For the 19th time, competitive shooting superstar Doug Koenig has won the Bianchi Cup National Action Pistol Championship. After firing all four events, Koenig ended the match with a score of 1920-182X. The 2019 Bianchi Cup Champion, Bruce Piatt, also finished this year's match with a perfect 1920 score, but he was down from Koenig in the X-count and finished in second. The match was held May 24–28 at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club in Hallsville, Mo.
This is the 19th Bianchi Cup Championship victory for Doug Koenig, which is by far the most of any competitor in the history of the match. In addition to thanking his numerous sponsors after winning the match, Koenig also expressed his gratitude to Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club for running the 2021 Bianchi Cup.
"I just finished up the 42nd Bianchi Cup in Columbia, Mo. I’m proud to have won my 19th Cup. Congrats to all the winners for a great match in some tough conditions. Thank you to Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club for running a great championship. Thanks to all the match sponsors. I’d like to also thank my sponsors for their support. I could not do what I do without them."
Runner-up Bruce Piatt finished the match with a score of 1920-176X. The six-time Bianchi Cup Champion said via his Facebook page, "Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club did a wonderful job hosting the event. A big thank you goes out to the staff and all the match sponsors."
As for Metallic Champion Rob Vadasz, his final score of 1918-154X placed him fifth overall among the competitors. This year marks the first that the longtime U.S. Border Patrol Senior Agent represented the CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) National Marksmanship Unit. Vadasz, who is also a 11-time NRA National Police Shooting Championship winner, said this post-match on his Facebook page regarding the 2021 Bianchi Cup:
"My first year representing the CBP National Marksmanship Unit. I won my 7th Bianchi Metallic Sight National Championship with a monster 1918-154X. So cool to be competitive against the Open shooters with an iron sight gun. (Heads up, I’m coming for you). Only about an inch away from a 1920, I slipped one into the 8-ring from the 50 yard line. Congrats to my brother Doug Koenig for another overall win."
Becky Yackley won the 2021 Bianchi Women's Cup with a final score of 1908-139X. Her score placed her 13th among all the competitors. In addition, her son Andrew Yackley secured the Bianchi Cup Junior Championship with a score of 1882-134X.
Attendance was down from past Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Championships with 87 competitors registered for the 2021 contest. The downturn can be partially attributed to international travel restrictions due to COVID-19, as large contingents of shooters regularly attend the Bianchi Cup from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Expect to see higher registration numbers come 2022.
See the full results of the 2021 Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Championship at practiscore.com.
Lead photo courtesy of Doug Koenig.
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