The Inaugural Annie Oakley Boom Days
 was a great success!

Tim Bradley excites a crowd of over 300 spectators at Pinehurst No. 8

December 5, 2010 - Cool and blustery weather did not deter the 300 people that turned out at Pinehurst No. 8, the site of the Old Pinehurst Gun club, for the inaugural Annie Oakley Boom Days.  The crowd was not disappointed. 

The first shot in 25 years was fired by an up-and-coming shooter, sixteen year old Nathan Hofer, who came from South Dakota specifically to participate in the event.  Nathan, along with three highly accomplished shooters from the USA Shooting Team, warmed up the crowd with an old fashioned “Annie Oakley” trap challenge.  Standing side-by-side, Nathan, along with Olympic Bronze Medalist Corey Cogdell, World Cup Medalist Haley Dunn and JO World Cup Silver Medalist Amber English thrilled the crowd as they systematically picked off the clay targets.  This friendly competition gave the crowd an opportunity to see some highly acclaimed shooters up close and personal. 

After a wonderful rendition of the national anthem by Emmy McLean, Miss Greater Sandhills, the crowd was thoroughly revved up to welcome sharp shooter Tim Bradley.  Not since the days of Annie Oakley, has Pinehurst witnessed the sharp shooting prowess of a true expert.  Bradley amazed the crowd from the start where he effortlessly launched a paint can with his first shot and continued shooting the can tossing and tumbling it to the ground.  And the exhibition just got better.  Despite the cool and blustery weather, Bradley picked off hand-tossed clay in a succession of increasingly greater numbers culminating in nine.  He also wowed the ladies with his new fangled Benelli kitchen tool salad shooter, demonstrating his ability to “scramble” eggs or create a “salad shooter”.  Bradley easily managed to distract the crowd from the increasing cold wind and drizzle throughout his hour long exhibition.  Annie Oakley herself would have enjoyed the weekend held in her honor. 

Based on the warm welcome and the success of this year’s event, Annie Oakley Boom Days will become an annual staple in Pinehurst.  Look for even more events in 2010.