1997 National Matches Mark 90th Year with Record-Setting Performances and Shifting Conditions

The 1997 National Matches at Camp Perry unfolded with significant changes and landmark achievements, marking the 90th year since the event first began. With the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) privatized in 1996, all National Board references were removed from the match program, replaced by a schedule focused on CMP National Trophy Matches. Despite potential disruptions from the privatization, NRA National Matches Coordinator M.S. “Gil” Gilchrist and Director of Civilian Marksmanship Michael Robertson proved effective in their roles, contributing to an increase in National Match attendance that would span the next several years.

Nearly 3,400 competitors converged on Camp Perry, where legends Lones Wigger, Jr., and G. David Tubb celebrated personal milestones by winning national championships and establishing unprecedented title counts. In the pistol discipline, Sgt. Jason Meidinger of the Marines claimed the national champion title, marking the first time Marines secured back-to-back handgun crowns. Meidinger’s victory was decisive, starting with a win in the Preliminary Championship. He then set a record with an 897 in the .22 Championship, achieving perfect scores in both the National Match Course and Timed Fire Matches. Tricky winds in the center fire portion kept scores well below the 1980 aggregate record, with CWO Paul Malsbury winning with an 876. Meidinger sealed his title with a top rapid fire score and an 889 aggregate in the .45 Championship. His combined score of 2654-140X put him 15 points ahead of runner-up Jerry Chaney, who was recognized as the high civilian, receiving the Manchester Trophy. Other pistol honors included Ruby Fox’s 15th women’s title, Norm Girardin topping the seniors, and John Bickar repeating as both junior and collegiate champion.

The National Trophy Pistol Matches saw SFC James Henderson of the Army Reserve win the President’s Pistol Match, an award that included a CMP special grade M1 Garand rifle and a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States, the last year such a letter was part of the awards. SFC Frederick Little of the Army National Guard secured the National Trophy Individual Match, while All-Guard Gold triumphed over 29 other teams in the National Trophy Team competition.

Smallbore competition featured remarkable performances, particularly from Maj. Steve Goff, an Arkansas National Guardsman assigned to active duty at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit. Following a winter season where he medaled in all three smallbore events at the NRA National Indoor Rifle Championships, including a national record 1196x1200 in three position, Goff continued his dominance at Perry. The metallic sight matches saw David Cramer win prone, SPC Jason Parker win standing, and Capt. Glenn Dubis set a national record with 387-15X kneeling. Goff ultimately won the metallic sight championship with an 1143-41X, edging out Parker by a single point.

Goff quickly asserted himself in the any sight matches with a 399 prone score. Civilian Ken Benyo demonstrated his kneeling proficiency, raising the National Match record score by five points to a 392-17X en route to winning the any sight championship. However, Goff held a 20-point advantage over Benyo in iron sights, finishing with a final score of 2295-82X, 15 points ahead of runner-up Tom Tamas. Benyo secured his fifth consecutive civilian title, while Army Reserve Lt. Kimberly Howe led both the women’s and collegiate categories, and Shane Barnhart defended his junior crown.

The four days of prone shooting commenced with excellent weather, as Cramer equaled the metallic sight Dewar match record with a 400-38X. Lones Wigger, Jr., maintaining a lower profile since his 1993 retirement from three-position shooting, achieved the highest X-count among the six perfect 1600 scores, leading Barnhart by four Xs to claim the metallic sight championship with a 3200-251X.

As the championship transitioned to team competition, the weather shifted dramatically. Cool temperatures, high winds, and crashing surf covered Lake Shore Drive, leading to the postponement of the international postal Randle and Dewar Matches until after the Pershing Match. In the Pershing Match, Canada, Great Britain, and the United States competed, with Edie Reynolds making history as the first woman ever named as a U.S. Pershing Team captain. Dubis was the high gun for the United States and the match, scoring 400-36X, contributing to the U.S. victory in the Pershing.

Following the Pershing Match, Eliza Bishop earned the distinction of being only the second person in National Match history to shoot on a Pershing, Dewar, and Randle Team in the same year. Dubis again performed as the U.S. Team’s top gun in the Dewar Match with 392x400 on the tough English target, though Great Britain secured the Dewar laurels. South Africa ultimately claimed the Randle victory. The special NRA Smallbore Committee-sponsored Randle Doubles/Mentor Match proved highly popular, with Allen Elliot and Nathan Tracey topping 35 other teams with a perfect 800-61X in the any-sight Dewar course.