USIMLT – -(OutdoorWire.com)- The United States International Muzzle-Loading Committee is pleased to announce its new team officers for the 2009-2010 cycle. These officers will lead the United States International Muzzle-Loading Team (USIMLT) through the 2009 Pacific Zone Championships and the 2010 World Muzzle-Loading Championships.
Errol McLean, of Norfolk, New York, will be the new Captain of the United States International Muzzle-Loading Team (USIMLT). McLean is a long-time USIMLT member, and has represented the USA at the World Championships for two decades.
Mr. McLean will replace Gary Crawford, who was team captain from 2002 through 2008. Mr. Crawford will continue as chairman of the United States International Muzzle-Loading Committee and U.S. delegate to the Muzzle-Loading Associations International Committee (MLAIC), and is currently leading an effort to reorganize the MLAIC rules.
The Deputy Captain will be Tom Warabak, of Pittston, Pennsylvania. A U.S. Team member since 2003, Warabak is one of the best of a new generation of world-class American black powder competitors.
Squad Lieutenants will be:
Frank Kapper: Rifle Squad – Minie, Whitworth Walkyrie, Vetterli and Lamarmora events.
Robert Patterson: Rifle Squad – Maximillan, Pennsylvania, Youth Whitworth and Youth Vetterli events.
Don Dixon: Pistol Squad – Colt, Mariette, Malson, Kuchenreuter, Cominazzo and Tanzutsu events.
Tom Henley: Firelock Squad – Tanegashima, Hizadai and Miquelet events.
Harry Sparks: Shotgun Squad – Manton, Lorenzoni and Youth Shotgun events.
The U.S. International Muzzle-Loading Team has also announced a cutoff date of 15 May 2009 for qualification targets for the 2009-2010 selection cycle. Competitors who qualify will be invited to the Final Tryouts, which will be held at the 2009 Pacific Zone Championships, scheduled for 11-15 August in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The best shooters from the Final Tryouts will be selected for the team which will represent the United States at the 2010 World Championships, planned to be held in Fervenca, Portugal, in August of that year.
Interested shooters should contact the new Team Captain, Errol McLean, at [email protected]. More information on the USIMLT is available at www.usimlt.org, and information on the MLAIC is available at www.mlaic.org.