News: USPSA Aquires Steel Challenge

[TGO David]

USPSA Acquires Steel Challenge

Sedro-Woolley, WA — The United States Practical Shooting Association announced that it has acquired the Steel Challenge and the Steel Challenge Shooting Association from founders Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman.

“The Steel Challenge is a natural fit for USPSA and we look forward to both growing the match as well as Steel Shooting in general,” said Dave Thomas, Executive Director of USPSA. “One of our primary goals is to greatly expand the role of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association here in the US and internationally. Working closely with our more than 16,000 members and 350 affiliated clubs, we see a very bright future for the Steel Challenge.”

The Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships were founded in 1981 with just 70 shooters competing for $20,000 in cash and prizes that first year. In the 26 years since, the match has grown to become one of the crown jewels of the shooting circuit and the premier professional pistol competition with more than 220 of the world’s fastest shooters competing for over $390,000 in cash and prizes in 2007.

“We founded the Steel Challenge out of our love for the shooting sports. We wanted a match that was challenging and fun but would also be easily understood by non-shooters who would see the competition and find within themselves a greater desire to join the shooting sports,” said Mike Fichman.

“The fact that today the Steel Challenge is the premier shooting competition with competitors travelling from around the world to compete gives us great pride. We have watched this match grow far beyond what we could have ever imagined 26 years ago. However, we realized that our once small match is now at a point that requires greater resources to move to the next level and USPSA has the expertise and organizational structure to do just that,” said Mike Dalton.

Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman, regarded as two of the most accomplished shooting event organizers and promoters, will stay on through the 2008 championships to insure a smooth transition with sponsors and competitors as well as train USPSA personnel on running the Steel Challenge. Dalton and Fichman will also serve as Match Directors for the 2008 Steel Challenge which will again be held in Piru, CA, August 14-17.

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About USPSA: The United States Practical Shooting Association is a non-profit membership association affiliated with the International Practical Shooting Confederation (I.P.S.C.), which is comprised of approximately 67 nations. USPSA’s 16,000+ members and 350 affiliated clubs make it the largest and fastest growing Practical Shooting sport.

About the Steel Challenge: The Steel Challenge will be held Thursday through Sunday, August 14-17 in Piru, CA. To learn more about the Steel Challenge visit the Web site at www.steelchallenge.com where you will find diagrams of the stages of fire, complete listing of the 2007 results, past champions and more.

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[TGO David]

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