In smallbore rifle, a single millimeter can mean the difference between a champion and the chase pack. The NRA’s historic trophy collection includes more than 40 trophies dedicated solely to this discipline, honoring generations of elite marksmanship. Among them, four stand out—not just for the championships they represent, but for the legacy and craftsmanship behind each one.
Critchfield Trophy
The Critchfield Trophy is awarded annually to the National Smallbore Rifle Conventional Prone Champion. Presented to the NRA in 1934 by the Riflemen of Ohio, it honors Brig. Gen. Ammon Critchfield, founder of the Camp Perry range. Designed by artist Fred M. Hakenjos—who later became NRA President—the Critchfield was first awarded in 1934 to E.L. Lord. Since 2021, the course of fire includes 640 shots across distances of 50 yards, 50 meters, 100 yards and two Dewar Matches using both metallic and any sights.
Frank Parsons Memorial Trophy
The Frank Parsons Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Smallbore Rifle Conventional Three-Position Champion. Established in 1959 through the estate of Frank T. Parsons, Jr., the trophy is a covered sterling silver bowl, hand-chased in the ornate Louis XV style. Since 1978, the championship course includes 240 shots—40 each in prone, kneeling and standing positions at 50 meters, using both metallic and any sights.
Marianne Jensen Driver Memorial Trophy
The Marianne Jensen Driver Memorial Trophy has been awarded annually since 2019 to the Smallbore Rifle F-Class champion. Donated by her daughters, the trophy honors Driver’s decades-long dedication to smallbore shooting, including her service on the Randle International Smallbore Prone Team. The trophy features a 1930s brass relief and a handcrafted base made from Black Walnut, Mahogany, Western Big Leaf Maple, Rosewood and Wenge.
NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy
The NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy is awarded to the aggregate winner of the combined Smallbore Rifle Three-Position and Prone championships. In 1987, Dieter Anschütz presented Wigger with a gold-plated Anschütz Model 1813 rifle, which Wigger later donated to the NRA in 2013. Honoring all-around excellence in smallbore competition, the trophy is presented to the competitor with the highest aggregate of the NRA’s national outdoor smallbore rifle championships: prone and three-position.
These four trophies are more than just hardware—they’re enduring symbols of excellence in one of competitive shooting’s most exacting disciplines. Each carries a legacy of tradition and precision, passed from champion to champion. As the sport evolves and new talent rises, these awards continue to link the future of smallbore rifle to its rich and storied past.
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