Reigning World Champion Cowgirl Tammy Billingsley dominated all 279 competitors, winning the Overall title and sharing in a cash payout of over $82,975 at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association Jeffers National Championship at the Paul Battle Jr. Arena in Tunica, Miss., on Saturday, April 20.
Cowboy competing in mounted shooting contest
Cowboy mounted shooting competitions continue to grow in popularity throughout the United States with ever-larger payouts and more competitors.
Billingsley, a Ladies-6-class competitor from Darby, Mont., posted an overall time of 80.363 through five stages, topping any other competitor, male or female (CMSA competition is structured by gender and tiered from Levels 1-6). She adds the Jeffers National title to the CMSA Colt Winter U.S. Championship she won in Queen Creek, Ariz., in February.
The 2013 Jeffers National Championship, held over four days from April 16-20, marked the 10th straight year the CMSA has visited Tunica. In addition to the precedent-setting payout, winning competitors also took home trophy buckles, 11 revolvers, and two rifles, among other prizes.
"We couldn’t be more pleased," said CMSA Executive Director Andrea Lamoreaux. “The number of competitors, the payout, and quality of the production all reflect the kind of growth our sport is experiencing.” President Dan Plaster added “There is no question that after this event, all money pay out records will be broken this year for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. We should be approaching the million dollar point. We’d like to thank our Sponsors and the CMSA members, better known as the CMSA family of friends.
John Giannasi won the Overall Men’s title, with a time of 82.318. In specialized competition, Chad Little won the Rifle competition, Matt Sronce took the Shotgun title, and Eric Ryan Anderson won in the Cavalry class.
AQHA Classes were won by: Heithe Williams – Amateur 85.37, Tammy Billingsley – Open 80.36, Glenda Wilson – Select Amateur 94.13, and Lisa DeGeare – Youth 93.81.
APHA Classes were won by: Cate Flechsig – Amateur Classic 116.56, Thomas Porter – Amateur Master 98.62, and Sarah Sales – Youth 116.43.