COWBOY MOUNTED SHOOTERS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS By Tricia McMaster

The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association's Tenth Annual National Championships were held the weekend of March 15-18, 2001 at West World in Scottsdale, in conjunction with the Eleventh Annual Festival of the West. We had participants from all over the United States. After the cold and wet winter we have had, the weather for the entire event was positively wonderful.

Audrey Hensley, Reserve Nat'l Champion Cowgirl

T.C. Thorstenson, Reserve Nat'l Champion Cowboy

Bits & Pieces

Terri Lynn Porter, the Cowgirl Class 1 winner moves up to class 2. This was only her third event ever in mounted shooting. Way to go Terri Lynn! Her husband Preston, just recently (last month at Winter Range) earned his second Class 2 buckle to move up to Class 3, just in time to win the Class at the Nationals. I bet all the other Class 3 riders will be real glad to see Preston move on up to Class 4! Congratulations to you both. Justin Olson won the Men's Class 1 and now moves up to Class 2. Normally this wouldn't seem too exciting, except that Justin just took up horseback riding not too long ago just to do mounted shooting. Now, here he is, winning a Class at a National Championships. Way to Cowboy Up Justin! Keeping it in the family spirit, his wife Linnette was a Class 3 winner this weekend in spite of some bruised ribs she acquired early on in the Match. Not only did she continue to compete, she won her class. Now that is one touch cowgirl! Way to go Linnette. Marian Hensley, mother of Audrey, the Reserve National Champion Cowgirl and Jill, the Junior Limited Class Winner and wife to Don, the 2nd Place Class 2 Winner, won her own Class 2. This is very special because it is her second win in Class 2 which makes Marian our newest Class 3 Cowgirl. Nice shootin' Marian. As for myself, Tricia McMaster, I was overwhelmed to learn that I had won the Cowgirl Class 4 division. This was my first time riding in this higher Class and I was a nervous wreck! Maybe that nervous energy paid off? Congratulations to all the contestants who rode hard and shot fast. It was a great Nationals and a real honor to me to be a part of it.

In addition to the main match, there were several Jackpots totaling several thousand dollars in available earnings to the winners. I am very proud to announce that my husband, Grant McMaster, won the final stage of the three day sudden death jackpot on Sunday by a two second margin. It was positively exciting to watch. If you are interested in future jackpots, contact the ACMSA or the CMSA for additional information. The Arizona Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (the local chapter of CMSA) can be reached at our website: www.acmsa.com or by email at: acmsa@acmsa.com See our article in the Bridle & Bit for further phone numbers and contacts as well a other local information.

The CMSA, or national chapter for cowboy mounted shooting has loads of mounted shooting information on its website and is a wonderful source for national schedules and activities. Their website is www.cowboymountedshooting.com and can also be reached through their email at: info@cowboymountedshooting.com