Marksmen from across Western Canada gathered here May 30-31 for the Tweedsmuir Park Rod & Gun Club鈥檚 40th Annual 1000 Yard Shoot.

Dallas Matson, vice-president of the sporting organization, said approximately 50 shooters competed in the two-day event, some from as far away as Saskatchewan. She added that the scores turned in were some of the best in recent memory.

鈥淚t was incredible,鈥� said Matson, who also competed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best shooting years that I can remember, and this is my ninth year of participating. We had an amazing group of shooters. They came from Saskatchewan, the Yukon, Alberta 鈥� all over.鈥�

Although the annual shoot has drawn more participants in the past, Matson said club members consider this year鈥檚 event a tremendous success 鈥� in part because of the support received from businesses.

鈥淲e had outstanding sponsors. I don鈥檛 know if it was because this was our 40th year or what, but everyone really stepped up,鈥� she stressed. 鈥淲e had three new guns, some scopes, and a lot of other great prizes鈥� I want to emphasize that we wouldn鈥檛 be able to do this without sponsors and volunteers.鈥�

Although most of the competitors were veteran shooters, Matson noted that more young people are getting involved in the event.

The results of this year鈥檚 shoot, listed from first to third place, were as follows:

Men鈥檚 Sporting Rifle: Lincoln Edward (4.1875鈥� group); Brian Bamsey (7.4375鈥�, 5.75鈥� in shoot off); Steve Wilks (7.4375鈥�, 11.625鈥� in shoot-off).

Men鈥檚 Heavy Barrel: Brad Waddell (4.0鈥�); second 鈥� Ron Edward (4.0625鈥�); Rocky Sayles (4.6875鈥�).

Lady鈥檚 Sporting Rifle: Nicole Gerow (9.5625鈥�); Lisa Burnes (10.125鈥�); Dallas Matson (11.0625鈥�).

Lady鈥檚 Heavy Barrel: Cierra Verduzco (7.125鈥�); Nicole Gerow (10.625鈥�); Karla Matson (11.0鈥�).

Unlimited: Ron Edward (5.5鈥�); Rolf Johnson (6.5鈥�); Bill Watt (6.75鈥�, 4.5625鈥� in shoot-off).

Senior High Aggregate Score: Ron Ball (145); Rolf Johnson (142); Lincoln Edward (141).

Junior High Aggregate Score: Cierra Verduzco (130); Noah Gustafson (114); Andrew Johnson (103).

Hunter Class: Cierra Verduzco (3.1875鈥�); Bill Watt (4.125鈥�); Don Stevenson (4.9375鈥�).

Junior 13-18 (Boys/Girls): Noah Gustafson (6.0鈥�); Cierra Verduzco (8.875鈥�); Andrew Johnson (13.625鈥�).

Low Aggregate Group: Lincoln Edward (17.1875); Bill Watt (18.375); Ron Edward (20.8125).

Junior Low Aggregate Group: Cierra Verduzco (19.1875); Noah Gustafson (31.25); Andrew Johnson (31.875鈥�).

Standing Gong: Ron Edward. Egg Shoot: Travis Matson.

The Team Shoot was won this year by Team 3 (Keenan Shutes, Lincoln Edward, Ron Ball, Rocky Sayles, Shane Krikke, and Charlene Gustafson) with a low aggregate group of 197.94.