Over-The-Top Gun - Ben Swanson, 16, was nervous, doubted himself even, in the nights prior to the 2012 National Rifle Association National Rifle and Pistol Championships. But there he was, Camp Perry, an Ohio National Guard training facility on the shores of Lake Erie, and as he looked down the firing line at the competitors readying themselves for the 3-Position Any Sight Championship, those nerves and doubts somehow seemed to melt away. As the old saying goes, our worst fears lie in anticipation.

First shot kicks off National Matches - One of the grand traditions of our area is the annual National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry. One of the even grander traditions of the National Matches is the First Shot Ceremony that opens the matches. Monday’s event was no different.

Syracuse biathlon club offers summer training and competition - The cross-country skiing and rifle shooting of the winter biathlon is one of the Winter Olympics’ most popular events, with 37 nations competing the last time in 2010. Fewer people have heard about the summer’s version of the sport – summer biathlon — where competitors run instead of ski the course. It isn’t an Olympic event yet, but it is becoming more popular in Central New York and nationally. A course at Pratt’s Falls Park in Pompey has hosted the summer biathlon national championships twice over the last 10 years. Members of the Syracuse Biathlon Club train on the course.

USA Shooting and NRA to hold junior pistol match - Not too long after the National Junior Air Gun Championship coming up at the end of the month is another great junior competition - the USA Shooting/NRA Progressive Position Air Pistol National Championships.  Held July 6-8 at the CMP South facility in Anniston, Alabama, the championships are a great competition for young air pistol shooters to get championship experience.  Anyone can shoot in the championships until they reach the year of their 21st birthday.