Smith & Wesson Named Title Sponsor of SCSA’s U.S. National Steel Championships

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. — For the 5th year in a row firearms maker Smith & Wesson will be the title sponsor of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association’s national championships.

The Smith & Wesson U.S. National Steel Championships will be held March 25-27 in Titusville, Florida, and are expected to draw more than 150 top competitors. Registration for the match is now open and shooters interested in competing should visit www.USSteelShoot.com to download the entry form.

The Smith & Wesson U.S. National Steel Championships represent the first major test of the speed shooting season for the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA), the national governing body for the sport.

“Smith & Wesson is proud to sponsor one of the most dynamic pistol shooting competitions in America. Our participation as the title sponsor of the 2011 Smith & Wesson U.S. National Steel Championships represents the ongoing commitment by Smith & Wesson and its employees to promote participation in safe, fun shooting competitions,” said Paul Pluff, director of marketing services at Smith & Wesson.

“I join the entire 159-year-old Smith & Wesson family in wishing all the competitors the best of luck in competition – especially those competing with a Smith & Wesson product.”

Professional shooters from more than 20 states will be competing for the title of America’s fastest, and through the generous support of Smith & Wesson, they will also be competing during the three-day event for their share of over $40,000 in cash and prizes.

“Smith & Wesson has always been an industry leader when it comes to promoting the shooting sports. Their continued and generous support for the Smith & Wesson U.S. National Steel Championships, and other Steel Challenge matches, is one of the reasons they are so well respected throughout the shooting community,” said Dave Thomas, executive director of SCSA.

The Smith & Wesson U.S. National Steel Championships will take place at the Titusville Rifle & Pistol Club and feature all eight stages of the popular Steel Challenge course of fire which is based on a five steel plate target array that is electronically timed to 1/100th of a second.

The sport of speed shooting began in 1981 with the first Steel Challenge competition. Since those early days the Steel Challenge format has grown in popularity with competitions held around the country as well as overseas. In 2009 SCSA launched the Scholastic Steel Challenge program, also supported by Smith & Wesson, to provide a team competition format for young men and women ages 12 to 20.

For more information on the Smith & Wesson U.S. National Steel Championships visit www.USSteelShoot.com. To learn more about the sport of speed shooting, including the Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships, visit www.SteelChallenge.com, or follow @SteelChallenge on Twitter.