Mounted Shooters of America News

Tom Lattimore and Patty Motley. Tom was our first place overall winner and men's claas 5 winner on January 12th

Mounted Shooters of America (MSA) held their first match of 2002 at Randy Long's Arrowhead Equestrian Center in northwest Phoenix on January 12. Our heartfelt thanks to the Long's for their wonderful hospitality.

Thirty-nine new members attended the match. Shooters, new and old, have demonstrated their support for this new and fast growing organization. Mounted shooting has proved to be a sport difficult to handicap fairly. As a result, many good solid shooters have fallen through the cracks and have been placed in the "gray area". These shooters in the past have not had the opportunity to place in the money. Not any more. The MSA's Equalizer Shooting System (ESS) has been created to fill this gap. Out of 39 shooters, 29 places paid out. This payout included $1000.00 added money as well as 50% of entry fees. MSA's jackpot system pays out to time-handicapped places as well as class winners. Each shooter actually enters two jackpots. One based on skill and one based on luck. This system increases the fun and competiveness for all. The sport is growing so fast and furious that it has become necessary to reward those competitors who have done well at their level of skill. This organization's intention is to provide a unique system to encourage participation from all levels of riding and shooting skills.

The match went like clockwork! Thanks again to all who helped to put on this fantastic jackpot! A special thank you to the Girl Scout Troop for setting balloons! It's a very tough job, again, thanks. MSA has published a schedule for 2002. We hope this will help folks to plan for upcoming jackpots. MSA will continue to fine-tune matches throughout the year to provide our members with consistently first class competitions. We are building up for a world class event to be held at the end of the year that promises to be "in a class of it's own" Keep a look out for upcoming info!!!

MSA would like to announce the addition of T.C. Thorstenson to our board of directors. We are honored and thrilled to have this World and National champion shooter on deck. T.C. has proven time and time again he's a winner. Not only by being the fastest rider and sharpest shooter, but by always being a true advocate of the sport. T.C. has many innovative and exciting ideas for competitions. His experience with timed events will help to raise mounted shooting gaming to a new level. He also is a major advocate/founder of the "Young Outlaws". This program is for children to promote good horsemanship and respect for AND safe handling of firearms. Kids ride the same course as the adults for time, but shoot on the ground with safety glasses, hearing protection AND fulltime adult supervision. T.C. will also head up our clinic program. MSA will provide mini-clinics after all matches to provide instruction for newcomers or experienced shooters looking for that winning tip from a champ.

Our next match will on on February 15th at the Larkin Arena in New River. We look forward to seeing lots of new faces and the folks that are already hooked on this exciting sport!!! Long live the West!!!!

Limited Team: Gary Dabney (Ghost) Raymond Crandall (Clyde) $100.

Open Team: Bob Jackalone (Pistol) Geno D'Ambrose (Jack) $100.

1st place 2nd place

Class 5

Tom Lattimore, $80 Annie Bianco-Ellett, $50

Class 4

Gary Dabney, $80 Bob Jackalone, $50

Class 3

Geno D'Ambrose, $80 Dorene Daiss, $50

Class 2

Raymond Crandall, $80 Randy Long, $50

Class 1

Marty Fogelsong, $80 Bill Buckles, $50

Ladies 4

Kristen Barnes, $80 Laurie Barton, $50

Ladies 2

Wendy McLaghlin, $80

Ladies 1

Chantall Kort, $80 Becky Bliss, $50

1st place 2nd place 3rd place

Division 1

Tom Lattimore, $200 Gary Dabney, $135 Bob Jackalone, $70

Total: $280 Total: $215

Division 2

Annie Bianco-Ellett, $150 T.C. Thortenson, $100 Randy Long, $50

Total: $200 Total: $100

Division 3

Lynn Merrick, $150 Darrell Hesher, $100 Dorene Daiss, $50

Total: $100