Geoffrey Bull (Geoff)

FENTON, MISSOURI

State Director Info

Background

* 35 years competitive shooting, smallbore, air, and service rifle * Army West Point NCAA smallbore/air rifle (1992-1996) * Assistant rifle coach, St. Louis University High School (2022- current)

Awards

Distinguished Rifleman (2010), President’s Hundred (2007)

Personal Info

Retired from the Army after 24+ years of service in 2020. Married with 3 children, all of whom are competitive shooters.

Reasons

My reason for becoming a State Director is to help improve the CMP support of and communication with all shooting programs within the state, and so improve and expand junior participation and encourage lifelong participation in competitive shooting sports.

Goals/Hopes

My primary hope for Junior Shooting in Missouri is to increase the recognition of the shooting sports as lifelong endeavors and opportunities for demonstrating excellence. I would like to help increase the representation of Missouri at the collegiate level and various national level competitions by improving communication and notification of opportunities with Missouri’s many clubs and shooting programs. I want to ensure there are no artificial barriers to participation in the shooting sports if the CMP can help in any way.

Bruce Piatt Marks Memorable Win During Inaugural CMP Bianchi Cup

By Ashley Dugan, CMP Writer

HALLSVILLE, Mo. – During the 2023 Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament, Bruce Piatt, 62, of Damascus, PA, made history as he earned the overall National Champion title and his seventh Bianchi Cup – 30 years after he earned his first. His 2023 victory marked Piatt as the competitor with the most wins in the Bianchi Cup’s existence, though surpassed by Practical Open Event winner Douglas Koenig, 54, of Deland, FL, who holds 19 wins in his career.

Bruce Piatt was the 2023 Bianchi Cup National Champion, marking his seventh Cup over 30 years.
Bruce Piatt was the 2023 Bianchi Cup National Champion, marking his seventh Cup over 30 years.

The CMP Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament, the second longest running pistol championship in the world, was held May 23-26, 2023, at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Missouri. Though the CMP Bianchi Cup has been an annual event since 1979, this year was the first time the match was hosted by the CMP. 

Title sponsor MidwayUSA and many other generous sponsors provided tremendous support as over 135 individuals participated in the CMP Bianchi Cup, including several international competitors from Australia, Barbados, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.

Doug Koenig holds several Bianchi Cups of his own, acquired over the years.
Doug Koenig holds several Bianchi Cups of his own, acquired over the years.

“The 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup went great!” said CMP pistol coordinator, Jim Henderson. “It was my privilege to be part of the behind-the-scenes workings for this awesome event! Darren Maher and all the Green Valley R&P staff were the best crew I’ve had the pleasure to work with in a long time. Pat Cooper and her army of volunteers did an absolutely fantastic job, and this event would not have happened if it weren’t for those two groups of amazing people.” 

The CMP Bianchi Cup features a variety of events that combine movement and accuracy.
The CMP Bianchi Cup features a variety of events that combine movement and accuracy.

The CMP Bianchi Cup is comprised of four events: the Practical Event, Moving Target (Mover) Event, Barricade Event, and the Falling Plates Event. Competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with strong and weak hands at various stages. There are no makeup shots in the CMP Bianchi Cup, adding to its difficulty. Competitors fire in Open, Metallic, Production and Production Optic classes within each event.

Mark Blake, 52, traveled across the world from Australia’s Huon Creek to win the Open Championship title while obtaining the overall win in the Moving Target event. Special congratulations also goes to Roman Hauber, 57, who traveled from Regensburg, Germany, to claim the Mover Metallic win. U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s (USAMU) SFC Ryan Franks, 35, of Ellerslie, GA, won the Metallic category in the Practical and Barricade events. 

A number of international athletes from across the globe attended the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup.
A number of international athletes from across the globe attended the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup.

Leading the Production class was USAMU teammate SSG Christopher Hudock, 33, of Columbus, GA, who earned wins in all four events, while fellow teammate SSG Anthony Heinauer, 26, of Fort Benning, GA, earned the Production Optic title. Through their talented athletes (SSG Hudock, SFC Franks, SSG Heinauer and SSG Walter Johnson), the USAMU claimed the 4-Man team match.

Benito Martinez, 44, of Albuquerque, NM, brought home the Open win in the Falling Plates match, while the Production Optic classes were led by Simon Golob, 48, of Kearney, MO (Practical), SSG Heinauer (Mover) and Seiichi Ishikawa, 52, of Montebello, CA (Barricade).  

Mark Blake traveled from Australia to earn multiple Bianchi Cups.
Mark Blake traveled from Australia to earn multiple Bianchi Cups.

“I’d like to thank all the competitors for coming to the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup,” Henderson added. “I know there are a few small things we can polish for next year, and I very much appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we move forward into a new era for this historic event. I can safely say that the CMP and I are very much looking forward to many more years of this great championship!”

Seiichi Ishikawa claimed Production Optic wins in both the Barricade and Falling Plates events.
Seiichi Ishikawa claimed Production Optic wins in both the Barricade and Falling Plates events.

Other top athletes at the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup included SFC Sally Talbott, 46, of Columbia, SC, who was the Overall Woman Champion, Troy Mattheyer, 60, of Ellis, KS, who earned the John Cameron Memorial Senior title and Vance Schmid, 72, of Marion, IL, who was the Grand Senior Champion.

Overall Winners of the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup:

Practical Results:

Open: Douglas Koenig, 54, Deland, FL – 480-47X

Metallic: SFC Ryan Franks, 35, Ellerslie, GA – 480-34X

Production: SSG Christopher Hudock, 33, Columbus, GA – 469-26X

Production Optic: Simon Golob, 48, Kearney, MO – 480-33X

Mover Results:

Open: Mark Blake, 52, Huon Creek, Australia – 480-39X

Metallic: Roman Hauber, 57, Regensburg, Germany – 476-27X

Production: SSG Christopher Hudock, 33, Columbus, GA – 478-23X

Production Optic: SSG Anthony Heinauer, 26, Fort Benning, GA – 480-32X

Barricade Results:

1st: SSG Walter Johnson, 29, of Pine Mountain, GA – 480-48X

2nd: Brett Foster, 46, Bundabert, Queensland, Australia – 480-48X

3rd: Stephen Stewart, 50, Carlock, IL – 480-48X

Falling Plates Results:

1st: Benito Martinez, 44, Albuquerque, NM – 480-48X

2nd: SSG Walter Johnson, 29, of Pine Mountain, GA – 480-48X

3rd:  SSG Anthony Heinauer, 26, of Fort Benning, GA – 480-48X

2-Man Team: 

Metallic: BDMP – 1848-121X

Production Optic: Team DHS – 1887-118X

International Team: Pistol Australia 1 – 1920-180X

Members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit found several individual wins, along with a team win.
Members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit found several individual wins, along with a team win.

4-Man Team: USAMU Blue (SSG Christopher Hudock, SFC Ryan Franks, SSG Anthony Heinauer, SSG Walter Johnson) – 1916-143X

Special Categories:

Military Veteran Champion – Mark Blake, 1920-178X

Law Enforcement Champion – Bruce Piatt, 1920-178X

Active Service Champion – SSG Walter Johnson, 1918-172X

Revolver Champion – Steve Weathersby, 1914-154X

International Champion – Mark Blake, 1920-178X

SFC Sally Talbott earned the Overall Woman Champion Cup.
SFC Sally Talbott earned the Overall Woman Champion Cup.

International Championship Awards:

Grand Senior Champion: Vance Schmid, 1918-157X

John Cameron Memorial Senior Champion: Troy Mattheyer, 1916-154X

Roger E. Hawkins Memorial Junior National Champion: Malcolm Itzstein, 1892-142X

Woman National Champion: Sally Talbot, 1889-152X

Metallic National Champion: SFC Ryan Franks, USA, 1914-141X

Production National Champion: SSG Christopher Hudock, USA, 1901-128X

Production Optic National Champion: SSG Anthony Heinauer, 1916-146X

Open National National Champion: Mark Blake, 1920-178X

National Action Pistol Championships National Champion: Bruce Piatt, 1920-178X

Learn more about the CMP Bianchi Cup at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-pistol-program/cmp-bianchi-cup/. View a complete list of results on the CMP’s Competition Tracker page at https://ct.thecmp.org/2023CMPBianchiCupResults. See photos of the event, available for free download, at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f340694381.

If you are interested in sponsoring the 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup, please reach out to Jim Henderson at [email protected].

CMP Raffling 1911 Pistol, Surplus Ammo to Early Registrants of 2023 Bianchi Cup

Still dreaming of a 1911 Pistol? The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is offering a 1911 giveaway through a special raffle for individuals who register for the upcoming CMP Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament, set to be held in Hallsville, Missouri, on May 23-26.

Those who sign up for the CMP Bianchi Cup BEFORE May 1, 2023, will be automatically entered into the 1911 raffle. Additionally, twenty bricks (500 rounds per brick) of .22 pistol standard velocity surplus ammo will also be raffled, meaning twenty-one chances to win overall.

The raffle is open to U.S. citizens only. If a non-U.S. citizen is drawn, he or she will receive $500 in place of the 1911 pistol. Those who have already purchased a pistol are still permitted to win. 

The only requirement is to register, so learn more and mark your spot at the 2023 Bianchi Cup today at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-pistol-program/cmp-bianchi-cup/.

MidwayUSA is the Title Match Sponsor! Find out more about Sponsorships at https://thecmp.org/sponsorship/. 

About the CMP Bianchi Cup:

The Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament, the second longest running pistol championship in the world, will be hosted by the CMP for the first time, May 23-26, 2023, at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Missouri. An annual event since 1979, the Bianchi Cup is comprised of four events:

  • The Practical Event, where competitors fire at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits from the shooting line.
  • The Barricade Event, where competitors fire at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits from within shooting boxes and behind barricades.
  • The Falling Plate Event, where competitors fire at eight-inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
  • The Moving Target Event, where competitors fire from within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards at a target moving from left to right, with the target exposed for six seconds.

Competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages. There are no makeup shots in the Bianchi Cup, adding to the difficulty of the event.