Western Fall Classic: Carlson Breaks Decade-Old Rifle Score

At the 2023 Western Fall Classic, Julia Carlson, 47, of Lehi, Utah, broke a Vintage Military Match event record with her score of 293-3X.

The new score tops the previous record set in 2010 by just one point.

Along with capturing the Vintage Miliary Match win, Carlson also overtook the Carbine Rifle Match with a score of 353-5X. Though not an event record, her performance was more than 10 points above the second place competitor—tightly securing a victory.

The Western Fall Classic was a late addition to the CMP competition schedule in 2023. Despite its shorter schedule, the event offered a variety of rifle and pistol competitions for visitors to enjoy. The 2023 Western Fall Classic was held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Ariz.

Bringing home plenty of hardware from the pistol series was Tony Silva, 69, of Snowflake, Ariz., who claimed wins in the 1911 As-Issued Match, the Military and Police Match and all three 900 Aggregate matches in the Any Sights division—leading to the overall score in the culminating Pistol 2700 event, as well as the Overall Individual Pistol Aggregate title.

Jeffrey Mikesell, 48, of Gilbert, Ariz., also landed multiple pistol wins as he found the top spot in the EIC Service Pistol Match and the .22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate in the Metallic Sight category.

Back in rifle, William Fairless, 69, of Vienna, Ill., gave outstanding performances in the matches, taking wins in the Garand Match and the Modern Military Match. His consistency led to additional victories in the Three-Gun and Four-Gun Aggregates.

Other leaders of the 2023 Western Fall Classic are listed below.

M16 EIC Rifle

• LCDR Vincent Stanley, 59, San Marcos, Calif. – 366-4X

M9 EIC Pistol

• Dewayne Wolfer, 69, Hollywood, Calif. – 224-2X

Revolver EIC

• Robert Feldmeyer, 45, Queen Creek, Ariz. – 347-2X

.22 Rimfire Pistol EIC

• Eugene Berman, 51, Fountain Hills, Ariz. – 271-1X

EIC Service Pistol

• Jeffrey Mikesell, 48, Gilbert, Ariz. – 268-5X

1911 As-Issued Pistol

• Tony Silva, 69, Snowflake, Ariz. – 372-9X

Military & Police Service Pistol

• Tony Silva, 69, Snowflake, Ariz. – 375-14X

Overall Individual Pistol Aggregate

• Tony Silva, 69, Snowflake, Ariz. – 1594-33X

.22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate

• Any Sights: Tony Silva, 69, Snowflake, Ariz. – 833-16X
• Metallic Sights: Jeffrey Mikesell, 48, Gilbert, Ariz. – 836-15X

Center Fire 900 Aggregate

• Any Sights: Tony Silva, 69, Snowflake, Ariz. – 827-18X
• Metallic Sights: George Siordian, 60, Phoenix, Ariz. – 809-16X

.45 Pistol 900 Aggregate

• Any Sights: Tony Silva, 69, Snowflake, Ariz. – 826-24X

Match Pistol 2700 Aggregate

• Any Sights: Tony Silva, 69, Snowflake, Ariz. – 2486-58X
• Metallic Sights: George Siordian, 60, Phoenix, Ariz. – 2382-55X

Garand Match

• William Fairless, 69, Vienna, Ill. – 285-7X

Springfield Match

• Dennis Caviness, 48, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. – 283-3X

Vintage Military Match

• Julia Carlson, 47, Lehi, Utah – 293-3X

Modern Military Match

• William Fairless, 69, Vienna, Ill. – 285-8X

Three-Gun Aggregate

• William Fairless, 69, Vienna, Ill. – 838-16X

Four-Gun Aggregate

• William Fairless, 69, Vienna, Ill. – 1123-24X

Rimfire Sporter Rifle

• O-Class: Only one competitor
• T-Class: Adam Murano, 51, Ivins, Utah – 580-21X
• TU-Class: Christopher Hook, 53, Prescott, Ariz. – 572-15X

Carbine Match

• Julia Carlson, 47, Lehi, Utah – 353-5X

Vintage Sniper Team Match

• Manual: X’s & 8’s (Christopher Hook and Arthur Merrill) – 391-16X
• Semi-Auto: Not enough teams to name a winner

CMP Mid-Range 3x600

• Match Rifle: Kelly Frank, 61, Prescott, Ariz. – 584-16X
• Service Rifle: Steve Collins, 65, Phoenix, Ariz. – 572-19X
• Palma Rifle: Not enough competitors to name a winner
• F-Open: Pete Ricci, 74, Scottsdale, Ariz. – 581-13X
• F T/R: Kim Porter, 54, Gainesville, Fla. – 564-14X
• AR Tactical: Not enough competitors to name a winner

Service Rifle EIC

• Jess Mellen, 49, Phoenix, Ariz. – 485-11X

CMP 1600 Overall Aggregate

• Service Rifle: Michael Borkon, 73, Mission Hills, Kan. – 1553-48X
• Match Rifle: Ronald Zerr, 61, Tucson, Ariz. – 1578-70X

Jess Mellen, 49, of Phoenix, Ariz., led the Service Rifle EIC HP match with a score of 485-11X.

See a complete list of results of the 2023 Western Fall Classic at this link.

Learn more about CMP at thecmp.org.