The Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match--affectionately known as the Daisy Nationals--is a touchstone in the youth shooting sports. For 57 years, the Daisy Nationals have highlighted the efforts of BB gun shooting teams all over the nation. This year, there's a twist: Competitors will be shooting for a chance to win funds intended to defray higher education costs with the new Top Gun Shoot Off.
The match, set for June 30 through July 3 in Rogers, Arkansas, will proceed the way it normally does until the end. At the conclusion of the regular Daisy Nationals match, the top 10 individual scorers will shoot a 10-shot match, standing position only, for a chance to win up to $3,000. Each competitor in the Top-Gun Shoot Off will take home at least $500. The top three Individual Aggregate scorers in the regular Daisy Nationals match will also win funds in addition to advancing on to the Top Gun Shoot Off – top scorer will get $1,500, second will net $1,000 and third $500.
The top three teams in the 2024 Daisy Nationals will also benefit. The 2024 National Champion team will receive $3,000 in Daisy credit, Silver Medal team will win $2,000 in credit, and the Bronze team gets $1,000. These funds will allow these top-performing teams to get the equipment they need to compete at no cost.
The Daisy Nationals brings teams of youth ages 8 to 15 from around the country to the Rogers Convention Center to compete for the National Championship of BB Gun Shooting. This 5-meter, 4-position, NRA-sanctioned match is in its 57th year and crowns Individual and Team National Champions.
Teams consist of five shooters and two alternates. These teams have practiced and competed all year for the chance to qualify for the Daisy Nationals and must place in the top three positions in a state match to get an invitation. In the match, competitors shoot at an official target placed at 5-meters. They shoot 10 shots in the Standing, 10 in the Sitting, 10 in the Kneeling and 10 in the Prone shooting positions. All competitors shoot a Daisy Model 499B, touted as the most-accurate 5-meter BB gun in the world.
Each shot is worth up to 10 points, for a total of 400 possible, but each competitor must also take a test that covers gun safety and general gun/match knowledge. The test is worth 100 points, so each competitor is shooting for 500 points. The Daisy Nationals record score was set two years ago by South Dakota’s Zoe Dissing, who shot an incredible 494.
But it’s not just the competition that makes the Daisy Nationals a hit with youth. Events and fun make these three days all about the kids. There are costume, car decorating and other contests sponsored by Academy Sports & Outdoors and Bass Pro Shops, Barter Bar (an evening of trading items brought from their area) and a night at the Rogers Aquatic Center.
As usual, teams are coming from as far away as Oregon to compete, and South Dakota, Virginia and Georgia are also among the states represented. This year at least 15 states will be represented. Many of these teams have been competing in the Daisy Nationals each summer for the past decade. Any organization can start a BB Team, but most come from the 4-H Shooting Sports program. No matter where they originate, new teams must complete a 10-hour Daisy Shooting Sports Curriculum before ever picking up a BB gun.
“Some coaches bring their teams every year,” said Daisy Public Relations Director Lawrence Taylor. “I’m not sure the exact count, but I know that Coach Howard Baker has brought his Oregon Timber Beasts to the Nationals for 18 or 19, maybe 20 years in a row.”
Early Registration begins June 30, then competitors get their practice time at the line and take the Safety Test on July 1. Competition commences for the next two days with Closing Ceremonies wrapping up on July 3 just in time to head to the Rogers Aquatics Center for the end-of-competition party. For more information, visit https://daisynationals.com/!
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