Summary: Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages gathered at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on the 4th of July weekend to take part in the Northern Ohio Outlaws Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition.
Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages and ability levels put their skills to the test when the Northern Ohio Outlaws played host to the Outlaw Fireworks Shoot Mounted Shooting competition at the Wayne County Fairgrounds over 4th of July weekend.
One of the fastest growing equestrian sports, mounted shooting is a multifaceted sport that tests the skills of both the rider and the horse as competitors showcase both their horsemanship and shooting skills by navigating through a course similar to a barrel racing course with the addition of balloons between the barrels.
Riding their horse breed of choice and wearing a period western costume, the rider shoots balloons with black powder blank cartridges from a pair of period or replica .45 caliber single action revolvers similar to those used in the old west of the late 1800s.
Competitors are scored on a combination of accuracy and time as they make their way through the challenging course. Each competitors final scoring is based on elapsed time plus a penalty for each target missed or barrel knocked over.
The ten balloon competition course is divided into two parts. The first half of the course varies from competition to competition and requires the horse and rider to stop, turn, change leads and accelerate rapidly. The second half, known as the "run down", is a straight course with targets set at 36 foot intervals.
The clock begins when the competitor crosses the start/finish line at a full gallop and begins the first pattern of five targets. After the fifth shot, the competitor returns the empty revolver to a holster, turns around a barrel and races to the far end of the arena at full speed while drawing a second revolver and taking aim at the final five balloons in pattern.
For the top competitors, completing the course takes less than 15 to 25 seconds.
The dozens of contestants from throughout the state who gathered at the fairgrounds for the three day Outlaw Fireworks Shoot competed in various classes based on their skill level and gender.
The Northern Ohio Outlaws are part of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, which was established in 1992 as a safe way for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages to be a part of history and to hone the riding and shooting skills that were so important to those living in wild west.
In addition to the holding mounted shooting competitions, the group also sponsors clinics for its members on a wide variety of topics including competition rules, gun safety, the competition dress code and the training of the contestants horses for competition.
The Outlaw Fireworks Shoot was the second of three Northern Ohio Outlaws Cowboy Mounted Shooting competitions that will be held in Wooster this summer.
The Northern Ohio Outlaws will be returning to the Wayne County Fairgrounds on the weekend of August 12-14 for a Sadie Hawkins State Shoot.
The competitions are free and open to the public.
For more information on the Northern Ohio Outlaws visit their web site at www.nooutlaws.com.
