Added Awards for the NRA Silhouette Championships

[Jason]

Got this in my NRA Competitive Shooting Division news today. Maybe they got enough feedback on the old awards not being very highly "prized"...

Added Awards for the NRA Silhouette Championships

We are spending a great deal of time looking at our National Championships awards schedules and making changes where we think changes are needed. NRA Competitive Shooting Staff members have recommended that our National Silhouette Championships need to be provided more in the way of awards.

We will initiate a new Visa Gift Card program for our 2010 National Silhouette Championships. Starting this year we will provide a $400.00 Visa Gift Card to the Champion of each Silhouette Championship, $200.00 Visa Gift Card for 2nd place and a $100.00 Visa Gift Card for our 3rd place winners. This will mean a $10,000.00 increase in the National Silhouette Championship award schedule. NRA Visa Gift Cards will be added to the current award schedules.

[BCloninger]

Wow! As if the NRA Points weren't incentive enough!

Must have taken "suggestions" from the same two folks that got the animals pointed the right way...

[Innocent]

Hate to say this but probably too little too late. Doubt it will pick up the attendance much, and my opinion is that these awards are now turning it into a professional sport, some issues with college and juniors on that.

As much as the dust collectors are just that, people tend to like them.

Mary

[Jason]

If I were good enough to actually win a national championship, I would much rather have a big, fat trophy that I could show off than a Visa gift card.

[atomicbrh]

Back in the racing days when they gave me the real check(the little one not the one they take your picture with) and no trophy I would make a copy of the check on really nice paper and frame it to have the dust collector award on the wall of the shop. Then run to the bank and deposit it to help pay the racing bills.

Red Farmer(a well known short track racer on a budget) years ago would pull his right rear tire off after winning big money, write the date, prize money amount and location of the race on the tire and throw it up in the open rafters of his shop. That way as he was working in the shop he could occasionally look up at the fond momentos of his career.

Bobby R. Huddleston

[Another Dang 9]

I guess were in the "everyone gets a trophy" era.

[BCloninger]

I guess were in the "everyone gets a trophy" era.

I've got the cure for that - take one of my classes. Then don't study. And remember - I'm the easy teacher.

[Innocent]

take one of my classes. Then don't study.

Study, what is that? Books? You mean I have to spend as much for the books as I did for the class? What makes you think I know how to read, after all I never went to school. Besides, most of the books are written by you prof's just for making more money.

Innocent

[BCloninger]

take one of my classes. Then don't study.

Study, what is that? Books? You mean I have to spend as much for the books as I did for the class? What makes you think I know how to read, after all I never went to school. Besides, most of the books are written by you prof's just for making more money.

Innocent

Darn the luck! Instructors that know what they're talking about and care enough to have expectations! How dare us!

I have seen textbooks written by professors and updated every year so the old ones were were worthless: I took us off that gravy train and stabilized on a current text that's good for at least three-five years with current handouts and articles to supplement their studies. How dare I go to extra effort to save the little tykes money!

Teachers, most of them, definitely do it for love, not money. When I grow up, I hope to be good at this.

[Innocent]

When I grow up,

I hope I never grow up...and if I do all I want to be is beautiful(and a good silhouette shooter)!

Innocent

[RBriscoe]

Hate to say this but probably too little too late. Doubt it will pick up the attendance much, and my opinion is that these awards are now turning it into a professional sport, some issues with college and juniors on that.

As much as the dust collectors are just that, people tend to like them.

Mary

Yes, indeed. I have seen some juniors very carefully decline prizes at the awards ceremony so that there are a bunch of people who will remember that they did not accept it.

I am not sure just what the NRA realistically expects to accomplish with these awards, but we shall see.

[Jerry G]

Its hard to stretch people in our sport into the definition. I don't know anyone that makes a living shooting silhouette.

pro·fes·sion·al - participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs b : having a particular profession as a permanent career

[Innocent]

Jerry, the NCAA does not look at it that way. And even if they are trying to compete in another sport it can apply to the NCAA rules.

Mary

[rogersptl]

The information I saw indicated the Visa awards were to be in addition to the present award system. My suggestion was to place those VISA $ into door prizes to allow the whole field a chance. The reply I rec'd was they would concider it. How much chance does a B, A or AA shooter have if the $ awards are going to the top 3?? We need to encourage all to participate at nationals. Didnt the NCAA change to allow expense money to be won? My 2 cents.

[RBriscoe]

Roger,

Exactly!

Mary,

You are quite correct. Accepting a prize for winning a competition can cost a young kid their amateur status...and a chance at a scholarship for a sport, including shooting. Even without a scholarship, they may have lost their ability to play in the sport because of the loss of their amateur status. There are some great (Title 9) opportunities for the young ladies at the collegiate level. (I am not 100% sure, but it may be possible that the NRA could make any awards to Juniors a contribution to a college fund, but that is getting rather involved and still might be a problem.

Regards,

Rick