The 2011 Texas State Garand Championship has come to a close
and as the ranges go quiet, all the shots counted and the results recorded I’d
like to review the weekend for those that participated or for those that missed
out on what was the last state match for the year in Texas.
After a welcome to
the Terrell Rifle and Pistol Club and a short review of the rules by our line
official, David Wilson we were off. Clay
Hefner got off to a blistering start in the Garand match with a 287X5 that
would set the pace for the matches to come with John Jebavy putting up a good
showing in the carbine and Springfield matches with scores of 351X3 and 273X6
respectively. As the day wore on and the
relay scores came in Karl Schultz and I were handing out CMP medals and logging
results into the computer, but the top scores seemed to be holding fast. The stage was being set for a Sunday show of
who could best the early high scores and of course, what would happen in the
Sunday pistol leg match.
Sunday came in as bright and clear as any fall Texas morning
could be after a rain that cleared the air and promised excellent conditions
for the second day of matches starting off with the pledge of allegiance and a
first shot ceremony by 90 year old WWII vet Doc Byron Range.
As competitors turned in scores under great conditions the
early scores from Saturday continued to stand up except the big dogs of the VMR
match were now on the range and as Ron Lerass took over the line duties Robert
Langham and Harold Pate showed what can be done with a Swiss K31 in the right
hands and moved to the head of the pack.
By eleven o’clock it was time for the pistol range to be the
focus of attention and we started moving rifle shooters onto the fifty yard
range where Roy Plumlee and Gary Shannon organized our pistol leg match. With the help of the morning’s 22 cal pistol
shooters and a little cajoling by the first relay we ended the match with
twenty seven shooters and produced three legs.

Now for the fun part of the report; I would like to announce
the winners. Clay Hefner with late
pressure hung on and won the Garand Championship with a 287X5. Daniel Miller came in Sunday morning and
swept the Springfield match away with a 274X5. Ron Leraas not only ran the line
on Sunday, but he took the carbine match with a 357X6 and owns bragging rights
in the Unlimited Garand category with a 287X7.
Robert Langham showed up on Sunday to demonstrate his national match
winning ability with the Swiss K31 and took home the VMR plaque with a
290X4. Last and not least, the Pistol
EIC match produced not just three legs with James Redman winning the match with
a score of 264X3, but also allowed us to present the two newest distinguished pistol shooters, Robert Langham taking
second place and Justin Utley coming in third. Both men now wear the mantel of double
distinguished. Congratulations.

I would like to thank the Terrell Rifle and Pistol Club for
the use of their first class facilities, all the people mentioned in the
article for their assistance, a special thanks to Robin and Roger Lankford for
running the carbine match and Justin Utley for cooking on the spur of the
moment and of course, we couldn’t have a match at all without the fifty
competitors who participated.
Alan M. Wilson
See attached files for results