From NSSF: The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is pleased to announce that as of October 15, 2013, it has assumed administrative responsibilities for the Ruger Rimfire Challenge—now to be known as the NSSF Rimfire Challenge.
We are excited and proud to assume this new role. Rimfire Challenge is one of the fastest growing disciplines in the shooting sports due to its family appeal and new and novice shooter-friendly format. Rimfire Challenge also is a sport that is popular with experienced shooters because of the use of steel targets.
Rimfire Challenge’s rapid growth and success have been the result of grassroots efforts up to now. With the addition of NSSF’s considerable communications, marketing and networking capabilities, we anticipate significant growth in 2014.
Ken Jorgensen, director of media relations at Sturm Ruger, had this to say about the transfer of Rimfire Challenge to the NSSF:
“Ruger is very proud of the role we have played in formalizing, promoting and supporting rimfire competition. Many of you have told us how these competitions have been your first competitive experience, how they have become a family activity and how you have now decided to try other shooting sports activities. That is exactly what we at Ruger envisioned from the beginning with Rimfire Challenge—a safe, fun way to enjoy the shooting experience with family and friends.
The response has been tremendous and the opportunity to grow rimfire competition is unlimited.
But, frankly, the demand for more events has grown beyond Ruger’s ability to manage, as our expertise is building great firearms, not running organizations or competitions.
And that is why the Ruger Rimfire shooting competitions will become the NSSF Rimfire Challenge. The National Shooting Sports Foundation will become the governing body for the rimfire events you have experienced as a Ruger Rimfire competitor, sponsor or match director. I am certain that NSSF, with its network of ranges, contacts and staff, will be able to take rimfire competition to the next level.
Ruger will continue to support these events, and I invite competitors, sponsors and match directors to stay involved, or get involved if you aren’t already, and share in the future of Rimfire Competition.
Thank you for your support, and I hope to see you on a range somewhere next year at a NSSF Rimfire Challenge match.”
NSSF has developed a new Rimfire Challenge website at NSSF.org/rimfire the contains all the information a participant, host range, match director or sponsor will need to get involved with this exciting program.
Participants and match directors who are attending SHOT Show, stop by the NSSF booth (L221) to find out more about what’s planned for the 2014 Rimfire Challenge season and how you can play an even bigger role with helping to grow the program exponentially. If you’re exhibiting at SHOT and would like to speak with the Rimfire Challenge staff to see how your business can further support the program this season just send us and email to the addresses listed below and we’ll make sure to stop by.
We are looking forward to a great year with the NSSF Rimfire Challenge, and we hope you plan to be a part of it.