladies Offhand Total Competitors 107
Marnie McCausland	Ohio	172 1X
Connie Ratliff	Utah	170
Sharron Smith	Michigan	169 1X
Laurie Brown	Oregon	164 1X
Ann Reed	West Virginia	163 1X
Sherry Pennell	Arizona	160
Connie Bowman	Utah	159 3X
Janine Miln	Ontario	158 2X
Gerry Rubbo	Pennsylvania	158
Vivian Moore	Ontario	157