Almost 40 Years!!
The annual National Matches has welcomed rifle and pistol competitors of all ages from around the country and the world since 1903. Moving to its current home at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility in Ohio in 1907, thousands of guests travel to the event each July and August to take part in the several competitive, educational and purchasing opportunities offered on the grounds.
Attending the National Matches has become a tradition that has moved through the generations, with some returning year after year, without fail. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), the entity that has helped facilitate the National Matches since 1996, has compiled a list of recognition of those who have attended the event for 20, 30 or even 50 years. These individuals have spent decades of their lives devoted to marksmanship, celebrating its legacy each summer on the shores of Lake Erie, and we at the CMP thank them for their unwavering support.
Larry Hayner – Almost 40 Years!!
Larry L. Hayner, 83, of Saginaw, Michigan, has been a regular to the National Matches for 39 years.
“If the pandemic had not shut down 2020, I would have had 40 years,” he said.
His first National Matches was in 1962. He attended again in 1963 as a member of the Michigan National Guard Shooting Team, where he earned leg points toward his Distinguished Rifleman Badge.
After taking a small break from highpower competition, he got back into the sport around 1980, where he fired in the prestigious President’s Rifle Match. He eventually earned a spot on the honorary President’s 100 as one of the Top 100 highest scoring competitors of the match.
In 1982, he doubled his marksmanship role by becoming the Michigan Junior High Power Team coach/coordinator.
“I have attended as a competitor every year since,” he said.
Over the years, he has competed in both CMP and National Rifle Association events, such as Long Range and the recreational CMP Games competitions.
“The Games are great,” Hayner said. “This keeps the competitors coming back.”
He went on. “I have experienced the changes that have taken place through the years, in particular from DCM to CMP. From Gary Anderson to the current staff, the leadership has been outstanding. I appreciate the response to shooters concerns.”
He plans on returning to the National Matches in 2021.
“Going for the 40,” he said.
CMP looks forward to welcoming our competitors to the firing line at Camp Perry in 2021! To download a schedule of events, please visit https://thecmp.org/competitions/matches/cmp-national-matches/.
–By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Staff Writer
It’s time to determine some bragging rights! We’d like to recognize those individuals who have attended the most National Matches at Camp Perry. Tell us – when was your first year? How many years have you attended? Do you know of anyone else who you think could qualify? Those who we find have earned the “Most/Longest Attended” title will be highlighted in an upcoming CMP article. Let us show you off! You’ve earned it – comment below or email abrugnone@thecmp.org. (And we love old photos too!)
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.
