At the Bloomer Rod and Gun Club’s Air Pistol Competition, held in March in Bloomer, WI, third place in the Women’s division was taken by local shooter Judy Scritsmeir. Local television station WEAU reported on the 76 year old phenom, who had only shot air pistols three or four times before the contest.
How is this possible? Well, despite being new to the air pistol scene, Ms. Scritsmeir is a longtime veteran of pistol competitions in general. By her recollection, she has been participating in such contests for “about 35 years.” Beginning in IPSC, and then eventually changing over to bullseye, Ms. Scritsmeir has had a lifetime of experience with a variety of pistol shooting, and looks to air pistol as a way to extend her hobby well into the future, despite the increasing rigors of age.
According to Ms. Scritsmeir, “The body says you can’t do some of those things you used to, but once I got into air pistol I thought this is fantastic. I love this. I could probably do another 10 years. You are always shooting to better your last score, that’s the name of the game.”
Despite her ever-modest tone and jovial nature, Ms. Scritsmeir’s shooting is anything but carefree. She is an absolute natural at the process of looking, raising, squeezing, and hitting dead on, despite bullseyes in air pistol being roughly the size of a pencil eraser.
The Bloomer Rod and Gun Club is no stranger to experienced, championship shooters. Jerry Wilder, another local, started competing in the 1970s, and has won 13 National Championships. In fact, he has competed at every level of the game short of the Olympics, for which he twice missed the cut by only one position, taking third when a showing of second or better was required.
But for both these veteran shooters, the competitions at the Bloomer Rod and Gun club are no longer the pressure-filled ordeals of yesteryear. Instead, they can just relax and enjoy the fun time, surrounded by other shooters who share their dedication to this most precise of sports.
For more information on the club’s events, membership, or anything else, please visit their website at bloomerrodandgun.org.
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