The 2011 Texas State Garand Championship has come to a close and as the ranges go quiet, all the shots counted and the results recorded I’d like to review the weekend for those that participated or for those that missed out on what was the last state match for the year in Texas.
After a welcome to the Terrell Rifle and Pistol Club and a short review of the rules by our line official, David Wilson, we were off. Clay Hefner got off to a blistering start in the Garand match with a 287-5X that would set the pace for the matches to come with John Jebavy putting up a good showing in the Carbine and Springfield matches with scores of 351-3X and 273-6X respectively. As the day wore on and the relay scores came in, Karl Schultz and I were handing out CMP medals and logging results into the computer, but the top scores seemed to be holding fast. The stage was being set for a Sunday show of who could best the early high scores and of course, what would happen in the Sunday pistol leg match.
Sunday came in as bright and clear as any fall Texas morning could be after a rain that cleared the air and promised excellent conditions for the second day of matches starting off with the pledge of allegiance and a first shot ceremony by 90 year old WWII Vet Doc Byron Range.
As competitors turned in scores under great conditions, the early scores from Saturday continued to stand up except the big dogs of the VMR match were now on the range. As Ron Leraas took over the line duties, Robert Langham and Harold Pate showed what can be done with a Swiss K31 in the right hands and moved to the head of the pack.
By eleven o’clock it was time for the pistol range to be the focus of attention and we started moving rifle shooters onto the fifty yard range where Roy Plumlee and Gary Shannon organized our pistol leg match. With the help of the morning’s 22 cal pistol shooters and a little cajoling by the first relay we ended the match with twenty seven shooters and produced three legs.
Now for the fun part of the report; I would like to announce the winners. Clay Hefner with late pressure hung on and won the Garand Championship with a 287-5X. Daniel Miller came in Sunday morning and swept the Springfield match away with a 274-5X. Ron Leraas not only ran the line on Sunday, but he took the carbine match with a 357-6X and owns bragging rights in the Unlimited Garand category with a 287-7X. Robert Langham showed up on Sunday to demonstrate his national match winning ability with the Swiss K31 and took home the VMR plaque with a 290-4X. Last and not least, the Pistol EIC match produced not just three legs with James Redman winning the match with a score of 264-3X, but also allowed us to present the two newest distinguished pistol shooters, Robert Langham taking second place and Justin Utley coming in third. Both men now wear the mantel of double distinguished. Congratulations!
I would like to thank the Terrell Rifle and Pistol Club for the use of their first class facilities, all the people mentioned in the article for their assistance, a special thanks to Robin and Roger Lankford for running the carbine matches and Justin Utley for cooking on the spur of the moment and of course, we couldn’t have a match at all without the fifty competitors who participated.
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