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Wednesday 10 June 2009
Cowboy Moutning Shooting Event Makes Debuts This Weekend
Cowboy Mounting Shooting Event Makes Debuts This Weekend Erin Walti/Sun
Chamberlain will travel back in time as the Dakota Running Irons will hold the first annual River City Shootout event at the Chamberlain Rodeo Grounds this weekend.
Dakota Running Irons is one of three official affiliate clubs of the national Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) in the state. This event will kick off the Dakota Running Irons’ summer season of four total events, including the world finals in Amarillo, TX.
Tory Engel, Secretary/Treasurer of the Dakota Running Irons, estimated that the total number of entries would number around 20.
“We’re pretty excited [about the shoot], especially with the money that city put towards it,” said Engel.
The Dakota Runnings Irons Club has been in existence for about five years, and Engel said that the group has been growing well, with 6 new members this year alone.
“We have about 17 members this year, along with a few more who just started shooting,” noted Engel. The club has members from as far away as North Dakota, along with members from Chamberlain, Kimball, Pukwana, White Lake, Platte, Geddes, and Wessington Springs.
The Chamberlain competition will have two events, starting Friday night with the 3D Jackpot Shoot. Those contestants can compete for cash and prizes, but the contest is not sanctioned by CMSA. This means that the shooters won’t accumulate any points to help them go to the world finals.
Saturday morning starts the double points stage, which consists of four pistol stages and two rifle stages. This shoot is a sanctioned event by CMSA, and shooters will accumulate points for the world finals. Local business people can also participate on Saturday with their own quick draw contest.
Competitors on both days will be able to win prize money, which totals over $2,500. Buckles and other prizes will also be up to win.
The CMSA governs the sport, drawing in people who like to mix high-speed firearms handling with horsemanship and rodeo-like patterns. Competitors gallop around a course while taking aim at a total of ten balloon targets using specially-loaded blank cartridges.
Each miss accrues the shooter five-second penalties. There are also penalties for breaking the course pattern, dropping the firearm, and others infractions.
Romance comes into play with the dress code of the competition. Contestants can dress in period nineteenth century clothing and accessories, although traditional western clothing is a must. Firearms used are frontier era single action .45 Long Colt revolvers.
These competitions are growing nationally. Engel said that the local club is hoping this event will grow in the next few years.
“[We hope to] put on a good shoot for the first year with a good cash payback. Then they [competitors] will tell others for next year,” said Engel.
The event starts Friday, June 12 at 6 pm and Saturday, June 13 at 11 am. For more information on the Dakota Runnings Irons Cowboy Mounted Shooters, call 605-734-6061 or check out www.dakotarunningirons.webs.com.
