JERICHO, Vt. – CPT Cliffton Allen and CW3 Cara Krauss of the Vermont Army National Guard came to win at the 2023 New England CMP Games and Highpower Matches, held in Vermont in September. The pair led 11 different pistol competitions, collectively, during the event – including a joint victory in the 2-Man Pistol Team match.
Individually, Krauss, 42, of Bristol, VT, set a new match record score in the Military & Police Service Pistol competition that had been in place since 2018, reaching 379-12X overall. Allen, 37, New of Port Center, VT, not only overtook the 40 Shot Pistol Match but went on to find the top spot in each of the Pistol Aggregate Any Sight competitions (.22 Rimfire, Center Fire, .45 Pistol and 2700 Aggregate).
Also giving noteworthy pistol performances was SFC Dwayne Lewis, 57, of Greenville, SC, who set two new records in his Metallic Sight wins in the Aggregate matches, while TSgt Christopher DeForge, 36, of Hampton, VA, dominated the .22 Aggregates.
The annual New England Games features CMP’s own exciting lineup of vintage and modern military rifle and pistol competitions, designed for everyone to enjoy. The events are suitable for those just beginning in the sport of marksmanship while offering fun challenges for more experienced individuals.
This year, for the first time, the New England Games added a Mid-Range 3×600 Rifle Match, featuring Service Rifle, Match Rifle, Palma, F-Class, F T/R and AR Tactical classes.
Leading the first New England Games Mid-Range 3×600 Service Rifle event was SSG Verne Conant, 27, of Cataula, GA, with a score of 394-30X. Conant, a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, is fresh off an outstanding win in the prestigious President’s Rifle Match held at the 2023 National Matches in July. He arrived at New England Games to not only claim the overall spot in the Mid-Range Match but also led the Carbine Match and Service Rifle 2400 Aggregate, where he set a new match record score.
Other results of the first New England Games Mid-Range 3×600 were:
Match Rifle/Any Sights: SFC Dwayne Lewis, 57, Greenville, SC – 596-28X
F-Class: Kevin Clark, 33, Bristol, VT – 574-13X
F T/R: Gene Lyman, 62, Burlington, VT – 572-10X
AR Tactical: James Horton, 66, Gaithersburg, MD – 573-14X
Palma: No competitors
Also earning multiple wins in rifle events was CDR Thomas Lowry, 60, of Waynesboro, PA, who claimed both the Garand Match and the Vintage Military Match. MAJ Ian Swisher, 37, of Rockville, MD, brought home victories in the Springfield Match and within the Four-Gun Aggregate for consistent high scores in the Garand, Springfield, Vintage and Modern Military events.
Brian Williams, 49, of Granby, MA, set an additional match record in the 2400 Rifle Aggregate in the Match Rifle Category, with a score of 2362-94X.
Other overall Competitors of the 2023 New England Games:
Pistol:
M9 EIC Pistol: David Webb, 63, Harrisville, NH – 207-1X
40 Shot Pistol: CPT Cliffton Allen, 37, New Port Center, VT – 359-10X
CMP .22 Rimfire Pistol EIC: CW3 Cara Krauss, 42, Bristol, VT – 281-5X
Pistol EIC: CW3 Cara Krauss, 42, Bristol, VT – 272-3X
EIC Service Revolver: CPT Cliffton Allen, 37, New Port Center, VT – 338-4X
2-Man Pistol Team: Vermont Army National Guard (Krauss, Allen) – 521-6X
As-Issued 1911 Pistol: CW3 Cara Krauss, 42, Bristol, VT – 374-5X
Military & Police Service Pistol: CW3 Cara Krauss, 42, Bristol, VT – 379-12X
.22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: CPT Cliffton Allen, 37, New Port Center, VT – 846-23X
Metallic Sights: SFC Dwayne Lewis, 57, Greenville, SC – 756-9X
.22 Only: TSgt Christopher DeForge, 36, Hampton, VA – 788-15X
Center Fire 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: CPT Cliffton Allen, 37, New Port Center, VT – 843-25X
Metallic Sights: SFC Dwayne Lewis, 57, Greenville, SC – 795-18X (new record)
.22 Only: TSgt Christopher DeForge, 36, Hampton, VA – 789-12X
.45 Pistol 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: CPT Cliffton Allen, 37, New Port Center, VT – 830-22X
Metallic Sights: SFC Dwayne Lewis, 57, Greenville, SC – 751-10X
.22 Only: TSgt Christopher DeForge, 36, Hampton, VA – 786-13X
Pistol 2700 Aggregate:
Any Sights: CPT Cliffton Allen, 37, New Port Center, VT – 2519-70X
Metallic Sights: SFC Dwayne Lewis, 57, Greenville, SC – 2302-37X (new record)
.22 Only: TSgt Christopher DeForge, 36, Hampton, VA – 2363-40X
Rifle:
Rimfire Sporter:
O-Class: Bruce Baroffio, 65, Northfield, VT – 572-17X
T-Class: David Chase, 54, Tujunga, CA – 589-37X
TU Class: Robert Pestridge, 60, Marathon, NY – 565-13X
Carbine Match: SSG Verne Conant, 27, Cataula, GA – 363-2X
Garand Match: CDR Thomas Lowry, 60, Waynesboro, PA – 289-9X
Springfield Match: MAJ Ian Swisher, 37, Rockville, MD – 283-2X
Vintage Military Match: CDR Thomas Lowry, 60, Waynesboro, PA – 286-6X
Modern Military Match: Stephen Bukowsky, 36, Clinton, CT – 295-10X
Three-Gun Aggregate: Michael Speary, 49, Cortland, NY – 842-12X
Four-Gun Aggregate: MAJ Ian Swisher, 37, Rockville, MD – 1130-18X
Vintage Sniper Team, Manual: Muhls Raiders (Sgt Lynn Stanton, Van Dyke Bergen) – 392-12X
Highpower Rifle:
4-Man Team: USAMU (SP4 Dustin Carr, SSG Verne Conant, SSG Jacob Blackburn, PVT Amber Kingshill) – 1962-77X
EIC Rifle: SP4 Dustin Carr, 22, Fort Benning, GA – 495-24X
2400 Aggregate:
Service Rifle: SSG Verne Conant, 27, Cataula, GA – 2379-101X
Match Rifle: Brian Williams, 49, Granby, MA – 2362-94X
For a complete list of results, visit https://ct.thecmp.org/23NEGamesResults. Find photos of the event and download for free at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f691026397. Save the Date for 2024 – we’ll be back in Vermont September 21-29, 2024.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
