The Leech Cup: History in the Making

Smallbore Rifle Manager HQ Moody explained some of the Leech Cup's history to us in the NRA Trophy Room at Camp Perry.

"The Leech Cup is the oldest trophy at NRA's headquarters, dating back to 1874," Moody said.

The Leech Cup was lost after the National Matches of 1913 and was missing until 1927. Its loss resulted in the decision to keep all NRA trophies safely at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va.

Standing in the Trophy Room, one must wonder if the trophies' collective net worth has been estimated. "You can't put a price on 'em. How would you replace the Leech Cup? How would you replace the Wimbledon?" Moody asks. "They are irreplaceable."

"The Leech is a classic piece of Victorian Irish silversmithing," Pierce Johnson added.

The trophies represent more than 130 years of history. They were last appraised five years ago and combined value is estimated around one million dollars.

While they are the oldest of the collection, the Wimbledon and the Leech are just the tip of the iceberg. Read more about the NRA's trophies here.

And don't forget to check back at this blog for the results of today's matches! Steve and I will be photographing the awards at the range and posting everything just as soon as possible.