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Target Challenge – Getting Ready for the NRA National Championship – Spalding County 4-H Members Compete in Shooting Sports
Posted by Junior Shooters
Provided By: Jessi McClain, NRA Competitive Shooting Division
Released By: Spalding County 4-H
Edited By: Andy Fink
Getting ready for national shooting matches, such as the NRA National Airgun championship in July, is challenging, fun, and important. One of the best ways is through local 4-H clubs. Members of the Spalding County 4-H Shooting Sports (Project S.A.F.E.) program competed
Coach loads BB for competitor Steven Jones at GA 4-H
State Championship Match at Rock Eagle 4-H Camp, Eatonton, GA
at several events at the 2009 Georgia 4-H State Championship Match, known as ?Target Challenge. It was held on the weekend at Rock Eagle on May 2nd. Spalding County athletes competed in several events including BB Gun, Sporter Air Rifle, Precision Air Rifle, and Rimfire Sporter (.22 Rifle).
Spalding County 4-H Precision Air Rifle Team. From left to right: Michael Matthews, Tiffany Potter, Melissa Quartarone, Matt Branyon, Jackson Bailey (not pictured)
Project S.A.F.E. (Shooting Awarness, Fun and Education) is an active program, attractive to youth and adult audiences. The program is curriculum based and designed to assist young people in personal development, establish a personal environmental ethic and explore life-long vocational activities. The program uses experiential learning and positive interactions with youth and adult role models to help young people develop self-concept, self-assurance and a positive self-image.
The program promotes responsibility, decision-making and identifying realistic, personal goals. Participants may elect to compete at a level appropriate for their abilities or pursue other objectives. Participants have shown high achievement in the field, shop or classroom and on target range, but personal development for young people and leaders is the real objective. The program strives to make “every kid a winner,” and to “make the best better.”
Preparing to shoot rimfire sporter, photo by Chris Mathews
Like other 4-H projects, S.A.F.E. has a subject matter base. It has strong links to natural resources, wildlife, outdoor recreation and safety. The content is drawn from sports medicine, psychology, education, biological and physical sciences engineering, mathematics, technology, as well as American traditions, folklore and history. For more information on the 4-H Project S.A.F.E program go to: http://www.georgia4h.org/safe/
For the fifth consecutive 
year, the Spalding County 4-H Precision Air Rifle team took first place honors at the 4H State Championship. This year’s winning Precision team members included Michael Matthews (583), Tiffani Potter (565), Melissa Quartarone (572), Matt Branyon (575), and Jackson Bailey (565) and finished 31 points ahead of 2nd place Madison County. Team members Michael Matthews was the first place individual and fellow team members, Matt Branyon, placed 2nd and Melissa Quartarone was 4th overall in the Individual competition.
In very tight competition, seven points separated the second thru seventh places. Precision Air Rifle Coach Angela Branyon was very pleased with the Teams performance. This match and the teams performance helps prepare the team for the NRA National Championship and 3P Junior Olympics in July at Camp Perry Ohio.
Rimfire Sporter team (open class) members included Jackson Bailey (25th), Matt Branyon (29th), Michael Matthews (2nd), and Melissa Quartarone (23rd) out of nearly 100 total competitors. Michael Matthews, 1st place individual, Precision and Mark
Zeigler, State Director 4-H Project SAFE.
Sporter Air Rifle competitors Erin Kelley (7th), Grace McLean (1st), and Kacie Veal (5th) competed in the Junior category. The Sporter team is coached by Chuck McLean. The Sporter team is looking forward to National competition in July along with the Precision team.
This years BB Rifle team was coached by Lisa Kelley and composed of Steven Jones (100 on his safety test and 328 in the match), Erin Kelley (333), Grace McLean (330), Kyli Settles (312), Parker Settles (303), and Kacie Veal (347).
The Next opportunity for competition will be the Georgia VFW State Championship at The Ole Mill Range in Griffin on Friday and Saturday 12th and 13th of June.
For more information contact Wade Hutcheson at the Spalding County 4H Office, Hutch@uga.edu or (770)467-4225, Mark Zeigler at the Georgia 4-H Office, mzeigler@uga.edu or (706)542-4444, or Roy McClain at Eodtnt1@aol.com, (404) 227-2272 or www.olemillrange.org.
Copyright & Published By: Junior Shooters & Junior Sports Magazines Inc. May 2009
Congratulations!