The Bianchi Cup
The Bianchi Cup is a major action pistol tournament in the United States, held in May at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Missouri. It is hailed as the premier action pistol championship tournament in the world. The Bianchi Cup is the only major shooting tournament that has retained its original course of fire since its inception.
 The Bianchi Cup is now the CMP Bianchi Cup | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Action Pistol |
| Location | Hallsville, Missouri |
| Established | 1979 |
| Administrator | Civilian Marksmanship Program |
Tournament format(s) | Multi-day, multi-stage Tournament |
| Venue | Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club |
Due to the diversity of stages,[1] the tournament is widely considered one of the most difficult championships in all of the shooting sports.[2][3]
In 2023, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) took over the match and rebranded it the CMP Bianchi Cup. [4] Title sponsor of the CMP Bianchi Cup is the MidwayUSA.
CMP Bianchi Cup events
The CMP Bianchi Cup consists of four events: the Practical Event, Moving Target (Mover) Event, Barricade Event, and the Falling Plates Event. Competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with strong and weak hands at various stages. There are no makeup shots in the CMP Bianchi Cup, adding to its difficulty. Competitors fire in Open, Metallic, Production and Production Optic classes within each event.
The Practical Event: Competitors fire at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits from the shooting line.
The Barricade Event: Competitors fire at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits from within shooting boxes and behind barricades.
The Falling Plate Event: Competitors fire at eight-inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
The Moving Target Event: Competitors fire from within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards at a target moving from left to right, with the target exposed for six seconds.
The event draws top shooters from all over the world. Past international competitors have hailed from Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Saudi Arabia (1987–1989), Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan (1996), Thailand (1993 and 1994), and the United Kingdom.
Bianchi Cup History
The Bianchi cup is the second longest running pistol championship in the world. The event was created in 1979 by former police officer John Bianchi of holster maker Bianchi International as a Law Enforcement Training Match, in conjunction with 1975 IPSC World Champion, Ray Chapman[5][6] and Richard Nichols. The first Bianchi Cup competition was held in 1979.[7] In 1984, the National Rifle Association re-designated the event the NRA Bianchi Cup, National Action Pistol Championship. The competition has four stages, which make up the match aggregate. Each of these stages consists of 48 rounds for a total possible score of 480 for each stage and 1920 for a perfect overall score.
The Bianchi Cup is traditionally held the week before Memorial Day weekend (i.e. the week before the last Monday in May) every year since its inception in 1979. It is the first tournament that turns the sport of competition shooting as a whole from amateur to professional status by offering the winner a large cash prize in addition to trophies.
Before NRA took control in 1984, the overall winner took home the entire cash purse of $30,000 in addition to the Bianchi Cup itself. It has its origins in the law enforcement shooting community. With the creation of the Production Division, it has become one of the fastest growing disciplines in the action shooting community.
The first NRA World Action Pistol Championship match was held in the United States at the present home of the NRA Bianchi Cup in Columbia, MO. The year 1994 was the first time there were five countries competing for the Open Team event and three countries competing for the Women's Team event. Thereafter the World Action Pistol Championship was held in Adelaide Australia 1997, Hamilton New Zealand 1999, Italy 2001 and again in the USA in Columbia MO in 2004. The NRA World Action Pistol Championships were then to be rotated to sponsor countries every two years from 2006 (Australia, Blacktown Rifle & Pistol Club) and returning to the United States every eight years (2012). In 2008 it was conducted in Hamilton, New Zealand, November 5–8. For 2010, the event returned to Sydney, Australia at the Blacktown Rifle & Pistol Club.[8]
The Bianchi Cup has been one of the three championships of action shooting's triple crown, along with the IPSC U.S. Nationals, and the Steel Challenge.[9]
Since its inception in 1979, with the 1985 championship year being the exception, the Bianchi Cup has retained its original courses of fire, consisting of four matches: Practical, Barricade, Moving Target and Falling Plates. Speed, accuracy, and precision are equally important factors and are considered fundamentals that form the core of the match, but most importantly, strong mental discipline on match days is the ultimate key to winning the Championship.
In 1985, the Practical Event was temporarily replaced by the 60-shot, 600-point International Rapid Fire Event, almost identical to that of the ISSF 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol Match. Initially, the main differences for the Bianchi Cup/NRA Action Pistol version was that it was to be fired from a standing, hands-over-shoulder starting position, gun holstered, on five Bianchi D-1 "Tombstone" cardboard targets placed 25 yards downrange, using center fire handguns, with the option of using the ground as support if one can make the time limit without incurring any late shot penalties. The total possible score for that year was 2040 points plus 204 x's. This sudden deviation from the original format proved unpopular, so organizers dropped it and re-instated the Practical Event the following year since.
The NRA National Action Shooting Tournament was a money-winning event. For his victory in 2008, Doug Koenig took home the 2008 Bianchi Cup trophy, plus total cash awards of over $8,000. Robert Vadasz Metallic Sight win netted him over $5000. For 2009, total prize money awarded increased over 30% from the previous year.
From 2009 on, the NRA Bianchi Cup offered an Open Division, Metallic Division and the new Production Division to bring more shooters to the sport. The NRA also introduced a Celebrity Pro-Am as a Saturday Event. The fan favorite spectacle included participants from the music, film and television branches of the entertainment industry including Mark Wills, Michael Peterson, Marshall Teague and Michael Talbott. Cowboy Mounted Shooting sensation Kenda Lenseigne made her first appearance at the Celebrity Pro-AM in 2010 and won.
The first competitor to fire a perfect score was Doug Koenig of Pennsylvania in 1990 with a 1920-157X.
The inaugural CMP Bianchi Cup in 2023 saw tremendous support from the 135 individuals who participated in the event, including several international competitors from Australia, Barbados, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.
Bianchi Cup champions
2023 CMP Bianchi Cup
National Action Pistol Championships National Champion: Bruce Piatt, 1920-178X
Open National National Champion: Mark Blake, 1920-178X
Practical results
Open: Douglas Koenig, 54, Deland, FL – 480-47X
Metallic: SFC Ryan Franks, 35, Ellerslie, GA – 480-34X
Production: SSG Christopher Hudock, 33, Columbus, GA – 469-26X
Production Optic: Simon Golob, 48, Kearney, MO – 480-33X
Mover results
Open: Mark Blake, 52, Huon Creek, Australia – 480-39X
Metallic: Roman Hauber, 57, Regensburg, Germany – 476-27X
Production: SSG Christopher Hudock, 33, Columbus, GA – 478-23X
Production Optic: SSG Anthony Heinauer, 26, Fort Benning, GA – 480-32X
Barricade results
1st: SSG Walter Johnson, 29, of Pine Mountain, GA – 480-48X
2nd: Brett Foster, 46, Bundabert, Queensland, Australia – 480-48X
3rd: Stephen Stewart, 50, Carlock, IL – 480-48X
Falling Plates Results
1st: Benito Martinez, 44, Albuquerque, NM – 480-48X
2nd: SSG Walter Johnson, 29, of Pine Mountain, GA – 480-48X
3rd: SSG Anthony Heinauer, 26, of Fort Benning, GA – 480-48X
2-Man Team
Metallic: BDMP – 1848-121X
Production Optic: Team DHS – 1887-118X
International Team: Pistol Australia 1 – 1920-180X
4-Man Team: USAMU Blue (SSG Christopher Hudock, SFC Ryan Franks, SSG Anthony Heinauer, SSG Walter Johnson) – 1916-143X
Special categories
Military Veteran Champion – Mark Blake, 1920-178X
Law Enforcement Champion – Bruce Piatt, 1920-178X
Active Service Champion – SSG Walter Johnson, 1918-172X
Revolver Champion – Steve Weathersby, 1914-154X
International Champion – Mark Blake, 1920-178X
International championship awards
Grand Senior Champion: Vance Schmid, 1918-157X
John Cameron Memorial Senior Champion: Troy Mattheyer, 1916-154X
Roger E. Hawkins Memorial Junior National Champion: Malcolm Itzstein, 1892-142X
Woman National Champion: Sally Talbot, 1889-152X
Metallic National Champion: SFC Ryan Franks, USA, 1914-141X
Production National Champion: SSG Christopher Hudock, USA, 1901-128X
Production Optic National Champion: SSG Anthony Heinauer, 1916-146X
Previous Bianchi Cup champions
Doug Koenig is a nineteen-time Bianchi Cup champion. He had the most titles in NRA Action Pistol Championship history.
Rob Vadasz earned his second Bianchi Cup Metallic Division Championship by besting Rob Leatham by a full ten points at the 2010 NRA Bianchi Cup.- Jessie Abbate was the 2010 Bianchi Cup Women's Champion after beating Julie Goloski Golob for her first NRA Action Pistol Championship win.
Bianchi Cup winners
1979: 
Ron Lerch 1816-062x
1980: Mickey Fowler 1889-085x
1981: Mickey Fowler 1890-088x
1982: Mickey Fowler 1903-145x
1983: Brian Enos 1903-612x
1984: Brian Enos 1910-257x
NRA National Action Pistol Champions
1985: Rob Leatham 2034-155x
1986: W. Riley Gilmore 1916-144x
1987: John Pride 1912-151x
1988: John Pride 1918-163x
1989: Lemoine Wright 1914-152x
1990: Doug Koenig 1920-157x
1991: W. Riley Gilmore 1920-166x
1992: Doug Koenig 1920-169x
1993: Bruce Piatt 1920-170x
1993: .svg.png.webp){kind=small}
Brian Kilpatrick, Australia 1920-173x
1994: John Pride 1920-174x
1995: John Pride 1920-179x
1996: Mickey Fowler 1918-184x
1996: Ross G. Newell, Australia 1920-163x
1997: Bruce Piatt 1920-181x
1998: Doug Koenig 1920-180x
1999: Bruce Piatt 1920-185x
2000: Doug Koenig 1920-185x
2001: Doug Koenig 1920-184x
2002: Doug Koenig 1920-184x
2003: Doug Koenig 1920-183x
2004: Doug Koenig 1920-177x
2005: Doug Koenig 1920-185x
2006: Bruce Piatt 1920-177x
2007: Doug Koenig 1920-185x
2008: Doug Koenig 1918-185x
2009: Bruce Piatt 1920–181x
2010: Doug Koenig 1920-179x
2011: Doug Koenig *1920-187x (High Score)
2012: Doug Koenig 1920-182x
2013: Doug Koenig 1920-183x
2014: Kevin Angstadt 1920-171x
2015: Doug Koenig 1920-180x
2016: Doug Koenig 1920-183x
2017: Doug Koenig 1920-184x
2018: Adam Sokolowski 1920-176x
2019: Bruce Piatt 1920–179x
2020: (Cancelled)
2021: Doug Koenig 1920-182x
2022: Benito Martinez 1920-165x
Stock Firearm (Production) Champions
1994: Bruce Gray-Category Winner 1883-112x
1995: Rod Jones-Category Winner 1810-105x
1996: Bruce Gray-Category Winner 1889-125x
1997: Steve Sweeney-Category Winner 1850-115x
Production Class Champions
2009: Dave Sevigny 1806-101x
2010: Kyle Schmidt 1856-121x
2011: Rob Leatham 1883-132x (XD Tactical)
2012: Vance Schmid 1887-118x (CZ SP01 Shadow)
2013: Enoch Smith 1904-144x (Xdm 5.25)
2014: Rob Leatham 1884-132x (Xdm 5.25)
2015: Enoch Smith 1874-137x (Xdm 5.25)
2016: Adam Sokolowski 3767-257x* (Xdm 5.25) *Score reflects combined main match and championship match score
2017: Rob Leatham 1908-140x* (Xdm 5.25) *Score reflects championship match score only
2018: Patrick Franks 1894-136x
2019: Anthony Heinauer 1876-131x
2020: (Cancelled)
2021: Christopher Hudock 1888-116x
2022: Christopher Hudock 1900-135x
Production Optics Class champions
2021: Anthony Heinauer 1918-161x
2022: Anthony Heinauer 1914-164x
Metallic Sight Firearm Champions
1998: Chad Dietrich 1905-125x
1999: Fred Craig 1863-127x
2000: Rob Leatham 1897-145x
2001: Vance Schmid 1896-130x
2002: Rob Leatham 1884-136x
2003: Frederick Craig 1886-128x
2004: Rob Leatham 1905-144x
2005: Rob Leatham 1910-153x
2006: Rob Leatham 1902-145x
2007: Rob Leatham 1902-153x
2008: Rob Vadasz 1902-138x
2009: Rob Leatham 1909-145x
2010: Rob Vadasz 1904-146x
2011: Rob Vadasz 1908-143x
2012: Rob Vadasz 1878-135x
2013: Rob Vadasz 1892-132x
2014: Kevin Worrell 1907-127x
2015: Patrick Franks 1902-140x
2016: Patrick Franks 1901-140x
2017: Adam Sokolowski 1914-143x
2018: Rob Vadasz 1912-155x
2019: Kyle Schmidt 1905-137x
2020: (Cancelled)
2021: Rob Vadasz *1918-154x (High Score)
2022: Ryan Franks 1914-156x
NRA National Action Pistol women’s champions
1980: 
Edith Almeida 1821-073x
1981: Edith Almeida 1652-045x
1982: Edith Almeida 1304-077x
1983: Sally Van Valzah 1765-091x
1984: Lee Cole 1761-096x
1985: Lee Cole 1957-119x
1986: Christie Rogers 1759-096x
1987: .svg.png.webp){kind=small}
Lorna Pavelka 1787-088x
1988: Christie Rogers 1836-111x
1989: 
Yoko Shimomura 1882-129x
1990: Christie Rogers 1885-124x
1991: Janina Tenace 1888-134x
1992: Lorna Pavelka 1899-142x
1993: Judy Woolley 1898-148x
1994: Judy Woolley 1906-148x
1995: Dewi Hazeltine 1908-150x
1996: Sharon Edington 1899-140x
1997: Sharon Edington 1906-142x
1998: Anita Mackiewicz 1914-148x
1999: Vera Koo 1894-137x
2000: Robyn Estreich 1902-157x
2001: Vera Koo 1910-137x
2002: Vera Koo 1905-151x
2003: Vera Koo 1894-141x
2004: Vera Koo 1886-136x
2005: Vera Koo 1894-149x
2006: Vera Koo 1897-143x
2007: Julie Goloski 1903-139x
2008: Vera Koo 1870-136x
2009: Julie Goloski Golob 1907-138x
2010: Jessie Abbate 1906-163x
2011: Jessie Harrison 1912-153x
2012: Julie Golob 1907-144x
2013: Jessie Duff 1893-142x
2014: Jessie Duff 1893-135x
2015: Anita Mackiewicz *1916-166x (High Score)
2016: 
Tiffany Piper 1904-154x
2017: Cherie Blake 1904-145x
2018: Anita Mackiewicz 1911-153x
2019: Cherie Blake 1906-153x
2020: (Cancelled)
2021: Becky Yackley 1908-139x
2022: Sally Talbot 1913-155x
NRA World Action Pistol champions – open
1994: John Pride 1920-174x
1997: Adrian Hunter 1920-150x
1999: Doug Koenig 1920-180x
2004: Doug Koenig 1920-177x
2006: Bruce Piatt 1920-176x
2008: Doug Koenig 1920-181x
2010: Doug Koenig *1920-188x (High Score)
NRA World Action Pistol champions – Metallic
1994: N/A
1997: N/A
1999: N/A
2004: Jerry Miculek 1893-122x
2006: 
Frank Reiche 1852-124x
2008: Vance Schmid *1902-133x (High Score)
2010: Tony Drabsch 1887-125x
NRA World Action Pistol champions – Production
2010: Marc Kleser 1839-109x
NRA World Action champions – Stock Gun
1999: United Kingdom
Multiple and consecutive Bianchi Cup champions
| Country | Champion | Total | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Koenig | 19 | 1990, 1992, 1998, 2000–2005, 2007-2008, 2010–2013, 2015–2017, 2021 |
| Bruce Piatt | 6 | 1993, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2009, 2019 |
| Mickey Fowler | 4 | 1980, 1981, 1982, 1996 |
| John Pride | 4 | 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995 |
| Brian Enos | 2 | 1983, 1984 |
| W. Riley Gilmore | 2 | 1986, 1991 |
See also
Notes
References
- "JulieGs Blog 30th Anniversary Bianchi Cup". Juliegolob.com. May 26, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- "Team GLOCK Shoots Its Way To Top Finishes At The NRA Bianchi Cup". Ammoland.com. June 3, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- "The Bianchi Cup is one of the most challenging shooting events in the world". Ammoland.com. June 13, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- "CMP Bianchi Cup". Civilian Marksmanship Program. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- "Bianchi International history". Bianchi-intl.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- "NRA Bianchi Cup History page". Nrahq.org. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- Adler, Dennis (2010). John Bianchi, an American Legend. Minneapolis, MN 55425: Blue Book Publications Inc. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-886768-88-8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - Sturgis, Danielle (October 8, 2010). "USA team reports from World Action Pistol Championships in Australia". Nrablog.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- "Rob Leatham wins triple crown in 1985". Robleatham.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
External links
- Official website
- http://www.nrahq.org/compete NRA Competitive Shooting Programs
- http://www.nrablog.com The NRA Blog
- http://www.downrange.tv/blog/?p=1115
- http://www.bianchi-intl.com/history.html
- http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/mar/29/bianchi-cup-draws-worlds-most-skilled-handguns/
- http://www.myoutdoortv.com/news/nra-bianchi-cup-unveils-speed-star-event-honoring-ray-chapman.html
- http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20090601122936792
- http://www.americanrifleman.org/Video.aspx?vid=1877
- http://www.americanrifleman.org/Video.aspx?vid=1879
- http://www.issuu.com/compshoot/docs/2011nrabianchiguide