U.S. Wins Pershing Trophy Match, Defeats British Team In Nail-Biter

By a slim two-point margin, the United States triumphs over Great Britain at this historic smallbore competition

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posted on August 3, 2022
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2022 Pershing 3
The 2022 U.S. Pershing Team poses for a post-victory photo at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
John Parker

By a two-point margin, the United States once again secured victory over Great Britain at the Pershing International Trophy Match, 3990-293X to 3988-287X. The 13th contest in the series, which dates back to 1931, this year's Pershing Match was held Wednesday, August 3 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, during the Smallbore Prone Championships at the NRA National Matches.

Pershing Match
U.S. and British teams shooting shoulder-to-shoulder at Camp Atterbury during the Pershing International Trophy Match.

 

The U.S. team's two top shooters were University of Kentucky rifle team superstar Richard Clark and Morgen Dietrich, both walking away from the match with 400-33X scores. For Clark, the Pershing victory comes hot on the heels of his win earlier this week at the 2022 NRA Smallbore 3-Position National Championship.

On the British side, the top shot was Sue Norman with a score of 400-32X, followed by Alan Bain with 400-30X.

Richard Clark
Richard Clark was one of the top U.S. shooters at the match with a score of 400-33X.

 

Here is the U.S. team roster and scores from this year's Pershing International Trophy Match:

  • Mark Del Cotto, 400-26X
  • Denna Wigger-McDormand, 399-31X
  • Kevin Nevius, 399-26X
  • Morgen Dietrich, 400-33X
  • Richard Clark, 400-33X
  • Daniel Altman, 397-24X
  • Philip Latzgo, 398-25X
  • Matthew Griffin, 399-32X
  • Jamie Piotrowski, 398-31X
  • Stephen Angeli, 400-32X

NRA Board Member and Smallbore Committee Chairwoman Patti Clark served as captain of the U.S. team, with the legendary Bruce Meredith taking the coaching duties and Shawn Carpenter as team adjutant.

Jon Leech
British Coach Jon Leech calling the wind on the firing line during the Pershing International Trophy Match at Camp Atterbury.

 

Below, the British team roster and scores:

  • Kenneth Bowley, 398-32X
  • Richard Wilson, 398-28X
  • Simon Green, 400-29X
  • Leonard Thomson, 397-26X
  • Wendy Foith, 398-29X
  • Matthew Dixon, 400-28X
  • Alan Bain, 400-30X
  • Christopher Hunter, 398-29X
  • Sue Norman, 400-32X
  • James Paterson, 399-24X

Officials for the British squad included Team Captain Keith Ridgway, Team Coach Jon Leech and Team Adjutant Mike Arnstein.

Held every four years, the location of the Pershing Trophy International Team Match alternates between the United States and Great Britain. In 1969, the Field Marshal Earl Roberts Trophy Match was added as a British counterpart. Since the match was held stateside this year, it was the Dewar course fired on A-23-6 and A-25 smallbore rifle targets.

U.S. and British shooting teams
The U.S. and British Pershing Teams at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

 

The NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury will continue until Sunday, August 7 with the close of the Smallbore Prone National Championships. Be on the lookout for more Pershing Match coverage and results from the NRA National Matches in future issues of the digital magazine. Subscribe to the free Insider newsletter for the latest news.

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