Team Smith & Wesson Member Doug Koenig Claims Sixteenth Bianchi Cup Title
“I think my success at Bianchi comes down to several things,” said Koenig. “First, my training both mentally and physically mixes well with the course of fire. I also really enjoy the unique challenge it brings. At Bianchi, you are given a specific problem or an obstacle to overcome along with a pre-set time to accomplish it. I feel I’m at my best in those types of scenarios, because when the pressure builds I can go back to my training and stay focused on the task at hand.”
Showcasing top competitors from around the globe, the NRA Bianchi Cup consists of four separate matches with fixed times on every string of fire: Practical Event (with shots fired from 10 yards to 50 yards); Barricade Event (shots taken from behind “cover”); Falling Plate Event (banks of six, 8″ falling plates); and the Moving Target Event (shots fired at a moving target exposed for just 6 seconds). Designed to challenge participants in terms of speed and accuracy, competitors shoot at stationary and moving targets from both standing and prone positions.
This year, Koenig’s training and focus were tested not only by the four separate matches that comprise the Bianchi Cup, but also by the extreme changes in weather that hampered all competitors. Despite the high winds and cold, rainy conditions, Koenig and his gear performed flawlessly.
“In order to perform well in any competition, you need to have the upmost confidence in your equipment,” said Koenig. “Things like the weather, your physical health, and other exterior circumstances are always going to be difficult to predict, but your equipment is an important piece of the puzzle that you can control. I’m fortunate to have a great group of sponsors and each piece of gear I use, like my Performance Center 1911 pistol, was utterly reliable throughout the match.”
Koenig’s victory at this year’s match extends his footprint in the history of the Bianchi Cup. In 1990, Koenig became the first competitor to win the Bianchi Cup with a perfect score and since that time, he has achieved a perfect score in all but one match. The Team Smith & Wesson Champion has now won 12 of the last 15 Bianchi Cup matches and his 16 total championships account for nearly half of all the Bianchi Cups ever held. Koenig looks to extend his winning streak as he now sets his sights on defending Team Smith & Wesson’s title at the Sportsman’s Team Challenge next month in Texas.
For those interested in following Koenig’s exploits both on and off the competitive circuit, be sure to tune into Doug Koenig’s Championship Season airing on the Sportsman’s Channel.
About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, delivering a broad portfolio of quality firearms, related products, and training to the global military, law enforcement, and consumer markets. The company’s firearm division brands include Smith & Wesson®, M&P®, and Thompson/Center Arms™. As an industry leading manufacturer of shooting, reloading, gunsmithing and gun cleaning supplies, the company’s accessories division produces innovative, top quality products under Battenfeld Technologies, Inc., including Caldwell® Shooting Supplies, Wheeler® Engineering, Tipton® Gun Cleaning Supplies, Frankford Arsenal® Reloading Tools, Lockdown® Vault Accessories, and Hooyman™ Premium Tree Saws. Smith & Wesson facilities are located in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Missouri. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.
