07-01-2005, 03:40 PM
[font "Times New Roman"]NEWTOWN, Conn.[/font]—[font "Times New Roman"]A four-man dynasty reigns over the rifle ranges of the ESPN Great Outdoor Games. Of the 15 medals ever awarded in this fast-action competition, only two have been given to someone not named Mike Cumming, Jerry Miculek, Carl Bernosky or Doug Koenig.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]All four world-class shooters are headed to Orlando next week to defend titles and claim medals—as well as grab this year’s $10,000 first-place purse—as the 6th annual Games get underway July 7-10 at Disney's Wide World of Sports ® Complex and Tenoroc Shooting Sports and Training Facility.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The Games will be taped for airing on ESPN and ABC Sports July 14-17.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Determined to upset the rifle dynasty this year are a dozen other top marksmen.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]“This year’s slate of 16 shooters is the best we’ve ever seen at the Games. Those top four guys are always tough to beat, but I know several others who have been training very hard, and I’m predicting that someone will come out of nowhere to give them a run for their money,” said Jack Robertson of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]NSSF sponsors and manages the rifle and shotgun shooting events for the Games, which also include archery, timber sports, ATV racing and sporting dog events. Last year, the Games set an all-time attendance record with 68,000 fans on site, and the TV broadcasts carried rifle and shotgun competitions to 35 million viewers—a 37 percent increase over the previous year.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The rifle competition features head-to-head races with two shooters knocking down a series of steel plates, and then advancing to a “dueling tree” where points can be subtracted from an opponent’s score. The shooter who hits all of his targets, or has the most points at the end of a 60-second period, is the winner.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]“No one is unbeatable in this game,” said Robertson. “All it takes is a jam, or the slightest fumble during reloading, or getting too confident at the line, and you can be eliminated before you know it.”[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The four top-finishers from last year’s rifle competition received an automatic invitation to return this year. Rounding out the slate are top invitees and at-large shooters who qualified at competitions held around the country earlier this year.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Great Outdoor Games rifle finalists include:[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]1. Mike Cumming, Altoona, Pa.—Reigning gold medallist
2. Jerry Miculek, Princeton, La.—Reigning silver medallist
3. Carl Bernosky, Ashland, Pa.—Reigning bronze medallist
4. Doug Koenig, Alburtis, Pa.—All-time top medal winner
5. Randy Hendrix, Clemmons, N.C.
6. Bruce Piatt, Montvale, N.J.
7. Vince Cumming, Altoona, Pa.
8. John Bagakis, Livermore, Calif.
9. Randy Hollowbush, Topton, Pa.
10. Richard Aitken, Colo. Springs, Colo.
11. Tony Holmes, Otterbrein, Ind.
12. Keith Brown, Greensboro, N.C.
13. Jorge Rodriguez, Las Vegas, Nev.
14. Tim Viatekunas, Edwardsville, Ill.
15. Robbie Purser, Macon, Ga.
16. Doug Fuller, Claremore, Okla.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]NSSF, formed in 1961, is a non-profit trade association for the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. It directs a variety of outreach programs to promote greater participation and a better understanding of the shooting sports, emphasizing safe and responsible ownership of firearms. For further information, please visit [url "http://www.twelvehorses.com/ct/42TMA5/73J89N2Y/*http://www.nssf.org"]www.nssf.org[/url]. [/font]
[signature]
[font "Times New Roman"]All four world-class shooters are headed to Orlando next week to defend titles and claim medals—as well as grab this year’s $10,000 first-place purse—as the 6th annual Games get underway July 7-10 at Disney's Wide World of Sports ® Complex and Tenoroc Shooting Sports and Training Facility.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The Games will be taped for airing on ESPN and ABC Sports July 14-17.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Determined to upset the rifle dynasty this year are a dozen other top marksmen.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]“This year’s slate of 16 shooters is the best we’ve ever seen at the Games. Those top four guys are always tough to beat, but I know several others who have been training very hard, and I’m predicting that someone will come out of nowhere to give them a run for their money,” said Jack Robertson of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]NSSF sponsors and manages the rifle and shotgun shooting events for the Games, which also include archery, timber sports, ATV racing and sporting dog events. Last year, the Games set an all-time attendance record with 68,000 fans on site, and the TV broadcasts carried rifle and shotgun competitions to 35 million viewers—a 37 percent increase over the previous year.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The rifle competition features head-to-head races with two shooters knocking down a series of steel plates, and then advancing to a “dueling tree” where points can be subtracted from an opponent’s score. The shooter who hits all of his targets, or has the most points at the end of a 60-second period, is the winner.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]“No one is unbeatable in this game,” said Robertson. “All it takes is a jam, or the slightest fumble during reloading, or getting too confident at the line, and you can be eliminated before you know it.”[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The four top-finishers from last year’s rifle competition received an automatic invitation to return this year. Rounding out the slate are top invitees and at-large shooters who qualified at competitions held around the country earlier this year.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Great Outdoor Games rifle finalists include:[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]1. Mike Cumming, Altoona, Pa.—Reigning gold medallist
2. Jerry Miculek, Princeton, La.—Reigning silver medallist
3. Carl Bernosky, Ashland, Pa.—Reigning bronze medallist
4. Doug Koenig, Alburtis, Pa.—All-time top medal winner
5. Randy Hendrix, Clemmons, N.C.
6. Bruce Piatt, Montvale, N.J.
7. Vince Cumming, Altoona, Pa.
8. John Bagakis, Livermore, Calif.
9. Randy Hollowbush, Topton, Pa.
10. Richard Aitken, Colo. Springs, Colo.
11. Tony Holmes, Otterbrein, Ind.
12. Keith Brown, Greensboro, N.C.
13. Jorge Rodriguez, Las Vegas, Nev.
14. Tim Viatekunas, Edwardsville, Ill.
15. Robbie Purser, Macon, Ga.
16. Doug Fuller, Claremore, Okla.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]NSSF, formed in 1961, is a non-profit trade association for the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. It directs a variety of outreach programs to promote greater participation and a better understanding of the shooting sports, emphasizing safe and responsible ownership of firearms. For further information, please visit [url "http://www.twelvehorses.com/ct/42TMA5/73J89N2Y/*http://www.nssf.org"]www.nssf.org[/url]. [/font]
[signature]