Armando Valdes, a Miami police officer, has never had to fire his pistol in the line of duty.
Lucky thing for the bad guys.
Valdes successfully defended his limited title in the fifth annual Southern Classic action pistol match at the Markham Park Target Range Sunday.
Valdes totaled 564.2 points in the two-day match, shooting his .40-caliber Glock Model 22, the same gun he carries on the job. The limited, or stock, division is for shooters who use firearms with no modifications, such as muzzle brakes or optical sights.
Joe Kessler repeated as the unlimited champion, compiling 791.5 points.
Rick Bowerman, the top master class shooter, was second overall at 742.6. Tony Pierantozzi, the top Class A shooter, was third overall at 681.5. Kim Stroud, the top woman, was ninth at 609.4.
Valdes was 14th overall, a fine performance considering the difference between a limited handgun and an unlimited one - it is like the difference between a Buick and an Indy racer. His finish as the top limited shooter was even more impressive considering Valdes is recovering from an August, 1993 fall in which he broke both arms.
"Although I'm still in pain, I no longer feel handicapped," said Valdes, who needed surgery and two screws to repair the break in his left forearm and is still in rehabilitation. "This is definitely a mental boost for me."
Until his accident, Valdes was brimming with confidence. In 1990 he won the stock class at the International Pistol Shooters Confederation World Championship in Australia.
In 1991 and '92 he competed all over the world in preparation for the 1993 IPSC Worlds. He won national titles in Panama, Argentina and Ecuador as well as the North American Championship and the South American Cup. Two weeks before the 1993 World Championship in London, Valdes broke his arms.
"So that shattered my dream of repeating as world champion," said Valdes, who won the stock class in the South American Cup three weeks ago in Argentina. "I see this as another step in wanting to reach my goal of being world champion again."
Valdes, 34, has been shooting for nine years and preaches what he practices. He not only teaches shooting for the City of Miami Police Department and for the police academy at Miami-Dade Community College, he creates their lesson plans. He's also a member of the city's SWAT team.
"The gun comes out just about every time we go out," Valdes said, "but thank God I haven't had to discharge it."
The event featured nine courses of fire comparable to real-life situations. For example, Clean-up on Aisle 4, complete with stocked shelves, simulated a shootout in a supermarket.
The Bivouac stage began with shooters reclining on a cot in a tent, their guns stowed in a case. Competitors, who shot at cardboard and reactive steel silhouette targets, were scored on time as well as accuracy.
SOUTHERN CLASSIC RESULTS Unlimited: Joe Kessler.
Limited: Armando Valdes.
Master: Rick Bowerman.
High Lady: Kim Stroud.
Class A unlimited: 1. Tony Pierantozzi 2. Tim Meanor 3. Bob Donaldson.
Class B unlimited: 1. Jim Kage Jr. 2. Wayne Berquist 3. Sandy Thalheimer.
Class B limited: 1. Joe Hart 2. Dennis Kacheline.
Class C unlimited: 1. John Behe 2. Dick Gavigan 3. Jimmy Brock.
Class C limited: 1. Drew Lasker 2. Michael Handy 3. Doug Schaper.
Class D unlimited: 1. Mark Weir 2. Betty Napier 3. Erikka Thalheimer.
Class D limited: 1. Sergio Negreira 2. Rob Middlemas 3. John Spiller.
Unclassified unlimited: 1. Jose Valles 2. Terry Wilson 3. Don Castagna.
Unclassified limited: 1. Jeff Chamblit 2. Gary Napolitano 3. Scott Bialy.
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