Mumma, here they come

Tuesday is it. The M1A is over. The team matches are completed. Now what’s left is that ultimate prize.

The National High Power Match Rifle Championship and the National High Power Service Rifle Championship have been run since 1951.

Its first winners -- 1LT R.E. DeLa Hunt; USMC, Service Rifle; Thomas R. Barnes, Match Rifle –- set the standard of excellence. Carl Bernosky and Nick O. Till continued to set the bar high for precision marksmanship by winning High Power national championships in 2007.

Who will it be in 2008? The story will begin to be written tomorrow, as hundreds of shooters will venture out to compete for a chance to win a Mumma Trophy plaque, a National Champion Medallion, a firearm and a $500 Visa Gift Card for the Match Rifle Champion.

The Service Rifle Champion will win a Dupont Trophy Miniature, a National Service Rifle Championship Medallion, and 55 award points.

Three matches will be fired tomorrow. Match 441, Members Trophy Match will (I think) start things off. The course of fire will include two sighting shots and 20 shots for record at 200 yards, slow fire and in the standing position.

Then, the Scott Trophy Match, Match 442, will take place. There will be two sighting shots and 20 shots at 200 yards, rapid fire, sitting or kneeling from standing.

Then, finally, the Coast Artillery Trophy Match, Match 443. Shots will include two sighting and 20 shots for record, but this time, it will be at 300 yards, rapid fire, prone from standing.

Everything else is done. Now we’ll see these guys and girls really sweat.