Jan NC News

 

 

 

On January 9^th the MMSA held its annual banquet to celebrate another successful year of shooting, gaining new members, and maintaining friendships.  Kelly Gray and Deb Powell organized the banquet and our hats are off to them for doing such a wonderful job.  About eighty people attended and everyone went home with a prize. Besides having a lot of talented riders, the MMSA is also proud of our members that generously donated products, prizes and their time-it is greatly appreciated. 

 

For the second time Kevin Gustafson and Melinda Bullford won top honors as Overall Cowboy and Cowgirl for 2009.  Reserve Cowboy was Jason Gray and Reserve Cowgirl was Tosha Barthel.  Kevin Gustafson and Tosha Barthel also won in Rifle.

 

We are looking forward to getting 2010 underway with another fun-filled year.

 

Wisconsin’s Mounted Justice Club held its annual awards banquet and dinner on January 16, with many wonderful prizes to the top ten shooters in both Mens and Ladies divisions. Tim McDonald won Overall Cowboy, followed closely by Vern Vesperman as Reserve. Robin Weir won Overall Cowgirl in the Ladies division, followed by Jen Miller as Reserve Cowgirl. Top Rifle award went to Vern Vesperman, outscoring Tim McDonald by just enough points.  One Wrangler award was also give to Moriah Bell, and the contests for Best-Dressed Cowboy and Cowgirl, along with Couple, were exciting, with Gary & Katz Jackson winning first place. Most Improved Cowgirl went to Sandra Baird, and Most Improved Cowboy went to Clay Vesperman. John Roach’s big paint, George, was voted in for Most Improved Horse, and all were heartily congratulated for their great efforts and performances this past year. A lively auction of donated items resulted in extra funds for the club, and much friendly auction bantering. Exciting hunting and fishing expeditions await the lucky bidders, along with creative bird homes designed by Dave Halmsted.

 

The new year of shooting already began in Wisconsin on January 2^nd, 2010 at Heartland Stables in Custer. Welcome, New Year!! The weather was frigidly cold, but bright and sunny, and once horses were inside the partially heated barn, and riders were properly bundled up, the shooting went smoothly.   When final scores were tallied, Vern Vesperman, aka “Man on Fire”, had lit his torch and led the pack in first place, winning over Loren Adrian, Tim McDonald, and Gary Jackson, in that order. Rifle shooters were fewer in number, but every bit as competitive, and even more so, as they rallied for first place. The New Year welcomed back “six rifle shooters”, Loren Adrian, Vern Vesperman, Jason Gray, Gary Jackson, Tim McDonald, and Montie Szydel.

 

On a final note, we’re all happy to welcome back shooter and soldier, Jess Starks, into our MJ ranks. We hope to see her and her old-time favorite shooting horse, Timex, at our shoots this year as she returns from her deployment in Iraq.