Army’s Horner Wins First Trijicon World Shooting Championship

Staff Sgt. Daniel Horner of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit can now add "Undisputed World Shooting Champion" to his long list of accomplishments. Horner bested a field of 159 amateur and professional competitive shooters from around the world in the inaugural multi-discipline, multi-platform marathon shooting event held at Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, W.Va., Sept. 10 to 13. Horner took home the $50,000 grand prize, which accounted for half the $100,000 prize purse.

Horner placed in the top 10 in all but two sections, and Bianchi Cup veteran Bruce Piatt and famed revolver impresario Jerry Miculek, finished second and third, respectively. High Junior Bryan Nelson came in fourth, and Greg Jordan (5th) Patrick Kelley (6th), Mark Hanish (7th), Jake Denno (8th), Gabe Dietrich (9th) and Ryan Muller (10th) finished out the top-10 field. Lena Miculek secured High Lady.

The event involved 12 different shooting stages involving pistol, rifle, shotgun and combined sections, which challenged the skills of even the most experienced competitors. Shooters could not bring or use their firearms, which were provided by: Alexander Arms, ArmaLite, Benelli and Beretta, Colt, Daniel Defense, FNH USA, LMT, Magnum Research, Noveske and Taylor’s & Co., and specialty makers such as SilencerCo, Berger, MEC and Vortex Optics provided suppressors, bullets, clay target throwers, and a long-range riflescope, respectively, as well, making the event a “seminar within a competition.”

Title sponsor Trijicon, Inc., the well-known supplier of U.S. military and sporting optics, supplied nearly all of the event's glass. “We were honored to host the First Annual Trijicon World Shooting Championship, said John Rupp, the company’s vice president of business development. “The company’s objective was to sponsor a unique and challenging competition that tested the talents of contestants from all the shooting disciplines." Additionally, the company wanted to host a safe and fun event that reaffirmed the shooters’ Second Amendment rights, he said. “We congratulate the contestants and staff on a very successful event.”

The National Rifle Association's Competitive Shooting Division assisted the Peacemaker staff with rules and scoring of the match. Official results can be found here, and a list of firearms and Trijicon Aiming Solutions used at each stage along with the official course of fire is available here.

For more images of the event, check out this photo gallery.