For the first time in the history of the ICFRA F-Class World Championships, U.S. shooters secured every individual medal. Brandon Zwahr claimed the gold and the title of 2026 F-Class World Champion, with Matt Basalla taking silver and Emil Kovan bronze. All three competitors shoot for the United States F-Class Open Rifle Team, which competed against 211 F-Open shooters representing 18 countries at the historic Bisley range in Surrey, England.
The American presence was strong throughout the individual leaderboard, with Doug Skogman placing fifth, Erik Cortina ninth, Norman Harrold 12th, and Peter Johns 14th.
Conditions at Bisley presented significant challenges, diverging sharply from typical English August weather. Competitors encountered a range that had experienced 150 days without measurable precipitation, a local record. Daily highs soared from the mid-90s past the century mark, generating mirage that demanded precise wind calls. Team Captain Dan Bramley noted the conditions were "hot, 95 degrees and dry," with winds generally ranging between four and 16 mph.
The U.S. squad landed in London on August 1 and proceeded directly to Bisley. Prior to the main championship, competitors utilized the British Open as a shakedown match to confirm zeros and acclimate. In that event, Jason Cohen led the Americans with a second-place finish, followed by Johns in fourth, Zwahr in fifth, Cortina in sixth, and Basalla in 10th. The United States also secured gold in the British Open’s 16-man international team match.
Tragedy struck on the opening day of the individual world championship when an Italian competitor suffered a heart attack on the range. Match officials canceled the remainder of the day’s shooting out of respect for the Italian team, with competition resuming on day two without further incident.
While individual honors are significant, the team matches are a focal point for national squads. Day one of the 16-man team match unfolded with rapidly shifting winds between six and 10 mph. The American team dropped 11 points at 800 yards, 29 at 900, and 40 at 1,000 yards, finishing the day 25 points behind a South African team the U.S. had previously bested for the 2023 world title. Captain Bramley described this deficit as "a tough pill to swallow but a number we felt confident we could make up."
Day two brought calmer air to the 800- and 900-yard lines, which compressed the field and offered little room for a trailing team to gain ground. The Americans dropped a single point at 800 and 10 at 900, then delivered the best 1,000-yard performance of any team in the match, surrendering 27 points. This effort closed the gap but was not enough to overcome the deficit. South Africa ultimately secured gold with a score of 3500, with the United States earning silver at 3482.
Reflecting on the team's performance, Captain Bramley stated, "I am extremely proud of my shooters." He added, "We very much wanted to repeat as World Champions, but it just wasn't in the cards this year." He concluded, "We’ll see what happens in 2030 in Australia."
The American squad also remembered teammates Keith Weil and Dave Gosnell, both of whom earned places on the U.S. F-Class Open Rifle Team but passed away before the championship. Their jerseys were held up by teammates in squad photos from Bisley. Past NRA President and NRA F-Class High Power Rifle Committee Chairman John C. Sigler commented on their memory, noting he had shot with both men at previous world championships.
Captain Bramley's leadership cycle began in September 2023 following his re-election. Open tryouts at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico, drew a broad field, which was narrowed to 30 shooters, and ultimately to a 24-person roster for the world championship campaign. Squad members conducted practices twice at Whittington and after every National and Southwest National event. Team leadership secured sponsorship agreements with Nightforce Optics and Capstone Precision Group, which distributes Berger, Lapua, and Vihtavuori. Team resources covered costs for clothing, rain gear, front rests, rear bags, and all match and practice fees. Bramley described his team as "by far this was the best group of shooters I have ever had the pleasure of leading."
Upon the championship's conclusion, David Christian was nominated and unanimously elected by the current roster to lead the 2030 cycle. The next ICFRA F-Class World Championships will be hosted in Australia in 2030, with the U.S. slated to host the 2034 edition at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix.
