Damp Ranges, Record Scores Mark 2022 New England CMP Games and HP Matches
October 12, 2022
JERICHO, Vt. – The Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) New England HP & Games Matches, held Sept. 18-25, 2022, at the Camp Ethan Allen National Guard Training Site in Vermont, can be described in one word: wet.
Though suffering one of the toughest weather weeks in the event’s history through cold temps and steady rainfall, competitors still managed to give outstanding performances on the firing line that included exciting rivalries and record scores.
The New England Games features CMP’s own exciting lineup of vintage and modern military rifle and pistol competitions. Designed for everyone to enjoy, the events are suitable for those just beginning in the sport of marksmanship while offering fun and hardy challenges for more experienced individuals.
In pistol action, CPT Cliffton Allen, 36, of New Port Center, Vt., topped multiple Any Sight events in the Pistol Aggregate Match – claiming the .22 Rimfire and .45 matches on his way to the overall Pistol 2700 win. Allen found himself swapping spots between first and second in the pistol events with William Tierney, 72, of Cornish, N.H., who ultimately earned the overall win in the Center Fire 900 Aggregate.
Leading the Metallic Sight portion of the 2700 Aggregate was John Kurek, 72, of Jacksonville, N.C.
Also finding multiple wins, like within the .22 Rimfire Pistol EIC Match where he was just two points shy of the current New England Games record, was TSgt Nicolas Poirier, 33, of Jericho, Vt.
Other top performers in the pistol matches included CW3 Cara Krauss, 41, of Bristol, Vt., who not only took first in the Military & Police Service Pistol Match but went on to earn the overall pistol aggregate title.
In CMP Games rifle events, Brian Williams, 48, of Granby, Mass., who is a current New England Games record holder in several events, marked yet another record with a Carbine Match score of 383-6X – topping the previous score he had set himself in 2016. Williams was also only two points away from setting a new record in the Modern Military event, though he holds the current record in the match from his 2018 performance.
Maisey Loucks, 28, of Mechanicville, N.Y., showed great talent in the TU Class of the Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match – etching 579-26X, just three points from the current event record score. Loucks arrived at the New England Games coming off her own national record showing at the Camp Perry National Matches in July, where she earned the High Woman title in the National Carbine Match.
Reaching a new New England Games record in the Vintage Sniper Match was Hard Leg #2 (James Horton, Jack Chomko), who beat the previous record set in 2018 by one x-shot, with a score of 397-16X.
Outside of the recreational Games Matches, the CMP hosted a series of Highpower matches that included a team event, three days of 800 Aggregate shooting and a culminating 2400 Aggregate. Individuals were recognized for their Service or Match Rifle use, scores at each position and Civilian or Military status.
SSG John Coggshall, 37, of East Hampton, Conn., and PO1 Dean Bates, 42, of King George, Va., each marked new 2400 Aggregate record scores. Coggshall reached a score of 2370-100X in the Service Rifle portion, while Bates achieved 2343-73X in the Match Rifle category.
Clearing a record in the EIC Match by x-count was SSG Verne Conant, 26, of Cataula, Ga., who accumulated a score of 497-26X in his impressive win. Top competitors of the match earned EIC (Excellence-In-Competition) points toward a Distinguished Badge, including two junior athletes: Jack Marshall, 20, of Woburn, Mass., and Shannon Moriarty, 14, of Great Mills, Md. Marshall finished the match fourth overall as Moriarty landed just behind him in fifth.
Overall winners of the 2022 New England CMP Games and HP Rifle Matches:
All Pistol Events:
M9 EIC Pistol: Nathan Zajac, 42, Northampton, MA – 261-2X
.22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate Any Sight: CPT Cliffton Allen, 36, New Port Center, VT – 866-25X
.22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate Metallic Sight: TSgt Nicolas Poirier, 33, Jericho, VT – 843-24X
Center Fire 900 Aggregate Any Sight: William Tierney, 72, Cornish, NH – 843-28X
Center Fire 900 Aggregate Metallic Sight: CSM Paul Edwards, 58, South Burlington, VT – 719-7X
.45 Pistol 900 Aggregate Any Sight: CPT Cliffton Allen, 36, New Port Center, VT – 835-18X
.45 Pistol 900 Aggregate Metallic Sight: TSgt Nicolas Poirier, 33, Jericho, VT – 813-14X
Pistol 2700 Aggregate Any Sight: CPT Cliffton Allen, 36, New Port Center, VT – 2537-61X
Pistol 2700 Aggregate Metallic Sight: John Kurek, 72, Jacksonville, NC – 2047-11X
.22 Rimfire Pistol EIC: TSgt Nicolas Poirier, 33, Jericho, VT – 286-10X
As-Issued 1911 Pistol: SFC Dwayne Lewis, 56, Greenville, SC – 364-7X
Military & Police Service Pistol: CW3 Cara Krauss, 41, Bristol, VT – 369-8X
Pistol EIC: William Tierney, 72, Cornish, NH – 283-6X
Games Rifle Events:
M16 EIC Rifle: Rebecca Harrington, 26, Needham, MA – 380-2X
John C. Garand: Michael Speary, 48, Cortland, NY – 286-7X
Springfield: Christopher Corning, 40, Northwood, NH – 284-12X
Vintage Military: Brian Williams, 48, Granby, MA – 287-3X
Modern Military: Brian Williams, 48, Granby, MA – 294-9X
Three/Four Gun Aggregate: Michael Speary, 48, Cortland, NY – 847-17X (Three), 1126-21X (Four)
Carbine: Brian Williams, 48, Granby, MA – 383-6X
Rimfire Sporter Rifle: Bruce Baroffio, 64, Northfield, VT – 566-16X (O-Class); Brian Williams – 591-30X (T-Class); Maisey Loucks, 28, Mechanicville, NY – 579-26X (TU Class)
Vintage Sniper Manual Team: Hard Leg #2 (James Horton, Jack Chomko) – 397-16X
HP Rifle Events:
Overall 2400 Aggregate Service Rifle: SSG John Coggshall, 37, East Hampton, CT – 2370-100X
Overall 2400 Aggregate Match Rifle: PO1 Dean Bates, 42, King George, VA – 2343-73X
EIC Rifle: SSG Verne Conant, 26, Cataula, GA – 497-26X
4-Man Team: Hammer Time (CDR Thomas Lowry, MAJ Ian Swisher, Christopher Leonard, Brian Williams) – 1951-64X
Find a complete list of results on the CMP’s Competition Tracker page at https://ct.thecmp.org/2022NEGamesResults. Photos of the event can be viewed and downloaded for free at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f34794755.