Ridgway Rifle Club’s reputation second to none
On Monday, the second round of the National Rifle Association Smallbore championships and the first stop of the international Lapua Monarch Cup (LMC) were held at the Ridgway Rifle Club on Grant Road.
It’s a busy week for the club. Today is the final day for both. On Thursday, the Highpower championships began and will continue through Saturday.
Over 160 shooters from across the nation, Canada, and Mexico, will compete at the events. Ask competitors, and they’ll tell you the club is their favorite spot to shoot.
“I’ve been at 53 shooting ranges in my career,” said Daniel Salazar the LMC Chairman of the Board. “It’s not only about the infrastructure of a facility; it’s also about the people, and this club has a very beautiful soul. The people are awesome, great friends, and good-hearted.”
The RRC has over 1,000 members, something former president and current trustee Tom Fullem says helps keep the cost low. The fee to join is far less than the four to five hundred paid at other facilities.
“Back when he was club President Jon Heatherdale sponsored me and I’m doing the same now,” said Fullem. “Having such a high membership allows us to keep the dues low and fluid. It’s gratifying to hear people tell us they would rather shoot here than any other place in the world.”
According to club spokesperson Kenny
Haupricht, over 20 junior shooters are competing. Fullem is thrilled to see the sport’s rise in popularity with younger sharpshooters.
“The youth are the future of any sport, so this type of involvement is great and crucial. Like everything in the world, things just wither and go away without the youth.”
Upgrades are constantly being made to what Haupricht calls the “Disney Land of silhouette shooting.”
Another source of pride for the RRC is its target setters.
“They make the match, and ours hustle. So, things will drag if you have setters that don’t hustle or set and paint the animals right,” Haupricht said. “Our setters have great work ethics and hustle, which is why we’re known for having the best target setters in the sport of silhouette.”
Fullem concurred. “They’re hard workers, and as Kenny says, we have the best target setters in the world. He hears it from competitors who say other places don’t compare with these kids.”
The two-stage Lapua Cup will finish at Club De Tiro Saltillo Safari in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Canada will make it a three-country contest next year.