Hallsville, Missouri– November 2022 – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is excited to announce the addition of the Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament, the second-longest-running pistol championship in the world, to its match schedule in 2023. The CMP Bianchi Cup is set to fire May 23-26 at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri, and is sure to be the action pistol competition of the year!
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“The Bianchi Cup has been one of the most prestigious pistol events in history,” said Jim Henderson, CMP pistol coordinator. “The CMP is very excited to be involved, and we look forward to not only bringing what we do to the Bianchi Cup but expanding our presence in the very popular sport of action pistol!”
An annual event since 1979, the CMP Bianchi Cup is proud to have MidwayUSA, an industry leader in shooting, hunting and outdoor activities, as the title sponsor. The Bianchi Cup is comprised of four events, including:
- The Practical Event, where competitors fire at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits from the shooting line.
- The Barricade Event, where 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, where 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, where 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.
Competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages. There are no makeup shots in the Bianchi Cup, adding to the difficulty of the event.
“It is an honor for CMP to host this historic, respected action pistol event,” said Christie Sewell, CMP programs chief. “Everyone at CMP is looking forward to working with the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club to make this year’s Bianchi Cup a huge success.”
With the advent of the new CMP Action Pistol Program, we have created the CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules. Most of these rules are similar to what are currently being used but competitors are encouraged to review the CMP Rules. There are changes in significant areas, such as allowable equipment and pistol modifications. Please familiarize yourself with these new rules to help eliminate any confusion on match day. An electronic version of the CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules will be posted on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-competitions-rulebooks/.
About the Bianchi Cup:
The Bianchi Cup was created by Ray Chapman (a WWII Marine veteran, law enforcement officer and IPSC champion of the 1970s), and famous holster maker, Major General of the California National Guard, law enforcement officer and Hollywood cowboy John Bianchi. While discussing the current state of pistol competitions that were being held across the country at the time, Bianchi and Chapman realized there was a need for an event that featured a mix of International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), Police Pistol Combat and precision pistol shooting styles – an idea that became the Bianchi Cup.
Over the years, the championship has become internationally recognized by top shooters from around the world, helping to create one of the fastest-growing disciplines in the action shooting community.
For details on the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup, visit the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-pistol-program/cmp-bianchi-cup/.
About the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club:
The Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club, formerly the Chapman Training Academy, was named after Ray Chapman before his passing in 2008. The club has been the annual host of the Bianchi Cup since its inception. The origin of the club days back to the 1930s and has played a major role in the creation of the practical shooting discipline. The facility holds several ranges, including two movers, a Bianchi barricade, two 50-yard Bianchi practical ranges, a 250-plus yard rifle range and a falling plates range. Learn more through the range’s website at https://www.gvshoot.com/.
— By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
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