John Leinberger

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.

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.

“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 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. 

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).  

“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!”

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:

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

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

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

Falling Plates Results:

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

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

3^rd:  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

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

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 jhenderson@thecmp.org.

CMP & Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club Set to Host Bianchi Cup Action Shooting Competition in 2023

HALLSVILLE, Mo. – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is excited to announce the addition of the Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament, the second longest running pistol championship in the world, to its match schedule in 2023. The CMP Bianchi Cup is set to fire May 23-26 at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri, and is sure to be the action pistol competition of the year!

“The Bianchi Cup has been one of the most prestigious pistol events in history,” said Jim Henderson, CMP pistol coordinator. “The CMP is very excited to be involved, and we look forward to not only bringing what we do to the Bianchi Cup but expanding our presence in the very popular sport of action pistol!”

An annual event since 1979, the CMP Bianchi Cup is proud to have MidwayUSA, an industry leader in shooting, hunting and outdoor activities, as the title sponsor. The Bianchi Cup is comprised of four events, including:

• 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.

“It is an honor for CMP to host this historic, respected action pistol event,” said Christie Sewell, CMP programs chief. “Everyone at CMP is looking forward to working with the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club to make this year’s Bianchi Cup a huge success.” 

With the advent of the new CMP Action Pistol Program, we have created the CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules. Most of these rules are similar to what are currently being used but competitors are encouraged to review the CMP Rules. There are changes in significant areas, such as allowable equipment and pistol modifications. Please familiarize yourself with these new rules to help eliminate any confusion on match day. An electronic version of the CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules will be posted on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-competitions-rulebooks/.

About the Bianchi Cup:

The Bianchi Cup was created by Ray Chapman (a WWII Marine veteran, law enforcement officer and IPSC champion of the 1970s), and famous holster maker, Major General of the California National Guard, law enforcement officer and Hollywood cowboy John Bianchi. While discussing the current state of pistol competitions that were being held across the country at the time, Bianchi and Chapman realized there was a need for an event that featured a mix of International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), Police Pistol Combat and precision pistol shooting styles – an idea that became the Bianchi Cup.

Over the years, the championship has become internationally recognized by top shooters from around the world, helping to create one of the fastest growing disciplines in the action shooting community. For details on the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup, visit the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-pistol-program/cmp-bianchi-cup/.

About the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club:

The Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club, formerly the Chapman Training Academy, was named after Ray Chapman before his passing in 2008. The club has been the annual host of the Bianchi Cup since its inception. The origin of the club days back to the 1930s and has played a major role in the creation of the practical shooting discipline. The facility holds several ranges, including two movers, a Bianchi barricade, two 50-yard Bianchi practical ranges, a 250-plus yard rifle range and a falling plates range. Learn more through the range’s website at https://www.gvshoot.com/.

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