2018 Southern New England NRA Three Position Metric Sectional
Four of the six New England States were represented in the 2018 Southern New England NRA Three Position Metric Sectional conducted at the Quaker Hill Rod and Gun Club in Oakdale, Connecticut over Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend.
Hap Rocketto jumped off to fast start at his home range posting a perfect 400 in the prone stage. The same was true for Shawn Carpenter, who also calls Quaker Hill home, as he challenged Rocketto with a 396. New Hampshire’s Bob Lynn was also in the running with a 388. Junior Donnie Kulowski, from Blue Trail Range, shot a 376 to top the Unclassified Master class with Taunton’s Riley O’Connell following at 358. Frank Garbouchian topped the combined Marksman/Expert class with his 383.
It was not the luck of the Irish that saw Taunton’s Brianna Feerick win the standing match, but rather a solid hold led to her 357. First Master was Rocketto, 354, and Carpenter was second shooting a 338. Tavish McCoy, another Taunton junior, was the best Unclassified Master on his feet carding a 348 followed by team mate Mia Lee’s 332. Metacon’s Kayley Pasko moved into the lead in the combined class after she shot a 345.
Going into the final stage Rocketto held a comfortable lead over Carpenter and Feerick but Carpenter showed that he was not giving up and harried Rocketto with a match winning 381. Rocketto finished first Master, 379, and Feerick second with a 364. Kulowski and Lee went head on head with Kulowski edging Lee out by one point, 354 to 353. Pasko took her second class win of the day.
When all was said an d done Rocketto emerged the Gold Medalist with an aggregate score of 1133. Carpenter took home the silver, 1115, and Feerick, 1089, was the bronze medal winner. Lee fired a 1036 to win Master Unclassified honors and Kulowski was second on the back of his 1024. Pasko’s domination of the sub aggregated saw her easily win the combined class.
The team match was won by Digby Hand Young At Heart, Rocketto, Lynn, Ernie Mellor, and Len Remaly. The average age of the team is 72 and the graybeards found that they had established a new Senior National Record-pending NRA confirmation-for a four man three position team of 4543, besting the old mark by 483 points. The quartet toasted their new found fame by chugging a bottle of Geritol and the headed out for the early bird special at a local eatery.
Match Director Ruby Gomes kept all on track and the match moving a brisk pace added by Quaker Hill members Steve Rocketto, Mark Wujtewicz, and Ryan McKee.
