(GunReports.com) – Actors, singers, and television personalities will be competing alongside professional shooters at the 2011 MidwayUSA & NRA Bianchi Cup taking place May 25-28, 2011 at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club outside of Columbia, Missouri.
Also known as the National Action Pistol Championship, celebrities join the best shooters in the world each year to get a taste of action pistol competition and participate in the quest for “the Cup.”
Numerous celebrities are returning to shoot the Bianchi Cup in 2011, including country music superstar Mark Wills, who’s new single “Looking For America” is burning up the charts. This will be Wills’ third performance at Bianchi Cup, adding to the shooting experience he gained as host of 3-Gun Nation, a television show highlighting major 3-gun competitions across the country.
“I’m really looking forward to competing. It’s my third year at the Bianchi Cup so I’m much more comfortable with the courses of fire,” said Wills. “I’m not sure how well I’m going to do since I’ve been busy with my new album, but I’m not there to win, I’m there to have fun and support the shooting sports.”
Another returning celebrity is Cowboy Mounted Shooting Champion Kenda Lenseigne, who holds National titles, World titles, and several world records. This will be Lenseigne’s second year as a competitor. During her first appearance in 2010, Lenseigne won the Colt Celebrity Pro-Am Event.
Two competitors from the popular History Channel series Top Shot also return to the Bianchi Cup in 2011. Season 1 contestant Caleb Giddings of Gun Nuts Media, and Season 2 contestant and USPSA Champion Maggie Reese will both be competing for another year. Giddings and Reese will be joined by Bianchi newcomers and Season 1 alumni Chris Cerino and original Top Shotwinner Iain Harrison. Harrison and Cerino faced off in the Season 1 finale for $100,000, with Harrison ultimately clinching the win.
Also returning to the Bianchi Cup is Jessie Abbate, a well-known name in the action shooting community who was last year’s Women’s Champion. In addition to being a professional shooter, Abbate is the host of Friends of NRA TV, and her co-host and former MLB player Matt Duff will be joining her on the range this year.
Adding to the list of new celebrity shooters are American Idol finalist and recording artist Bo Bice and actor Patrick Kilpatrick, who is best known for his villain roles. Kilpatrick has starred alongside action stars such as Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Connery, and Steven Seagal and has made appearances on numerous popular television shows including CSI, 24, Star Trek, X-Files, and Criminal Minds.
In addition to the regular course of fire, these stars will compete in the Colt Celebrity Pro-Am Event on Saturday, May 28th. Spectators are welcome during the competition, but please bring eye and ear protection.
