Normally this time of year, I’m focused on shooting a 4-inch black circle inside a tombstone-shaped target in preparation for one of the most challenging courses of fire on the competitive handgun circuit. I’m referring to The Bianchi Cup, a 192-shot course of fire that tests speed, accuracy, and a tough mental game over two days of intense competition. Rotator cuff surgery recovery prevented me from competing this year, but it also provided another opportunity for me to volunteer in support of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) for their first-time running Bianchi Cup.
This year, I pressed a different trigger – one on my camera. The experience provided me a glimpse behind the scenes of the women who make Bianchi Cup possible and the competitors working hard to achieve their goals.
Shooting sports are typically male-dominated, not only in competitors but in match leadership as well. The CMP’s Jim Henderson heads the organization’s pistol program. He is joined by several women, reporting to Christie Sewell, the CMP Program Chief. She’s also assisted by Christina Roguski, the Competition Program Coordinator and Sylvia Schoewe in Program and Competition Support. Despite being the CMP’s first Bianchi, this crew is no stranger to putting on high-quality, professional championships. This year’s Action Pistol National Championships was no exception.
Then there’s Pat Cooper. Few have more experience at Bianchi. Volunteering for over 40 years, she serves as Match Director. Pat’s experience helps make the match run like clockwork. She’s joined by female referee Jessie Howser and chief range officers Diane Berkowitz, Natalie Carnes, and Mary Meservey. In fact, three of the four courses are run by women. Add to it nearly a dozen other women and girls working as range officers and staff, the event has a feminine touch.
There are also many female competitors – from juniors to seniors, military veterans, women in law enforcement, and those competing from overseas. Two women from Camp Valor, an organization dedicated to wounded veterans, shot this year along with a member of the US Border Patrol’s shooting team. It’s a blend of talent and experiences that stands out in the shooting sports. Each woman on the line has a personal goal, and it’s inspiring to watch them work to achieve it.
This year’s battle for the women’s title was unusual. 2021 Women’s Bianchi Champion and WON contributor, Becky Yackley, and her sons were noticeably absent. Already in the midst of a grueling shooting season with plans to shoot the IPSC Shotgun World Shoot, the Yackleys decided to sit this year’s Bianchi Cup out.
Thanks to her dominating performances, the favorite to bring home the women’s title this year, Cherie Blake, is on fire. Cherie placed 2nd Overall with a score of 1918 at the Australian Team Selection Match, earning a spot not only as a Ladies Champion but also, as a member of the Overall Open Team (typically an all-male team). She also took home top-woman honors at every US state and regional in 2023 leading up to the Bianchi Cup. Then, right before Bianchi, she became seriously ill.
Watching Cherie push through the Flagler Cup, the Regional and final warm-up before Bianchi had her teammates concerned. Despite posting an impressive 1914 in the match, just 6 points shy of a perfect 1920 score, she was hanging on by a thread that would later break.
After a trip to the hospital, the 2-time Women’s Champion had a touch choice to make. Cherie shares how and why she made her decision. “On the morning of the first day of competition, I was still feeling very sick and weak from the infection and side effects of the antibiotics. Mark, my husband, got me to hold my handgun up and we could see that I was in no shape to be on a range. And although I’m terribly disappointed that I didn’t shoot at the Cup, there is no trophy in the world that is more important than being safe on a live firing range. So maybe I’ll get back next year to give it a crack.”
With Cherie out of the match, the door opened for a 3-way battle between last year’s winner, Sally Talbott, another of Australia’s top contenders, Jodi Lyall, and a junior competitor from Illinois, Layla Ziegler. The stages set, the match began on the Falling Plates.
Battling first-time Bianchi nerves, Layla, missed a plate out of the blocks at the 10-yard line, but showing maturity beyond her years, regained composure to make hits on the remaining plates. Sally and Jodi, both left plates standing at the 15-yard line. Sally would drop another giving the Australian and junior a tied, 10-point lead going into the Practical Event.
Finding herself 10 points out of contention in the first event, Sally shares her mindset. “The falling plates stage made me realize that I had flaws in my mental preparation plan. I could have prevented the errors that I had but it’s one of those things that is not an issue until it is. I was disappointed but since it was something new and not just an error that I repeated, I just did my best to shake it off and chalk it up to a tough learning lesson.”
The Army veteran had her work cut out for her over the course of the remaining three events: Practical, Barricades, and Moving Target. In Bianchi, there are no make-ups. There is no way to shooter faster or better than the fixed scores, yet Sally gained ground by posting perfect 480 scores on Practical and Barricade.
“I was very meticulous on my shot process and my plan, building from the tough lessons I just learned on the Plate Event, going through all my checks and balances in order to be ready for every strain as they came. Mentally, it’s some of the best shooting I’ve ever done. I was able to get let the past be the past and stay focused on the future throughout the event which led to me shooting a personal best for the Practical Event,” said Sally.
For their final event, a 469 with 25x’s on the Moving Target was enough for Sally to secure the Women’s trophy with a final score of 1889 -152x. Jodi Lyall took 2nd with an 1859-126x and Layla placed 3rd with a 1795-111x.
Reflecting on her match, Sally adds, “I have a lot more work to do to prepare for next year, but I am extremely happy to have had a solid performance and bring home the Woman’s Championship title.”
It’s not every day you see a 14-year-old girl with the skill and presence to race with women with decades of combined competition experience. Layla certainly held her own. When asked about her match she said, “It felt really great to do so well, and I know that’s because I practiced and had a great support system and coach to help me perform. It also feels really good that a lot of people are proud of me.”
Layla wasn’t the only young female competitor. No stranger to matches or the podium, 6-Time Steel Challenge Grand Master and world champion Kylie Wells also gave Bianchi a try this year. Despite knowing she was the only junior competitor competing in Rimfire, a new division for the match exclusively for youth shooters, Kylie is always looking for a way to improve her shooting game.
“When I heard about this sport had a plate rack I was interested. Anything involving shooting steel is fun so I went to the range and started practicing,” Kylie said when asked why she chose to shoot Bianchi Cup.
Kylie is enthusiastic about women and girls getting involved in shooting sports. “This year they allowed juniors to shoot .22. I was the only one to shoot it, but I guarantee I had the most fun! If you’re thinking about getting into shooting, do it, don’t think twice. It’s becoming more uncommon to see lady shooters out on the range, and we want and need you out there!”
I’ve had the distinct pleasure of shooting with Kylie and watching her grow as a future leader. The 15-year-old not only has 11 stage records in steel challenge, she also is dedicated to making the sport grow. Starting in June, Kylie will be running Steel Challenge matches at Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club. You read that right – not just shooting, but also serving as a program director for her home club.
Kylie and Layla are not only representing girls, they are also motivated to bring newcomers into the sport. Between women leaders and competitors to look up to, the future of Action Pistol is very bright.
Learn more about the Bianchi Cup throughout the years, here at The WON.
Julie Golob is one of the most accomplished professional shooters in the world and captain of Team Smith & Wesson. She has won more than 120 championship titles in international, national and regional marksmanship competitions in seven different shooting disciplines. Learn more about the champion, author, veteran, hunter and outdoor television personality at JulieGolob.com. View all posts by Julie Golob
