2007 NRA Bianchi Cup
23-26 May 2007
Columbia, Missouri
Team SSAA - a mix of experienced shooters and
newcomers proved to be a winning combination
at Bianchi 2007. The 29th NRA Bianchi Cup was once again held at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club’s Chapman Academy Range outside Columbia, Missouri, from May 23 to 26. The SSAA’s commitment to international handgun competition was the catalyst once again to fully sponsor an ‘A’ team and part sponsor a ‘B’ team to the world’s most prestigious sporting handgun event.
New faces appeared in the team this year as Australian competition veteran Craig Ginger was unavailable after a shoulder operation. New Victorian shooter Zeljko Cvetnic made his first appearance at Bianchi for SSAA and WA competitor Darryl ‘Osca’ Carnicelli joined the SSAA team for the first time, adding greatly to our capacity to put in good results at international competition. ‘B’ team members Richard Siebert, Leon Ovens and Steve Larner are all experienced Action Match competitors in their respective states. For the third year running Blacktown Pistol Club member Alan Harriman took his place within the SSAA team after only five years of competitive handgun shooting. As well as his own performance to contend with Alan also keeps and a keen eye on son Matthew’s performance on ‘race days’. Before leaving for the US, SSAA Team Manager Gary Fleetwood expressed confidence in both teams’ capacity to perform well. “All of the team members have shown their ability to shoot match-winning scores and to have them in the SSAA team for Bianchi 2007 gives us more than a chance of achieving some good results,” he said.
Western Australian shooter Darryl Carnicelli came
sixth overall to be the highest placed Australian
after three days of competition with the world’s
best Action Pistol shooters. The journey to Columbia, Missouri, from Australia is a long and arduous exercise. In some cases the travel time can exceed 34 hours and it is best that teams arrive well ahead of match day to adjust to jet lag and sleep deprivation. The Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club have a practice range that, although located away from their other complex, is used by the competitors to either check their equipment or adjust their firing technique before the commencement of the Bianchi Cup. Some SSAA team members were interviewed by two local newspapers and the resulting coverage in the media added to the team’s confidence as it went into day one of competition.
Representing SSAA at Bianchi 2007 was 17-year-old Action Match Junior World Champion Matthew Harriman, who demonstrated an early consistency in scores. This was highlighted by his cleaning of the metal plates and the Barricade event in a manner that established his confidence over the three-day event. Building on his success at the 2006 World Action Pistol Championships, at the NSW Blacktown Pistol Club, Matthew won the Junior Division at Bianchi 2007 with a final score of 1900 with 148 Xs, which was a personal best. Matthew’s elation at winning was best summed up by his after-match statement: “My win today comes down to the mental training that I undertake and the support and training from both my father and Craig [Ginger].”
Darryl Carnicelli’s methodical and disciplined approach to competition paved the way for a personal best for Bianchi by coming in sixth place overall with a score of 1916 and 167 Xs. The highest scoring Aussie competing at the match, Darryl was pleased with his result after many years of regularly attending matches held far away from his Western Australian wheat-belt home in Southern Cross.
SSAA team member Matthew Harriman, left,
congratulated by his father Alan after winning the
Junior Division of the Bianchi International
Speed Event. “My results at Bianchi 2007 vindicate that my fixed regime of training and competition procedures have been the right approach for me to follow. I have made the top 10 and you won’t get the smile off my dial for a month.”
Bianchi newcomer Zeljko Cvetnic, from Victoria, crashed through the nerves barrier to become first overall in the Revolver division with a final score of 1897 with 154 Xs. Using his Smith & Wesson Model 66 with an Aim point red dot scope, Zeljko excelled at the Barricade event with a possible 480 points with 43 Xs. Despite not achieving a personal best score, Zeljko said that his efforts at Bianchi as part of the SSAA ‘A’ team would remain a highlight of his short, but rewarding competitive career. Assistance from experienced Bianchi competitors also aided Zeljko’s results. “My fellow team members are great. They eased me into the match with sound advice and demonstrated some short-cuts which proved their worth,” he said.
Western Australian Steve Larner was another newcomer to the Bianchi Cup and although reasonably satisfied with his final score, said he found the experience of competing against the world’s best to be the biggest reward of all. South Australian Leon Ovens had a similar assessment of three days on the world stage, with a disappointing Falling Plate score something to think about on the long flight home. Victorian Richard Siebert fell short of his best, with equipment failure, which was not the best experience to encounter so far from home.
Top Revolver winner Zeljko Cvetnic with his certificate
for an S&W Model 686 from Smith & Wesson
representative and fellow competitor Julie Goloski.US champion Doug Koenig won the Bianchi Cup for the 10th time after narrowly beating fellow US champion Bruce Piatt. Doug said of that accomplishment, “It feels awesome, it really does. After last year Bruce and I had a close match and we had a lot going on. I didn’t shoot as well as I hoped, but this was a battle. In Australia during the World Championship, I had a gun malfunction so that went bad. So this was big for me to prove to myself that I could still do it because sometimes you start to wonder.”
SSAA’s great performance at Bianchi 2007 was the result of some amazing efforts by individuals who have put years of effort into achieving to be the best they can. Those efforts bring credit to the organisation and to the 120,000 members who follow their competitive activity with interest.
The 2007 NRA Bianchi Cup was proudly sponsored by Grycol International and Smith & Wesson.
Results
First - Team overall
First - Industry Team
First - Junior
First - Revolver
First - Junior International Speed Event
First - Individual International .