Thirteen-year-old Cassidy Chupa isn’t intimidated the slightest by the grown adults around her. Even if they’re equipped with long-range, high-powered rifles.
In fact, she’s delighted to be the youngest long-range rifle shooter in B.C. competing in sanctioned, B.C. Rifle Association events.
Along with her mother, Caroline Chupa, the pair are also the first mother/daughter to shoot together in B.C.
Add Cassidy’s father, Terry Chupa, to the mix and you’ve got a hobby and sport the entire family participates in, and excels at.
“These [BCRA] events have been going on for 127 years now,” Caroline said, pointing to the significance of Cassidy’s feat.
And not only is Cassidy competing, she’s standing toe to toe with the best rifle shooters in the province. She’s even developed her own pre-shot routine and shooting style.
“We don’t coach her anymore,” Caroline said. “She’s learned to develop her own skills.”
In early August the Chupas attended the 13th Annual B.C. F-Class Rifle Championship, held at Gen. Vokes Range in Chilliwack shooting distances of 300 to 600 metres.
The event takes place across a series of matches where participants take aim from the prone position at a target, much like a regular bulls eye, with point allocations depending on where each round (shot) hits.
Caroline was the winner of Match No. 12 at 600 metres, and also finished second in Match No. 13.
Meanwhile Terry took first place in Match No. 8 (600 metres), second in Match No. 2 (500 metres), third in Match No. 3 (400 metres) and fifth in Match No. 9 (400 and 600 meters).
Overall, Cassidy finished about 15th place out of the 21 shooters in each match.
The Chupas, who train out of the Williams Lake Rod and Gun Club, Beecher’s Prairie along Highway 20 and the Kamloops Target Sports Association, now have their scopes dialed in on the 2013 World Rifle Championships.
The trio hopes to qualify for the worlds at the U.S. nationals in August, 2012 in Raton, New Mexico.
“The distances at the worlds will be longer at 700, 800 and 900 metres,” Caroline said.
The Chupas also recently attended the Frosty Farky, Sept. 24-25, in Kamloops, shooting 85 rounds.
“The first day was quite windy,” Caroline said. “Cassidy came in third place in her category, only one point behind the top guy the first day.”
Cassidy, who began shooting when she was 10, competes in the restricted category, using a .223 calibre rifle. Terry finished second overall in the open class on the first day.