Shooting Industry Masters Raises $37,000 For First Shots

Jerry Miculek was one of the many shooters attending this year's Shooting Industry Masters

San Diego, Calif. — Top firearms industry executives and professional competitors converged on Park City, Ky., July 22-23 to participate in the Ninth Annual Shooting Industry Masters. A record-breaking 370 shooters raised $37,000 for NSSF’s First Shots program. This brings the amount raised by the Masters for First Shots to $94,000 in three years. The Masters, held at the Rockcastle Shooting Center, Park Mammoth Resort, is owned and operated by FMG Publications.

“We were impressed with the number of companies that entered teams, and the enthusiasm of the record number of industry shooters,” said Russ Thurman, match director, and publisher and editor of Shooting Industry magazine. “We thank our sponsors, the companies conducting side matches and the Rockcastle Shooting Center for their overwhelming support. Thanks to all for making the 2011 Shooting Industry Masters a tremendous success.”

The Shooting Industry Masters attracted 22 sponsors for the event. Industry manufacturers and supporters also contributed the largest collection of raffle prize packages in the nine-year history of the match. In addition, major companies and organizations sponsored 10 side matches, offering industry teams an opportunity to try a wide variety of shooting venues.
“We had nearly 500 people each day participating in the event, with competitors and volunteers combined,” said Randy Molde, match chairman. “If the miles of smiles we saw through dirt and sweat at the end is any indication, everybody really enjoyed the event. It was exciting to see so many folks who are used to sitting behind desks all day out enjoying the sport they help make better. We’re thankful they chose to spend the weekend with us to support First Shots.”

FMG also thanked this year’s host, Rockcastle Shooting Center, Park Mammoth Resort, for their assistance with the event, along with the state of Kentucky for the warm welcome it provided Masters attendees.

“The facility at Rockcastle Shooting Center is amazing and has unlimited possibilities for future events,” Molde said. “All of the volunteers were very enthusiastic, well coordinated and very friendly.”

The top teams and shooters were honored during an awards reception at the Rockcastle Shooting Center July 23.

The 2011 Shooting Industry Masters top shooters and teams were:
High Team: Industry Class — Team Sierra Bullets, Darren Leskiw, Tommy Todd, Matt Reams and Mark Walker.
High Shooter: Industry Class — Jens Krogh, Team Benelli 1.
High Lady: Industry Class — Katie Harris.
High Team: Open Class — Team JP Enterprises, Tony Holmes, Kurt Miller, Don Bednorz, Trapr Swonson and John Paul.
High Shooter: Open Class — Jerry Miculek, Team Smith & Wesson 1.
High Lady: Open Class — Tasha Hanish.

The Masters is a handgun, rifle, shotgun competition divided into two classifications: Industry and Open. The Industry class is for new to intermediate shooters, while the Open class is for professional and advanced shooters. Regardless of class, scores are not published to maintain the no-pressure, fun atmosphere of the Masters.

The event was held in conjunction with the presentation of the 2011 Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence Awards presentations.

For more information on the 2011 Shooting Industry Masters, visit http://shootingindustry.com/ or contact Elizabeth O’Neill at 1-888-315-3641 or elizabeth@shootingindustry.com.