European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 23, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse By gun safety and marksmanship program right on target clockwise from above Josh Hatch is on target for the Best male shooter title Jennifer Taylor fires off a shot on her Way to Best female shooter and Peter Kessell 8, puts away his Rifle with the help of an unidentified assistant from the Heidelberg team. By Doyle Tillman Kaiserslautern Bureau Osh Hatch and Jennifer Taylor emerged As top guns during Competition in the 1994 Usa eur Daisy by gun championship earlier this month in Baum older Germany. The smooth bore Airgun shooting match tested the skills of 30 shooters Ages 8-15 years from six teams sponsored by three Rod and gun clubs in Germany. Baum older the Host club fielded one team while the Kaiserslautern club sent two and Heidelberg entered three. V -. ". The teams included five competitive shooters and up to two alternates. Only the Baum older team allowed an alternate to fire at the stiff paper bulls Eye targets 16 feet away. Her score was not a Factor in the team s standing. Kaiserslautern team 2 won the shooting match. The team finished with 1,089 Points to out shoot Heidelberg team 1, second with 1,044 Points and Kaiserslautern team 1, third with 994 Points. Hatch 14, amassed 269 Points to win the Best male shooter trophy. He shot As a member of Kaiserslautern Rod and gun club s team 1. Taylor 12, fired her Way to 260 Points to earn tie Competition s Best female shooter trophy. She was a member of Heidelberg Rod and gun club s team 2. Rayarine Herbert 9 and a teammate of Taylor a was honoured As the most improved shooter during the awards presentation. The championship shoot out and recent evolution of Airgun clubs in Europe s american communities Are the result of months of work for the youth oriented program. In May plans for Airgun shooting clubs for youth won the Blessing of senior . Army Europe Legal officials after the International Law division negotiated an exception to German Law. The exception was required because German Law prohibits children younger than 12 from handling airguns according to Judy Dyson Koensgen. Dyson Koensgen is Usa eur s morale welfare and recreation programs Branch commercial sponsorship officer and principal Contact for the new Usa eur Daisy by gun safety and educational program. Usa eur mar gave Daisy the go ahead to deliver Airgun club kits to seven army and one air Force club that expressed interest. The kits which included four Daisy Model 499 target by air rifles along with More than 4,200 bus targets and gun safety material for teachers and students arrived in june and july. The purpose of the program is twofold according to Dyson Koensgen. Organizers want to educate youngsters about gun handling and safety and to increase Rod and gun club profits. To Date profit has not been a Factor for the Usa eur program. None of the Rod and gun clubs is charging youth Nick Gomez 8, fires from the prone position. Contestants had to shoot from sitting kneeling and standing positions Competition. -. V. A. ". ". Xiva " ,. To participate in the educational program. It s something Rod and gun clubs can do for the youth said Dave Stalder Baum older club manager. Outside of fishing there has not been that much directed toward the youth. In the past the clubs have catered to the soldiers and we wanted to do something for the youth Init he family As Stalder said there could be a minimal charge something along the line of 50 cents per visit next season to cover costs bus and weapons repairs. Nothing is a a a a a. To participate youth attended a three Day certification course which focused on gun safety and proper handling of a weapon. The course was required to shoot in Competition. A v " v at the Kaiserslautern club coach Tony Gentile said his shooters practice once a week for two hours at a time. The practice paid off As Kaiserslautern teams dominated the first european Competition. Nine year old Connie James a member of Kaiserslautern team 1, was eager to participate because she said i always wanted to shoot. James wears a Patch Over her right Eye which Gentile explained was necessary for the Young left hander because she cannot completely close her right Eye. The Patch provides the same effect As a closed Eye allowing her to concentrate on aiming. Ian and Andrew Petrotta 8-year-old twins from Kaiserslautern have been shooting for about three months for the fun of it met the Short time they have been with Thi club they say they Learned important gun safety pointers. You should never Point a gun at people. It might be loaded said Ian. Andrew added you should treat every Gurvas if it were the top shooting female Jennifer Taylor said she has been shooting for about three to four years and prefers a .22-caliber Rifle. The 12-year-old shooter attributes her Nicks and his Heidelberg teammates took second in the interest in the sport to her dad who Hunts and her experiences at Camp i Lahee . Since Jennifer joined the Heidelberg shooting club i be Learned a Little More about safety concentration and the positions. Before i would shoot for the Competition she said now it s More for fun.". Jennifer s father said she has the Eye for it an attention to grinning he said Jennifer s Mother shoots better than he does and Jennifer shoots better than brother John 8. Looking ahead to next season Chris Harvard who represented Daisy Airgun at the Competition said he Hopes to have eight clubs with three or four teams each beyond the German Borders Harvard Hopes to get at least one of those clubs set up in England. Also next season program officials Hope to get american shooters in Europe entered in the nationals. Shooting Competition in the states. Ready aim fire from left Marshall Neuhaus 14 Michael lamed 12 Brian kirkendallf13 and twins Andrew and Ian Perrotta,8, oath winning Kaiserslautern team 2. Is photos by Doyle Tillman i -4ii 20 the stars and stripes wednesday november 23,1994 the stars and stripes 21
