Interesting notes, and we are staying at Camp Perry

From what we found in a quick online search this year was the first time since 1958 that the winning score was not above 2600.   If correct that seems quite amazing, especially considering the conditions didn't seem that bad.   Though I, like most everyone else, didn't shoot very well.

When Hemphill came by during teams and talked to us, and let me take his picture (link is in another post here) he stated "I won this for the old guys!"   He told us he is 64, and I believe he is the first senior to win the championship.   Steve Reiter was there and said he is 10 years older, which if my math is correct means he was 59 when he won the last time in 2000.  

After hearing some more rumors during the matches about moving to the Cardinal, and many posts here, I got curious and went to the source.  I emailed Denny Willing, Director of Competition at the NRA, to find out what is really going to happen.   He was quite direct that we are staying at Camp Perry.   The key parts of his email are copied below, with his permission.


"Clark,
......
We are staying at Camp Perry.  I am not in negotiations with Cardinal Center. We are not moving. We are about to negotiate a new working agreement with CMP that will likely last at least 5 years, maybe longer.
I hope this makes everything clear for everyone. 

Denny"

Hooray for the NRA, and Dennis also.
Al

That's very sad to  hear..

Clark,

That is very good news. This means at least five more years at Perry, in the same comfortable condo vs an uncomfortable hotel room.  Plus the crime statistics for Port Clinton are very low compared to the Columbus area.

I wonder how electronic targets figure into this if at all.

The NRA will decide, just like the whole electronic target talk that went on last year, NRA swashed it based on cost, so money decides not shooters and if people like B.Zins lobbing for cardinal and the fact of the extreme cost that ONG @ Perry charges for target storage if what was previously quoted is true, it would benefit everyone to move and save the NRA a huge amount of money. As they state every year, they loose money on the nationals.

If OHNG is costing too much perhaps NRA should store targets elsewhere.  There has to be open warehouse space in NW Ohio somewhere.

I'm sure Cardinal wants the matchs there. If they can approach the NRA with low cost facility im sure they will have to consider it

DeweyHales wrote:I wonder how electronic targets figure into this if at all.

I talked to Bryan Parris, the CMP's electronic target guy, at Camp Perry and he said they are not even in discussion with anyone about electronic pistol targets at this point.   Denny Willing confirmed in an email that the CMP is footing the bill for electronic rifle targets, and the NRA will lease them during the rifle matches, but has abandoned the idea for pistol and smallbore, at least the last Denny had heard.

AllAces wrote:Clark,

That is very good news. This means at least five more years at Perry, in the same comfortable condo vs an uncomfortable hotel room.  Plus the crime statistics for Port Clinton are very low compared to the Columbus area.

First Columbus is 2 counties south of Cardinal. The crime rates of Columbus (which are not bad) have nothing to do with Cardinal. There are Condo's in Sunbury, Deleware, and surrounding areas also.

Cardinal is a first class facility with rapid growth, everyone should visit there before casting judgement and spreading FUD based on Google.

Collegiate action pistol hosted their Nationals there this year and had 500 young shooters. That event is growing every year and will probably host more pistol shooters than Perry next year.

They will surely host many more National pistol events in the future because the facilities are that nice, maybe not NRA Bullseye pistol but many others will call it home.

I'm excited about Cardinal even if the Nationals never go there.  I'm sure when they start holding bullseye events we shooters will vote with our attendance.

How about reviving the "Mid-Winter" Nationals like they had in FL.  I never knew they existed until recently but it would be great to have them again.

- Dave

+1 on the mid winters, but it would be winter up there.....

jglenn21 wrote:+1 on the mid winters, but it would be winter up there.....

I'm from MN, the 50's (ave temp in Mar in Columbus) doesn't count as winter, heck we start wearing shorts once it hits the 50's again 

- Dave

Pretty sure the Mid-Winter championship still takes place, just in Phoenix now. Could be wrong but there is a large Mid-Winter there that I believe the AMU attends.

The Mid-Winter Nationals used to be in Coral Gables, FL many moons ago. My grandfather used to shoot there and planned his honeymoon around that match in '39 I believe.

Dave,  I'm just an old south Ga. boy... It's winter for me....

have to admit though if it's 50 and sunny I'd be shooting or hitting the little white ball around..

I see in 2017 Perry starts in June.
http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017NMCalendar.pdf

Chip

ChipEck wrote:I see in 2017 Perry starts in June.
http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017NMCalendar.pdf

Chip

This is posted on the CMP site as the final schedule for 2017 and is different from anything we have done, at least in the last 17 years I have been going.  Monday June 26 would be the revolver matches, with the NRA matches (preliminary - 45) being held Tuesday through Friday.   Saturday is SAFS, in other words a day off for most of us, and then the CMP matches are on Sunday July 2.   Instead of shortening things they are making it a day longer??   Did they ask anyone about this at the competitors meeting or anywhere else?   Just wondering.

Makes no sense to me, only the EIC match on Saturday, and an extra match (.22 EIC) on Sunday?

To me the new the new schedule makes a lot more sense. It seemed crazy to have SAFS on Mon, Service pistol warmup on Tues then wait until Sunday for the rest of the CMP matches. Those of us shooting the NRA matches are going to take several days vacation anyway, but why have SAFS on weekdays? 

I do wish there was more going on Saturday.

This may be the year I finally try Highpower. It's been too much for me to take Pistol week off from work, then turn around and take 3 more days for Rifle SAFS in the middle of the week.

If I had my druthers Camp Perry would be at the end of Summer, but I'll still keep coming. 

I hope that Canton and Bristol can move their dates up into June so we can use them as warmups. Not having Canton over the 4th of July weekend might help me be able to attend again.

Hello everyone.  Just checking in here from the NRA.

As Clark initially posted, we are not negotiating to leave Camp Perry.  Not that Cardinal Center is not a great facility, because it is, but I get the impression that most people would like to remain at Camp Perry.  I have talked with Cardinal about the cost of moving there and will keep that information in my data bank for potential future uses.

I did not to say that we would never move, because it depends on many, many factors that we would have to consider before doing so.

However, I learned that I must be instantly prepared to leave Camp Perry should the conditions arise that we would find it necessary to do so.  If Hillary Clinton were to be elected and defunded Camp Perry, and refunding was dependent upon us leaving; what do you think would happen?  Cardinal Center would be my first choice.

Always keep your options open.  Smallbore shooters initially complained about moving to Bristol, but now that 11 National Records have been broken in 2 years, they are finding that it is a better place to compete than Camp Perry ever was.  The weather and conditions are better and the scores are up.

History is not everything.  History can be made wherever you might be.

Good shooting.

Denny

Denny,

"but I get the impression that most people would like to remain at Camp Perry"

There was a survey on Facebook a while back. About 200 responses, 75% voted for Cardinal.

Well Denny how about we do a real poll here and see what the outcome is.

mspingeld wrote:Denny,

"but I get the impression that most people would like to remain at Camp Perry"

There was a survey on Facebook a while back. About 200 responses, 75% voted for Cardinal.

Maybe the NRA decided that too many people were coerced by coaches into voting for Cardinal (like they claimed when we voted for smallbore to return to Perry) .  Its not about what the shooters want.  Its whatever Dennis wants.

There are many opinions online and on the line regarding the "best" location for the National Championships.  This was my 39th year competing at Camp Perry and I know others who have been competing there much longer.
Some of the complaints I've heard are that the conditions aren't as good as they'd like, e.g., rain, wind, mud, lodgings, etc.  Many or most of those complaints are probably accurate.  To those who feel these conditions are too overwhelming, I suggest you concentrate on INDOOR PISTOL where conditions are more favorable to your senses.
As for the Nationals being wherever "Denny wants it", you definitely don't understand the politics of the Nationals!
There are THREE entities involved there, the Ohio National Guard (it's their facility), the CMP (who reside there), and the NRA (who rent the facilities).  I'm not as well versed in all aspects of their relationship but I am aware that CMP and the OHNG "rule the roost".  Any scheduling changes for next year or for any year will be dictated by "the rulers".
Cost is always going to be a major factor that Denny and his bosses will consider in the decision process.
As always, these are MY opinions and observations.
Mike

Poll is up, cast your vote.