Bragging father...

[Murgatroy]

So it is no secret that my heathen was raised around guns. She has been shooting since she was four years old. She started with a single shot bolt action .22 rimfire rifle and has progressed to where she can and does shoot an AR at the range.

As she turned 9 last year she was eligible for 4H Shooting Sports this season. We signed her up and her first practice was in April. At her very first practice her coach inquired as to her experience shooting. I explained that she had a handful of years under her and I hoped he didn't have to unteach too much of what I had taught her. To my mild surprise he stated that she was a pure natural and asked if she would be interested in shooting the first match of the season, less than two months away.

The Heathen is right handed, but left eye dominant. I have raised her to shoot left handed rifle. I am also cross dominant and it has never hindered me to shoot off-hand to my dominant eye. The coaches embraced this and let her do her own thing. They are all very impressed with her. They call her a natural and have been teaching her on Target Air Rifle, Sport Air Rifle, Target .22 and Sport .22. She also shoots archery. With a recurve. Nearly alone in that discipline as nearly everyone else shoots compound (bare, hunting and target.)

The coaches are awesome, and have gone as far as to special order her a left handed Target Air Rifle and a left handed Target .22. They have that much faith in her talent.

And on to that talent.

Saturday was a dreary rainy day in Kentucky. But it didn't stop her. It was her first competition with less than two months experience on a Target Air Rifle.

She placed 3rd.

We are beyond thrilled.

[MacGyver]

That's awesome!

I know you're super proud.  

[Pete123]

Whoa!  That is totally awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trekbike]

Tell that heathen congrats and keep it up!  

I know you're a proud dad for sure.    

[Sidecarist]

Her off hand form looks very good! It sounds like you have found some good coaches for her. That is so awsome!

In my rifle league before moving to TN I had the pleasure to be thoroughly beaten by 2 young ladies that went on to school at UT Knox and one is an alternate for the Olympic team.

She deserves to be bragged on by her proud dad

[RED333]

Well aint that great and a RED head

[Murgatroy]

Proud doesn't even begin to describe it. She and I have always had fun shooting. Her mother accepts it, but doesn't participate much.

 

We did the soccer thing for several years, but she didn't enjoy it. As soon as she was eligible for this she asked to join. The idea is to help her with her concentration, patience and attention. She is amazing when she has the rifle in her hands.

 

There were several hundred kids at the competition Saturday. The coaches had stated several times that they expected her to place, but when I saw the sheer number of competitors, I wasn't as certain. She however was. 

 

She had a lot of fun.

 

Some of the alumni of the county team have gone on to the UK Shooting Team, which is now the Heathen's goal.

[Sidecarist]

UT & UK probably have the best shooting programs in the us outside the military schools.

As long as it's fun it will build her personal character and responsibility. 

This just makes me smile.

[R1100R]

What a great job. I know your very proud. 

[Obiwan]

That's awesome. Congrats to you both! Hope she'll bring home many more trophies.

[DWARREN123]

Congrats to her and you.

Just keep it fun.

[KahrMan]

That's awesome. Congrats!!

[Dirtshooter]

Congrats to this young lady shooter. Tell her to keep it fun and in the 10 ring!!

[raildog]

That's awesome and congratulations and just think in a few years you will not even need to have your gun out cleaning it when the boys come over lol

[No_0ne]

Congratulations to both her and you, that's a great accomplishment.  Especially considering she shoots from the wrong side ...

[TripleGGG]

Congratulations.  Wonderful to see.  Enjoy every moment.  Miss my girls being that young.  We spent a lot of time camping on the lake and shooting.  Proud for you as well.  Great parenting. 

[buck1032]

That is outstanding! As I have never met you I have to assume that pretty little lady takes her great looks from her mother,  

[Grand Torino]

This has the beginnings of an amazing story. Congratulations to you both.

[Dolomite_supafly]

That is amazing man. Glad she is excited about it, it will be the younger generation that saves our sport.

[angler]

Congratulations!!! KNOW YOU ARE SUPER PROUD OF YOUR DAUGHTER!!!

[BigK]

Kudos!! I know how proud I'd be, if I was you. My daughter was nowhere near that good at at that age, but I was proud. I wish she'd stuck to it, but she lost interest when she got in high school. Cherish it while you can and I hope for your sake she never loses interest.

[WindHawk]

Fantastic Murgatroy.  Long ago I did the full 4-H program; all 10 years.  No shooting program then but I worked the rifle range at the camp in Columbia, TN during summer camp every year.  I'm currently training to be a 4-H shooting sports coach next year.  Maybe we'll have some success with our kids and I'll get to watch her at a meet some day. 

[Murgatroy]

They invited to me to volunteer and coach, but I am afraid with my work commitments I would not be able to fully commit. They have 8(?) disciplines, and each requires a weekend of training, offered twice a year. It is only $250 for each certification, but I work seven days a week, so being able to be useful would be another matter entirely. My wife is currently stepping up and filling in as the coordinator, so we at least have one member of the family volunteering.

[jpx2rk]

One more congrats to the list, know you are proud.  Hope she continues to enjoy the sport and spend time with you.  

[ou812]

Congrats to you both.