Buckland Takes Inaugural Retro Revolver World Title

Craig Buckland of Team S&W took the Retro title at the 2010 IRC. Photo by Yamil Sued

LOS OSOS, Calif. — Team Smith & Wesson member Craig Buckland of Sandisfield, Mass. won the Retro revolver division, and finished 45th overall, at the 2010 Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championships (IRC) held this past weekend in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

This is the first year the new division, so named for the “retro” revolvers that hold only six shots and use speed loaders as opposed to new higher-capacity revolvers with eight rounds where moon clips are permitted, has been contested at the IRC.

Buckland won six of the 12 stages in the competition, leading the field through most of the match before posting a final time of 349.00, a 13.61 second margin over his nearest competitor, Cliff Walsh of St. Petersburg, Fla.

“I shot pretty well throughout the match so I was happy with my performance. It was a tough field though, and I’m honored to have won the very first Retro division title at the IRC,” said Buckland.

Walsh finished second with three stages wins and a final score of 362.61. He was the only shooter besides Buckland to hold the lead, topping the field after the first stage, and outpacing the winner on stages six and seven before falling to second.

Third place went to Jude Javier of Santa Clara, Calif. Javier won two stages during the match, the second and seventh, to finish just over 56 seconds off the lead with a final time of 418.76.

Rounding out the top five were Steve Thornton of Schererville, Ind. in fourth with a time of 421.45, and Team Smith & Wesson member Curt Nichols of Tulsa, Okla. in fifth with a time of 424.07.

Organized by the International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts (ICORE), and held at Hogue Action Pistol Range at the San Luis Obispo Sportsmen’s Association, the IRC drew more than 200 top revolver shooters, representing 22 states and six foreign nations. Titles were awarded in the Open, Limited or Retro divisions with scoring based on time and accuracy where time penalties are accrued for misses and shots outside the x-ring.

For further information on ICORE and the 19th Annual Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championships, or to find a club near you, visit www.icore.org.