FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- The United States Practical Shooting Association championship began Thursday (Aug. 28) at the Old Fort Gun Club.
Father and son Heath and Ayden Parsons came from Bastrop, Texas, near Austin, to compete. The two have been shooting together in competitions for one year.
“It’s a thrill. The excitement that I get from going to a match myself for all these years certainly hasn’t left, but it’s nothing in comparison to getting up there and seeing him shoot,” Heath said.
Ayden has been shooting for four years and at 12 years old, he’s already won a world speed shooting championship.
“I wanted him to just go and have fun -- but he went and won a junior world title as well. He's just been on a roll,” his father said.
More than 300 people are competing this weekend from all over the country, and a few competitors are from Canada.
“It’s really great as far as bringing in a lot of people from the surrounding states. And it does bring a lot of revenue to the area,” said marketing director of Walther Arms Inc., Everett Deger.
Even though Ayden is a world champion, he said his goal is to continue to compete as best he can.
There are 13 different stations the competitors shoot at, with varying levels of difficulty. Prizes including guns and accessories will be distributed on Sunday (Aug. 31), the final day of the competition.