Local shooters shine at Columbia State match

May 3, 2022

By Kathy Konek

The Sandpoint Rifle Club hosted the Columbia State Rifle and Pistol Match on April 23, 2022, at the Leo Hadley Rifle Range in Sandpoint. The shooters had the opportunity to shoot a three-position rifle match or a 90 shot pistol match or both. Shooters from Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Spokane attended.

The rifle match was shot indoors at a distance of 50 feet using single shot .22 rifles. The participants would complete a course of fire consisting of 20 shots each in the prone, standing and kneeling positions.

Bill Leach of the Kootenai Valley Rifle and Pistol Club (KVRP) in Bonners Ferry was match winner with a score of 560 out of 600 possible. In the process, Leach tied the national record for kneeling, which is held by teammate Don Jordan. Greg Mead, also from KVRP, took first expert honors with a score of 549, with John Holbert of the Sandpoint Rifle Club close behind with scoring a 543.
Ellie Rutherford, of the KVRP Junior team, was first sharpshooter with a score of 534 and Garrett Pearsall from the Spokane Junior team was first marksman with a 532 and was match winner in the standing position.

The Spokane team would, in fact, take the first four positions in the marksman class. Pearsall was followed by teammates Ben Jones, Jack Burns and Kaylee Geller.

The pistol match was well represented with 10 shooters taking the line shooting .22 pistols in slow, timed and rapid fire disciplines at 50 feet.

Mead was the match winner with a score of 782 out of 900 possible, Tom Daniel of KVRP was top expert, Leach first sharpshooter and the team from Sandpoint took the top four places in the marksman class.

Junior shooter Ryan McElroy led the way, followed by teammates Kevin Kluender, Holbert and Ron Shadel.

If you are a junior, under 21 years old, or a senior shooter and are interested in learning more about the sport of competitive shooting, please contact your local indoor range.