Author: Bill Dutton
Open letter to NRA Competitions Division
To: Kyle Weaver, Executive Director for General Operations
CC: Dennis Willing, Director, Competitive Shooting Division
CC: Howard Q. Moody: Secretary, NRA Smallbore Rifle Committee
CC: NRA Smallbore Rifle Committee
This is in regards to the question of hosting the future smallbore matches at Chief Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range in Bristol IN or Camp Perry OH. I have received many thanks and suggestions from other Junior Rifle team competitors, coaches and directors…
The staff and hosts at Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range were excellent and should be congratulated for providing the support needed.
The facilities are perfect for a large Regional but The Chief Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range lacks the grand scale which a Camp Perry provides.
Competitors and parents look forward to browsing vendor row at Camp Perry in order to replenish supplies for the coming season… ammunition, shooting gear and cleaning supplies in addition to trying out the latest shooting equipment. At Bristol, the only place that competitors could use their awards points were at the NRA ‘store’ which had only limited supply of shirts, bags and NRA marketing memorabilia.
Nearest hotel in Elkhart about 15 minutes away. Camp Perry has sufficient onsite lodging for hundreds of competitors and their families. I personally had a bill for $1,400 for the hotel I and my daughter stayed in. Compared to a Hut at Camp Perry where 4 people can sleep for $12.50 per night… translating to equivalent cost of $175 per person for 2 weeks.
Denial of unclassified shooters from competing. It was most disturbing to learn that unclassified competitors were not allowed to compete in the master class. The NRA allowed Master unclassified (MU) shooters to compete in the 2015 Conventional Pistol Championships. This is inconsistent at best. Some competitors train under USA Shooting, CMP or 4-H programs and may not have easy access to compete in local NRA matches in order to obtain a classification. This also meant that there was a lack of sufficient numbers of sub juniors to compete for prizes during most of the matches. For example, in conventional 3P, there were 27 sub-juniors in 2013 but only 6 in 2015. In conventional prone there were 20 in 2013 and just 2 in 2015. The NRA should be promoting participation especially with the next generation of shooters if they want to grow the sport. The National Championships have always been an OPEN Championship.
Camp Perry has the better on-site awards location with the Hough Theater. Ample stage space for large teams (Drew/Randle for example) to stand shoulder to shoulder during the awards ceremony.
Food services were better at Camp Perry. Having the catering company onsite for competitors was a good call. However, Camp Perry has the onsite shooters mess which was a great value and the additional food vendors provided much greater choices.
Access to the firing line was not clearly marked as they are always at Camp Perry. At Camp Perry, there were clearly marked 4 foot paths from the parking lot to the ready line so that people could not block access with either chairs or popups.
Scored target area where competitors could check their targets is much better at Camp Perry. At Bristol, targets were exposed to the elements during the matches and on at least one occasion, rain/wind had damaged scored targets beyond repair. Camp Perry had all of the targets in an enclosed conference room and only competitors were allowed into the room to review and challenge targets.
Overlapping smallbore championships and the national pistol championships meant that some could not compete in both.
Costs of running the matches are cheaper at Bristol, but cost should not be a determining factor. The NRA competitions division exists to support the competitors. The NRA should focus on growing the sport and not alienate competitors focusing on the cost. The response that this author had from the other competitors was overwhelmingly in support for Camp Perry.
Lack of (some) fired team matches meant that there would be no chance to set any new NRA or National Match records.
No media coverage of the smallbore matches by the NRA. Other than the announcement in the NRA blog that the National Rifle and Pistol championships kicked off, smallbore had no mention in any NRA media. In the past, there were almost daily updates to the facebook and NRA blog when hosted at Camp Perry.
Camp Perry being the host to the National Rifle and Pistol championships provides shooters the opportunity to ‘cross-pollinate’ shooting disciplines. Smallbore shooters (especially younger ones) can see the coming and going of the High Power and Pistol competitors might encourage people to try shooting in other disciplines.
The results website is still missing results for some matches. Some results were initially pointing to high power results. The NRA should be doing quality checks on the results pages daily.
Hosting the matches at Bristol but the Intermediate Junior Rifle Camp at Camp Perry meant that many junior teams had to choose one or the other (or in some cases, neither). Having the Intermediate Camp together with the National Championships will ensure that the Junior Rifle Teams that have supplied some of the best competitors to the matches can continue to do so and expose the impressionable campers a taste of what the National Matches is like.
Camp Perry has one of the best state of the art air gun ranges in the nation. Many smallbore shooters also like to bring their air rifles to shoot re-entry matches. It would be nice if there was also a day added for an Air Rifle Championship if smallbore came back to Perry.
On a side note, regarding the damaged cover at Camp Perry, the damaged cover could be easily replaced by adding a one-time fee to the match fees for Camp Perry. A small fee per person for each discipline shot… Smallbore, Pistol and Highpower. Since the cover has been used by all disciplines this seems fair and reasonable.
In short, the NRA should hold the National Rifle and Pistol championships at Camp Perry because it is better suited, has better/less expensive lodging, more vendor options, more on site food options, and most of all has the rich history and atmosphere of a true national championship. The future of the sport depends on the youth. Keeping the Intermediate Junior Camp and the National Matches together ensures the future of the sport as well as increased participation in general which is best for the sport. The decline in the participation of the matches is directly related to the reduction in juniors attending. In 2013, there were 121 juniors in attendance in the Conventional 3P championship. This year, there were only 47. That is a reduction of 120% in junior participation.
We can and must do better.
About the author of this letter:
Bill Dutton
19 Hunter Dr,
Derry NH 03038
617-594-2194
Parent of Elizabeth Dutton, 2013 3P Metallic High Subjunior, 2015 High Woman/IJ Metallic Sights Conventional Prone, Randal and Drew cup team selections, High shooter on Dewar, 13 National Records (2 of which are pending)
NRA Life Member
Level 2 Rifle Coach
Certified NRA Instructor: Home Firearm Safety, Basic Pistol
Director: Hudson Fish and Game Club Junior Rifle Team
Highest Pistol Classification: High Master
Highest Smallbore Rifle Classification: Expert
Distinguished: Pistol, Revolver
Camp Perry Competitor (Pistol): 2002-2013.
Camp Perry Coach (Smallbore): 2012-2013
To: Kyle Weaver, Executive Director for General Operations
CC: Dennis Willing, Director, Competitive Shooting Division
CC: Howard Q. Moody: Secretary, NRA Smallbore Rifle Committee
CC: NRA Smallbore Rifle Committee
This is in regards to the question of hosting the future smallbore matches at Chief Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range in Bristol IN or Camp Perry OH. I have received many thanks and suggestions from other Junior Rifle team competitors, coaches and directors…
The staff and hosts at Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range were excellent and should be congratulated for providing the support needed.
The facilities are perfect for a large Regional but The Chief Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range lacks the grand scale which a Camp Perry provides.
Competitors and parents look forward to browsing vendor row at Camp Perry in order to replenish supplies for the coming season… ammunition, shooting gear and cleaning supplies in addition to trying out the latest shooting equipment. At Bristol, the only place that competitors could use their awards points were at the NRA ‘store’ which had only limited supply of shirts, bags and NRA marketing memorabilia.
Nearest hotel in Elkhart about 15 minutes away. Camp Perry has sufficient onsite lodging for hundreds of competitors and their families. I personally had a bill for $1,400 for the hotel I and my daughter stayed in. Compared to a Hut at Camp Perry where 4 people can sleep for $12.50 per night… translating to equivalent cost of $175 per person for 2 weeks.
Denial of unclassified shooters from competing. It was most disturbing to learn that unclassified competitors were not allowed to compete in the master class. The NRA allowed Master unclassified (MU) shooters to compete in the 2015 Conventional Pistol Championships. This is inconsistent at best. Some competitors train under USA Shooting, CMP or 4-H programs and may not have easy access to compete in local NRA matches in order to obtain a classification. This also meant that there was a lack of sufficient numbers of sub juniors to compete for prizes during most of the matches. For example, in conventional 3P, there were 27 sub-juniors in 2013 but only 6 in 2015. In conventional prone there were 20 in 2013 and just 2 in 2015. The NRA should be promoting participation especially with the next generation of shooters if they want to grow the sport. The National Championships have always been an OPEN Championship.
Camp Perry has the better on-site awards location with the Hough Theater. Ample stage space for large teams (Drew/Randle for example) to stand shoulder to shoulder during the awards ceremony.
Food services were better at Camp Perry. Having the catering company onsite for competitors was a good call. However, Camp Perry has the onsite shooters mess which was a great value and the additional food vendors provided much greater choices.
Access to the firing line was not clearly marked as they are always at Camp Perry. At Camp Perry, there were clearly marked 4 foot paths from the parking lot to the ready line so that people could not block access with either chairs or popups.
Scored target area where competitors could check their targets is much better at Camp Perry. At Bristol, targets were exposed to the elements during the matches and on at least one occasion, rain/wind had damaged scored targets beyond repair. Camp Perry had all of the targets in an enclosed conference room and only competitors were allowed into the room to review and challenge targets.
Overlapping smallbore championships and the national pistol championships meant that some could not compete in both.
Costs of running the matches are cheaper at Bristol, but cost should not be a determining factor. The NRA competitions division exists to support the competitors. The NRA should focus on growing the sport and not alienate competitors focusing on the cost. The response that this author had from the other competitors was overwhelmingly in support for Camp Perry.
Lack of (some) fired team matches meant that there would be no chance to set any new NRA or National Match records.
No media coverage of the smallbore matches by the NRA. Other than the announcement in the NRA blog that the National Rifle and Pistol championships kicked off, smallbore had no mention in any NRA media. In the past, there were almost daily updates to the facebook and NRA blog when hosted at Camp Perry.
Camp Perry being the host to the National Rifle and Pistol championships provides shooters the opportunity to ‘cross-pollinate’ shooting disciplines. Smallbore shooters (especially younger ones) can see the coming and going of the High Power and Pistol competitors might encourage people to try shooting in other disciplines.
The results website is still missing results for some matches. Some results were initially pointing to high power results. The NRA should be doing quality checks on the results pages daily.
Hosting the matches at Bristol but the Intermediate Junior Rifle Camp at Camp Perry meant that many junior teams had to choose one or the other (or in some cases, neither). Having the Intermediate Camp together with the National Championships will ensure that the Junior Rifle Teams that have supplied some of the best competitors to the matches can continue to do so and expose the impressionable campers a taste of what the National Matches is like.
Camp Perry has one of the best state of the art air gun ranges in the nation. Many smallbore shooters also like to bring their air rifles to shoot re-entry matches. It would be nice if there was also a day added for an Air Rifle Championship if smallbore came back to Perry.
On a side note, regarding the damaged cover at Camp Perry, the damaged cover could be easily replaced by adding a one-time fee to the match fees for Camp Perry. A small fee per person for each discipline shot… Smallbore, Pistol and Highpower. Since the cover has been used by all disciplines this seems fair and reasonable.
In short, the NRA should hold the National Rifle and Pistol championships at Camp Perry because it is better suited, has better/less expensive lodging, more vendor options, more on site food options, and most of all has the rich history and atmosphere of a true national championship. The future of the sport depends on the youth. Keeping the Intermediate Junior Camp and the National Matches together ensures the future of the sport as well as increased participation in general which is best for the sport. The decline in the participation of the matches is directly related to the reduction in juniors attending. In 2013, there were 121 juniors in attendance in the Conventional 3P championship. This year, there were only 47. That is a reduction of 120% in junior participation.
We can and must do better.
About the author of this letter:
Bill Dutton
19 Hunter Dr,
Derry NH 03038
617-594-2194
Parent of Elizabeth Dutton, 2013 3P Metallic High Subjunior, 2015 High Woman/IJ Metallic Sights Conventional Prone, Randal and Drew cup team selections, High shooter on Dewar, 13 National Records (2 of which are pending)
NRA Life Member
Level 2 Rifle Coach
Certified NRA Instructor: Home Firearm Safety, Basic Pistol
Director: Hudson Fish and Game Club Junior Rifle Team
Highest Pistol Classification: High Master
Highest Smallbore Rifle Classification: Expert
Distinguished: Pistol, Revolver
Camp Perry Competitor (Pistol): 2002-2013.
Camp Perry Coach (Smallbore): 2012-2013