Oct. 6, 2005

Fall Selection Match Kicks Off at the International Shooting Park

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— USA Shooting’s Shotgun Fall Selection Match kicks off today at the International Shooting Park on Fort Carson. This Fall Selection Match, held through Oct. 15, will mark the first half of the team selection for the 49th World Shooting Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, with the second half held in Kerrville, Texas, in the spring of next year.

The men’s and women’s trap competition is the first event on the schedule, with just under 120 shooters from across the nation signed up to compete. The three-day match, consisting of 250 targets (100/100/50 + final), will start at 9 a.m. each day and last until approximately 4 p.m. Olympians Lance Bade (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Sgt. 1st Class Bret Erickson (Buena Vista, Ga.) and Sgt. 1st Class Todd Graves (Cusseta, Ga.) are just a few of the big names vying for a spot on the 2006 World Championship Trap Team.

On Oct. 10, the double trap competition starts. The field of double trap competitors will be shooting at 300 targets over the course of two days. Competitors that look to bring their game in double trap are two-time Olympian Glenn Eller (Houston, Texas) and Pfc. Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.). Richmond is the reigning Junior World Clay Target Champion, the 2005 National Champion, and the current National Record holder in this event, beating Eller’s previous record by one point.

And the last event on the schedule is men’s and women’s skeet, which will start on Oct. 13.

Reigning World Clay Target Champion and multiple 2005 World Cup medalist, Vincent Hancock will see if he can continue his year of domination in this event. The 16-year-old skeet shooter from Eatonton, Ga. has won a medal at every international competition he has competed in this year, and looks to be one of the favored competitors to win a medal at the 2006 World Shooting Championships. But, like everyone else, he first has to make the team. Olympians Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Dulohery (Columbus, Ga.) and Todd Graves will be among the other top dogs in this event, along with female shooters Connie Smotek (Lyons, Texas), Haley Dunn (Eddyville, Iowa) and Brandie Neal (Spencer, Ind.).

The World Shooting Championships are different from other major competitions in the fact that team events are included as part of the championships. This allows nations to demonstrate the strength of their programs, with medals awarded to the top three men’s, women’s and junior men’s and women’s teams in each event. With over thirty events, in four shooting disciplines, these World Championships are definitely one of the most highly anticipated shooting competitions of the quadrennium. The World Championships are also a chance for countries to secure Olympic quota spots for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

USA Shooting is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for Olympic Shooting sports. For more information on the USA Shooting Team, please log on to www.usashooting.org. For media passes to the International Shooting Park on Fort Carson, please contact USA Shooting’s media director, Sara Greenlee, at 719-310-2606 or email her at sara.greenlee@usashooting.org.