Article & photos by Nancy Brannon
Attracting the top shooters from around the country, the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) Jeffers National Championship kept the Paul Battle Arena in Tunica, MS “smoking” April 13-16, 2016. The show attracted 304 entries to compete in the Main Match, Wranglers, the AQHA and APHA qualifiers. The National Championship was preceded by the South Central Regional, also at Tunica, which attracted 222 entries, and the Top Ten Shoot on April 12, 2016.
Mounted shooting contestants compete in this fast action timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers, like those used in the late 1800s, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. CMSA limits their competitions to single action revolvers, which must be cocked each time before firing by drawing the hammer back. Only fixed sight single action revolvers of .45 Colt caliber, designed prior to 1898, or reproductions thereof, are allowed in CMSA competitions. Examples are: Colt Single Action Army or Bisley Model, Smith & Wesson Schofield, Russian, or Remington Models 1875 & 1890, their reproductions, and Ruger Vaqueros, Bisleys or Montados. The brass cartridge is loaded with black powder. This load will break a balloon up to about 15 feet. Live rounds are strictly prohibited at competitions.
Contestants may dress in traditional western style or in the old time style of the late 1800s. Traditional style includes a long sleeve western shirt, 5 pocket blue jeans covered by chinks or chaps, western boots, and a cowboy hat. If the late 1800s look is preferred, contestants try to look as period authentic as possible by wearing shirts without collars and high-waisted pants with buttons, and an old style cowboy hat.
Ear plugs are the essential accessory for both riders and horses. In an indoor arena, the sound is so loud, that ear protection is a necessity. Specially made earplugs for horses help to dampen the sound of gunfire and balloon popping.
CMSA has a variety of levels of competition, ranging from novice levels to the seasoned professional. There is a Men’s Division, a Women’s Division, and a Senior Division, with Classes 1-6 in each of those divisions. There is also a Wrangler Class for those 11 and under. All riders start at Class 1, then advance up through the levels as they achieve four wins in their current level.
The riders are scored on time and accuracy. There is a 5 second penalty for each missed balloon, a 5-second penalty for dropping a gun, a 10-second penalty for not running the course correctly, and a 60-second penalty for falling off the horse. Speed is important, but accuracy is usually more important than speed. A typical pattern can be run in 15-35 seconds.
To be among the top contenders, shooters must ride the pattern the fastest with no other penalties. In the Main Match Stage 1, Lisa Jean DeGeare had the fastest time: 13.811. Rock Clark was a close second with a time of 13.820. David Lohrey was third with a time of 13.951. Chad Little had a time of 14.102 to place fourth. Kenda Lenseigne was fifth with a time of 14.158.
In Stage 2, Cody Clark had the fastest time of 12.348 seconds for the win. Matt Sronce was a close second in 12.477 seconds. Jessie Kika was third in 12.494 seconds. Lisa Jean DeGeare beat the clock in 12.528 seconds for fourth. And Kenda Lenseigne was fifth in 12.650 seconds.
Kenda was the top rider in Main Match Stage 3, riding the pattern in 14.021 seconds. Laura Wilson had the second fastest time of 14.267, and Lisa Jean DeGeare was third in 14.484 seconds.
Kenda was again the top rider in Main Match Stage 4, finishing in 13.007. Adam Davis bought second in 13.062 seconds. Stephen Wilson was third in 13.367 seconds, and Rock Clark, fourth, in 13.654 seconds.
Matt Scronce led the points in Main Match Stage 5, riding the pattern in 16.995 seconds. Rock Clark was second in 17.525 seconds, and Mitchell Kramer was third in 17.619 seconds.
In the Cavalry division, James Chambers led in Stages 1 and 2, placing second behind Mike Lewallen in the Final.
The ladies ran the show in Eliminator Open. Kenda Lenseigne led in Eliminator Open 1, riding the pattern in 10.363 seconds. Jessie Kuka was a close second in 10.386 seconds. Lisa Jean DeGeare was third in 10.432 seconds. Kendra and Lisa Jean were the top two in Eliminator Open 2, with 15.181 and 15.617 seconds, respectively. Laura Wilson was only .002 seconds off, to place third in 15.619 seconds. The Eliminator Open Final saw Lisa Jean DeGeare at the head of the leader board, riding the fastest time of 10.921 seconds. Jessie Kuka was second in 11.490 seconds.
In the AQHA division, Heithe Williams was the top rider in Stage 1 (15.193 seconds). In Stage 2, Heithe was again the leader, riding the pattern in 13.918 seconds, and tops in Stage 3 with 15.339 seconds. In Stage 4, Heithe was bumped by Josh Ingle who ran in 14.287 seconds, while Heithe scored in 14.426 seconds. But Heithe came back to win Stage 5 in 18.284 seconds.
Full results are available at: http://www.cmsaevents.com/
Attracting the top shooters from around the country, the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) Jeffers National Championship kept the Paul Battle Arena in Tunica, MS “smoking” April 13-16, 2016. The show attracted 304 entries to compete in the Main Match, Wranglers, the AQHA and APHA qualifiers. The National Championship was preceded by the South Central Regional, also at Tunica, which attracted 222 entries, and the Top Ten Shoot on April 12, 2016.
Mounted shooting contestants compete in this fast action timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers, like those used in the late 1800s, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. CMSA limits their competitions to single action revolvers, which must be cocked each time before firing by drawing the hammer back. Only fixed sight single action revolvers of .45 Colt caliber, designed prior to 1898, or reproductions thereof, are allowed in CMSA competitions. Examples are: Colt Single Action Army or Bisley Model, Smith & Wesson Schofield, Russian, or Remington Models 1875 & 1890, their reproductions, and Ruger Vaqueros, Bisleys or Montados. The brass cartridge is loaded with black powder. This load will break a balloon up to about 15 feet. Live rounds are strictly prohibited at competitions.
Contestants may dress in traditional western style or in the old time style of the late 1800s. Traditional style includes a long sleeve western shirt, 5 pocket blue jeans covered by chinks or chaps, western boots, and a cowboy hat. If the late 1800s look is preferred, contestants try to look as period authentic as possible by wearing shirts without collars and high-waisted pants with buttons, and an old style cowboy hat.
Ear plugs are the essential accessory for both riders and horses. In an indoor arena, the sound is so loud, that ear protection is a necessity. Specially made earplugs for horses help to dampen the sound of gunfire and balloon popping.
CMSA has a variety of levels of competition, ranging from novice levels to the seasoned professional. There is a Men’s Division, a Women’s Division, and a Senior Division, with Classes 1-6 in each of those divisions. There is also a Wrangler Class for those 11 and under. All riders start at Class 1, then advance up through the levels as they achieve four wins in their current level.
The riders are scored on time and accuracy. There is a 5 second penalty for each missed balloon, a 5-second penalty for dropping a gun, a 10-second penalty for not running the course correctly, and a 60-second penalty for falling off the horse. Speed is important, but accuracy is usually more important than speed. A typical pattern can be run in 15-35 seconds.
To be among the top contenders, shooters must ride the pattern the fastest with no other penalties. In the Main Match Stage 1, Lisa Jean DeGeare had the fastest time: 13.811. Rock Clark was a close second with a time of 13.820. David Lohrey was third with a time of 13.951. Chad Little had a time of 14.102 to place fourth. Kenda Lenseigne was fifth with a time of 14.158.
In Stage 2, Cody Clark had the fastest time of 12.348 seconds for the win. Matt Sronce was a close second in 12.477 seconds. Jessie Kika was third in 12.494 seconds. Lisa Jean DeGeare beat the clock in 12.528 seconds for fourth. And Kenda Lenseigne was fifth in 12.650 seconds.
Kenda was the top rider in Main Match Stage 3, riding the pattern in 14.021 seconds. Laura Wilson had the second fastest time of 14.267, and Lisa Jean DeGeare was third in 14.484 seconds.
Kenda was again the top rider in Main Match Stage 4, finishing in 13.007. Adam Davis bought second in 13.062 seconds. Stephen Wilson was third in 13.367 seconds, and Rock Clark, fourth, in 13.654 seconds.
Matt Scronce led the points in Main Match Stage 5, riding the pattern in 16.995 seconds. Rock Clark was second in 17.525 seconds, and Mitchell Kramer was third in 17.619 seconds.
In the Cavalry division, James Chambers led in Stages 1 and 2, placing second behind Mike Lewallen in the Final.
The ladies ran the show in Eliminator Open. Kenda Lenseigne led in Eliminator Open 1, riding the pattern in 10.363 seconds. Jessie Kuka was a close second in 10.386 seconds. Lisa Jean DeGeare was third in 10.432 seconds. Kendra and Lisa Jean were the top two in Eliminator Open 2, with 15.181 and 15.617 seconds, respectively. Laura Wilson was only .002 seconds off, to place third in 15.619 seconds. The Eliminator Open Final saw Lisa Jean DeGeare at the head of the leader board, riding the fastest time of 10.921 seconds. Jessie Kuka was second in 11.490 seconds.
In the AQHA division, Heithe Williams was the top rider in Stage 1 (15.193 seconds). In Stage 2, Heithe was again the leader, riding the pattern in 13.918 seconds, and tops in Stage 3 with 15.339 seconds. In Stage 4, Heithe was bumped by Josh Ingle who ran in 14.287 seconds, while Heithe scored in 14.426 seconds. But Heithe came back to win Stage 5 in 18.284 seconds.
Full results are available at: http://www.cmsaevents.com/
