NEWBERRY — Local shooters from the Newberry Junior Pistol Club traveled to Anniston, Ala., the first weekend of August for the U.S. Junior Olympic PPP Pistol Championship and the NRA National Air Gun Championship.
The three-day competition was a dual venue competition with the east coast competitors shooting in Anniston and the west coast competitors shooting at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Regional and national champions were declared.
The team from Newberry included Carrie Haltiwanger, Taylor Martin and Clarrissa Haltiwanger. They represented a mixed team with Carrie Haltiwanger and Martin shooting international standing and Clarrissa Haltiwanger shooting basic supported.
The team turned in a two-day total of 2,171 points, winning the regional and national Gold medals for the mixed teams category. The second and third place teams scored 2,083 points and 1,943 points, respectively.
Carrie Haltiwanger took gold in the regional individual championship with Martin right behind her taking silver. Only three points separated the two going into the finals. On the national level Carrie Haltiwanger took individual bronze with Martin finishing fourth.
Clarrissa Haltiwanger won Silver in the individual regional basic supported championship and Bronze in the national individual championship. Clarrissa Haltiwanger was also named Sub Junior Regional Champion at the NRA Air Gun championship that followed the U.S. Junior Olympic PPP Championship.
Coaches are Ben Blanton and Shawn Martin. Anyone interested in participating with or supporting the Newberry Junior Pistol Club can call Blanton at 803-924-4694.