GREENVILLE — Speed, precision and Old West tradition were on full display during the Annie Oakley Extreme Cowboy Competition held Friday through Sunday as part of Annie Oakley Days at the Great Darke County Fair horse arena.
Competitors from seven states raced through the arena on horseback, firing single-action .45-caliber revolvers loaded with black powder blanks to burst balloons in a fast-paced event that combined horsemanship with marksmanship.
The weekend competition featured a full slate of Western-themed events, including Cowboy Mounted Shooting with pistols, rifle and shotgun, Annie Oakley Extreme Cowboy Versatility, Ranch Trail Obstacles, Ranch Horse Pleasure classes and Cowboy Speed Races. The variety of competitions showcased the versatility of horse-and-rider teams, testing speed, precision, horsemanship and ranch skills while providing spectators with continuous action throughout the three-day event.
“We’re having cowboy mounted shooting,” said Greenville’s Jesse R. Peters, a Master Natural Horsemanship Instructor with 20 years of experience. “Cowboy mounted shooting is a sport that’s been growing in the U.S. since the early 2000s and late 1990s.”
Peters explained that riders use two single-action revolvers loaded with black powder blanks. The burning powder reaches approximately 20 to 22 feet, allowing riders to burst balloons positioned throughout the course.
Competitors fire five targets with one revolver before switching to a second revolver to complete the final five targets while galloping through the arena.
“There’s a lot going on with a single-action revolver,” Peters said. “You have to pull the hammer back each time and then pull the trigger. The best ones can switch hands and change revolvers without looking.”
Course layouts vary throughout the competition, with organizers selecting from roughly 100 different patterns.
“Some of the patterns have horses running through the arena, shooting five balloons on the way down, turning a barrel, switching guns and shooting five balloons on the way back out,” Peters said. “The top riders are getting it done in about eight seconds.”
The event attracted competitors from Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Beyond the competition, the weekend also served as a fundraiser for the fairgrounds’ Raise the Roof campaign, an effort to construct a roof over the horse arena.
“All the proceeds from this shoot are going to our Raise the Roof campaign,” Peters said. “We’re going to get real serious in the next couple of months looking for sponsorships from businesses and applying for grants to help raise the money.”
Project estimates call for approximately $1.4 million to cover a 120-foot-by-260-foot section of the arena, while enclosing the entire arena and warm-up area would cost about $2.4 million.
“The community has been jumping behind it with lots of support,” Peters said. “The fair board has been wonderful about supporting us.”
Volunteers also played a key role in the weekend’s success, particularly members of local 4-H clubs who reset balloons after every run.
“This weekend it’s been the Buckeye Buckaroos, the Greenville Rangers and the Horse and Rider 4-H clubs who’ve been helping out,” Peters said. “The kids are working their tails off, and all that money is being kept in-house and put toward raising the roof.”
Peters said a covered arena would greatly expand opportunities for the fairgrounds while protecting participants and spectators from extreme weather.
“Putting a roof on this arena is going to make it possible to shoot in any weather, rain or shine,” he said. “It will protect us from the sun when kids are showing during the fair in 90-plus-degree heat, making it about 15 to 20 degrees cooler under the shade, and it will protect us from the rain.”
Last year’s mounted shooting event was canceled because of heavy rainfall, highlighting the need for weather protection.
Peters said a covered arena also would create opportunities to host additional multi-purpose events throughout the year, including activities outside the traditional fair season.
“We can do lots of really cool events here,” he said. “We’re really excited about getting the arena under cover for the entire county to enjoy.”
A roof also would strengthen the fairgrounds’ ability to attract regional and national competitions, Peters said.
“When people come from Louisiana, Michigan and all over, they spend money on fuel and travel to get here,” he said. “A roof guarantees they’re not going to get rained out and disappointed. It’s going to help the draw, bring more people into our community and support local businesses.”
