Since 2012, the Cowboy Trophy has been awarded to the winning team in the Palma Team Matches using Palma rifles in the NRA National High Power Rifle Long Range Championships. The Cowboy Trophy was donated to the NRA in 2012 by our friends at Palma Productions. The trophy is a Remington bronze cowboy riding his steed, mounted on a black walnut base. It's a beautiful trophy that conveys the majesty of the old west.
Match conditions on Palma Team day at Camp Atterbury were sunny with clear skies, with winds at about 5 mph.
Palma Rifle
The 2018 winners of the Cowboy Trophy was Team NSSC-1 (pictured at top with NRA Board Member Walt Walter), with team members Nathaniel Guernsey, Kent Reeve, Keith Hoverstad, John Frigugiletti and Team Captain/Coach Blair Clowdis. Their winning score was 1777-96X. Hoverstad was Team NSSC-1's highest scoring shooter with 445-24X.
In second place for Palma rifle teams was Team Palma Alliance, consisting of MSGT Matthew Griffin (Air Force), Robert Steketee, Benjamin Lucchesi, Daniel Altman and Team Captain/Coach Brian Mrnak. The team's combined score was a very respectable 1768-90X. High scorer for Team Palma Alliance was Lucchesi's score of 448-26X.
Rounding out the top three teams was Shirley's Boys, with team members Steve McGee, Shirley McGee, Randall Gregory, Jon Rhynard, Team Captain Harold Mauch and Coach Robert Peasley. Shirley's Boys finished two points behind Palma Alliance with 1766-84X. Top scorer was Steve McGee with 446-22X.
Service Rifle
All Guard-Coggshall was the match winner in the Palma Team Match for service rifle, scoring 1683-37X. The team was all Army National Guard shooters, with firing members SPC Andrew Traciak, COL J. Treharne, MAJ Aaron Grimm and SSG John Coggshall. Treharne was Team Captain and Coggshall was the Team Coach, and also the team's top shooter scoring 426-9X.
Note: The full results of the 2018 NRA High Power Rifle Long Range Championships will be published in a future issue of the digital magazine.