The Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match (Daisy Nationals) brings teams of youth ages eight to 15 from around the country to the Rogers Convention Center in Rogers, Arkansas, to compete for the National Championship of BB Gun shooting.
This marks the 56th year for the five-meter, four-position NRA-sanctioned match where Individual and Team National Champions are crowned.
All competitors shoot a Daisy Model 499B, touted as the “most-accurate five-meter BB gun in the world.”
Teams consist of five shooters and two alternates. These teams have practiced and competed all year for the chance to qualify for the Daisy Nationals and must place in the top three positions in a state match to get an invitation. In the match, competitors shoot at an official target placed at five meters. They shoot 10 shots in standing, 10 in sitting, 10 in kneeling and 10 in prone shooting positions.
Each shot is worth 10 points, for a total of 400 possible, but each competitor must also take a test that covers gun safety and general gun and match knowledge. The test is worth 100 points, so each competitor is shooting for 500 points. Proof that these kids are good comes from last year’s Individual National Champion Zoe Dissing. She set a new record with a score of 494—only six points from perfect.
But it’s not just the competition that makes the annual Daisy Nationals a hit with youth. Events and fun make these three days all about the kids. There are costume and car decorating contests sponsored by Academy Sports and Outdoors, Barter Bar (an evening of trading items brought from their area) and a night at the Rogers Aquatic Center.
As per usual, teams travel from as far away as Oregon to compete, and South Dakota, Virginia and Georgia are also among the states represented. This year, 15 states will be represented. Any organization can start a BB Gun Team, but most come from the 4-H Shooting Sports program. New teams must complete a 10-hour Daisy Shooting Sports Curriculum before ever picking up a BB gun.
“Some coaches bring their teams every year,” Daisy Public Relations Director Lawrence Taylor said. “I’m not sure the exact count, but I know that Coach Howard Baker has brought his Oregon Timber Beasts to the Nationals for 18 or 19 years in a row.”
Early Registration begins July 5 and continues the next day. On the July 7, competitors can practice and take the Safety Test, then attend Opening Ceremonies where they compete for prizes in the Costume, T-Shirt and Most-Patriotic contests. Competition commences for the next two days with Closing Ceremonies wrapping up that evening just in time to head to the water park.
Go to daisy.com to learn more.
