Cowboy Fast Draw Association crowns world champions

The Fernley Reporter

FALLON - On October 2, 2016 the Cowboy Fast Draw Association (CFDA), crowned their new World Champions.  Approximately 250 competitors from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe traveled to Fallon to compete in CFDA’s signature event, The Fastest Gun Alive – World Championship of Cowboy Fast Draw.

T.J. Vonfedlt, a.k.a. Oregon Ranger, of Portland, Ore., age 19, won his third Fastest Gun Alive – Men’s Overall World Championship by being the first repeat men’s champion in the sport’s history. He also made history in 2011 by winning the men’s overall championship at age, 14, which was covered by the Outdoor Channel’s, Shooting U.S.A. T.J. earned the Top Seed in the Magnificent 7 Finals in the regular rounds of the tournament and held off all challengers. He finally defeated last year’s top seed, Clay Janes, a.k.a. Tin Bender, of Caldwell, Idaho in the best 3 out of 5 final bout, with a time of .335, slightly over 1/3 of a second.

Jennifer Guerra, a.k.a. Kiss-N-Tell, of Alta Loma, Calif., won her first Fastest Gun Alive – Ladies’ Overall World Championship. She defeated reigning Ladies National Champion Jamie Damrel, a.k.a. Plain Jane, of Vidor, Tex. in the final round with a .475, or just under ½ second. About 1/3 of CFDA’s members are women.

In the Youth Division, Michael Dobbins, a.k.a. Blind Billy, of Powhatan, Va., defeated current National Youth Champion Jayden Eilrich, a.k.a. Sheriff Rango, of Fernley with a final shot of .532.

In the Sport of Cowboy Fast Draw, authentic reproductions Colt .45 SAA six-guns are used with 1800s period correct leather holsters. Special wax bullet ammunition is used where the wax bullets are actually achieving the same velocity as live ammunition, but are stopped dead in their tracks by nothing more than archery netting. Digital electronic timers are used which illuminate LED start signals at the center of each target, from which the shooters react to their start light, draw, fire, and if their wax bullet strikes the target a time is recorded that is accurate to within 1/1000ths of a second. Firearms are never pointed at another person, instead the shooters stand side by side and face the 24 inch round-targets placed 24 feet downrange.

The format of the man vs, man elimination tournament is managed by the CFDA Computer Scoring System, which draws the bouts and pairs the one on one match-ups by luck of the draw throughout the regular rounds of the tournament. In each round, the first of the two matched competitors to win 3 shots against their opponent wins that round and the defeated opponent receives an “X”, when a competitor receives 4-X’s they are eliminated from the tournament. Once the tournament is down to the Top 7 men, ladies, and youth on Saturday, they are seeded into a unique double-progressive elimination final format called, The Magnificent 7 Finals which begin at High Noon on Sunday, with hundreds of spectators cheering for their favorites.

Safety is always first. CFDA has a Youth Safety Training Program (begins at age 8) and a CFDA Range Officer Certification Program. One of the organization’s primary goals is “To educate as many people as possible in the safe and proper use of firearms.” CFDA is an NRA-affiliated organization and has almost 5,000 members joining in the fun and thrill of the competition that is based upon, “The Romance and Legend of the Old West”. Members dress in western-themed clothing and adopt an alias which they compete under in the spirit of the old west. About 80 CFDA affiliated clubs exist coast to coast in the U.S. and are spreading to Canada, Europe, Australia, and even Japan.  CFDA was founded in Deadwood, S.D. and moved its annual world championship to Fallon in 2008, and is sponsored by the Fallon Tourism & Convention Authority. Also among their major sponsors are Ruger Firearms, Pietta of Italy, Taylor’s & Co., and Mernickle Holsters.

For more information go to: www.CowboyFastDraw.com or write to Cowboy Fast Draw Association – P.O. Box 5 – Fernley, NV  89408