Smith & Wesson Sponsors IDPA’s Carolina Cup Championship

BERRYVILLE, Ark. – Smith & Wesson, the 160-year-old firearms maker headquartered in Springfield, Mass., will be a major sponsor of the upcoming Carolina Cup championship, according to officials with the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA).

As part of their support for the match Smith & Wesson will serve as a stage sponsor as well as the sponsor of a side match which will feature the company’s newest pistol, the M&P Shield. Smith & Wesson will also be hosting a demonstration bay during the match to allow competitors and spectators the opportunity to test-fire a wide variety of their firearms.

“We are extremely grateful to again have Smith & Wesson as a major sponsor of the Carolina Cup,” said Scott Ruby, sponsor coordinator for the Carolina Cup. “Smith & Wesson is one of the firearms industry’s strongest supporters of recreational and competitive shooting in America, and particularly IDPA where the company has been one of the early leaders in promoting the sport.”

The Carolina Cup is one of IDPA’s three major championships and will take place June 14-16 at The Range in Oxford, North Carolina. More than 360 of IDPA’s top shooters are expected to put upwards of 75,000 rounds downrange in pursuit of titles in Custom Defensive Pistol, Enhanced Service Pistol, Stock Service Pistol, Stock Service Revolver and Enhanced Service Revolver, the five divisions in IDPA competition.

Considered by many to be among the most popular matches in IDPA competition, the Carolina Cup is known for its challenging courses of fire that creatively test all of a shooter’s skills. Due to both the match’s popularity and the explosive growth in IDPA membership, the Carolina Cup has been sold out since early March. For more information on the championship visit www.The-CarolinaCup.com, or use #carolinacup to follow match news and competitor updates on Twitter.

Founded in 1996, the International Defensive Pistol Association is the international governing body for IDPA competition which offers shooters a fun, safe, and challenging format to practice and test their gun handling skills through defensive-based scenarios. Today IDPA stands as the fastest growing shooting sport in the United States with nearly 20,000 members from all 50 states and 54 foreign countries. IDPA’s 321 affiliated clubs offer weekly and monthly matches as well as host major championships.

To find a club near you, join IDPA, or just learn more about this exciting and fun defensive pistol shooting sport, visit www.IDPA.com. You can also follow @OfficialIDPA on Twitter, like ShootIDPA on Facebook, watch IDPA TV, or check out the Down Zero Blog to keep up with the latest news.