Experience is prize at Governor’s Match

Posted 8/13/20

As the sound of lead dinging targets at the 2020 Wyoming Magpul Governor’s Match came to an end, none of the Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club 3-gun team members were headed for the podium. But …

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Experience is prize at Governor’s Match

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As the sound of lead dinging targets at the 2020 Wyoming Magpul Governor’s Match came to an end, none of the Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club 3-gun team members were headed for the podium. But they had a blast.

The event, held at the Cody Shooting Complex July 31 to Aug. 2, drew some of the top shooters from across the nation. Professional shooter Tyler Payne, of Georgia, won the 12 stage, multi-gun match. Payne was followed by Josh Wakamatsu and Garrison England.

The women’s competition was won by Dakota Overland, of Minnesota. Lanny Barnes took the silver and Dianna Muller took bronze.

Casey McFarlin, of Cody, was the top competitor for the nine-member Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club, finishing 157th out of 226. He’s a trainer at the Cody Firearms Experience and one of the top shooters at the Powell club. Getting to meet a lot of the high profile competitive shooters at the match will help club shooters in future matches, he said. McFarlin also took note of the organization and features at the competition, hoping to help the local club with their future matches.

“Competing against world-class competitors helps us grow as a club, especially with things that we can do to further the shooting sports within our community,” McFarlin said.

Four Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club shooters participated in the 2019 match as well.

“We got addicted to it so we all came back,” said Dane Austin, of Powell.

The team was troubled by equipment failures, he said. “The dust and dirt was everybody’s downfall.”

Daniel Michael, of Cody, got more than a little dust in his gun. While competing in the ninth stage during day two of the three-day competition — a three-gun competition — he got his thumb caught in the lifter while loading his shotgun between targets and on the run. He came back from the run bleeding.

“I smashed it up good,” Michael said. “I believe I yelled a swear.”

The number of competitors was low this year, off by about half due to the worries of traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, competitors traveled from across the nation to Cody and the parking lot at the complex was filled with tags from Florida to California.

“I love having it here. It’s a great venue,” Michael said of the Cody Shooting Complex. “It’s really good to see that despite everything we’re still having a match. There’s over 200 registered shooters from all over the country. So it’s really cool to see and it’s a really great atmosphere.”

Cord Beirman drove in from California to volunteer as a range safety officer.

“I don’t think a lot of people understand, it’s not just about competition,” he said. “You’d be amazed at the sportsmanship that you see.”

Beirman loves the venue in Cody — not just the complex facilities, but the neighborhood. The 2021 governor’s match will be held in Cheyenne, but “I’d rather be here. I love this place,” he said. “I absolutely love the people here. I love the town. And I love the steakhouses; last night I polished off a 20-ounce prime rib.”

The crew at the Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club schedules monthly competitions, open to the public to join or watch. The next match is Sept. 12 at 8 a.m., McFarlin said. As the weather turns, the group will move inside the Cody Firearms Experience and continue competing through the winter.

For more information, check out the club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Powellgunclub.

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