Founding member of BRSC passes

[Dennis Sorensen]

Steve Zibresky age 89, a Namaka Benchrest Shooter and one of the 7 founding members of Benchrest Shooters of Canada, passed away February 22, 2026 in Calgary. He was very active in building the Namaka Club at the original location. I have fond memories of him at our work parties and competing with him at the first night shoot we held and the Super Shoots.

[Bill Leeper]

Sorry to hear that. A reminder that time passes for all. I don't know that there are any shooters around from the seventies. I'm happy to say though, the new shooters are just as congenial and welcoming as we were. Well, maybe not as nice as I was, but pretty nice nonetheless! Bill

[Rundltrain]

There probably aren't too many who remember those shoots at Namaka. I was fortunate to have had a chance to attend a shoot at Namaka and meet some of the participants. I was a very recent transplant to Alberta, but a keen Benchrest shooter in Ontario. A novice to be sure. Setting up a new life in Calgary chewed up my finances pretty quickly and  I sold my rifle. Fully intending to return. One of my great regrets was missing all those years until resuming in 2019. I remember to this day shooting there and the banter amongst the chaps between relays. AL Murdock became a friend and obtained Terry Mcraken's bullets.for me. Almost 50 years ago
  I also wish I had not sold that rifle. No internet in those days but a magazine article fueled my interest and led me to a Camillus shoot. Seely Masker built the rifle with all the latest technology.
    I guess "when the rubber hits the road", regrets aren't helpful...but the memories are priceless.
     I've included some pictures of a 1980 shoot I attended. I found it in the archives of the old monthly Newsletter we recieved. Rick has made these avaliable to us. I guess to view these pics, one needs to touch the heading at the top of this thread. It shows all the participants at that shoot. One of whom is Jim Leeper.

[Dennis Sorensen]

Jim Leeper was Bill Leepers dad. I barreled a couple of rifles for Jim before Bill was 'smithing'.

Nice to see those old records... that was a year after I moved to BC

[cyanchycki]

I was fortunate enough to get a couple disc's from Bill Gammon before he passed away.  On those disc's are the BRSC printings that he had scanned that he had at the time.  I sure hope someone in Ontario ended up with some of this history from the family.  He was searching for more copies that he did not have.  I am sure that is someplace here on the site the copies he was searching.  Regardless, what a time it was for BR in Canada in those years.

I was informed that prior to 911 it was not uncommon to see 20+ shooters at Selkirk.  Many Americans came from ND and Minnesota to shoot.  911 halted that.  But looking at BR in those states it is pretty quiet today.  Minnetonka numbers have dwindled.  The youngsters are feeling the pinch or just more interested in the action shooting sports.

Cal

[rpollock]

Calvin, the BRSC newsletters are in this dropbox: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/hf9wu7v45ldkbf5j3zlnp/AIzlOiUTJB1ztYV8cDFtA_s?rlkey=30etubjgd66jbgkc6ifgukfjj&st=vgpxqi6p&dl=0

Rick

[Bill Leeper]

I'm surprised I wasn't at that match. I shot a lot in 1980. The Namaka range could be a challenge. At the time, I shot at Namaka, at my home range in Clearwater, B.C., and at Issaquah, Washington. I never had enough money to travel further! Today, I still have to travel significant distances to shoot. Just like everyone else, I guess! Bill

[Rundltrain]

The archives of the old Benchrest Newsletter, are a wealth of information and memories. And Bill; your memory is just fine. I knew I remembered meeting you. But it was a long time ago. And yes; seems you participated often at Namaka. Long drive or not. Some digging in the archives and I found this match. Stan.

[Bill Leeper]

Benchrest shooting has never been exactly mainstream, but places like Namaka and Clearwater took "not mainstream" to extremes.  Both ranges were truly grassroots organizations. Today, the venues have changed but the esoteric nature of the sport has not. That is the attraction for most people, I suspect. Bill.