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ART

GRUNDY

ATHLETE

MARKSMANSHIP

CLASS OF 2005

Art Grundy was an Olympic-calibre marksman. One of the only Canadians ever to receive the Distinguished Marksman Award from the USA National Rifle Association, Grundy excelled in small-bore (22-calibre) shooting from the prone, kneeling, and standing positions at distances of 50 to 100 yards. He competed outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter.

Grundy was born in Windsor on December 1, 1933.

He won the 1964 Canadian Open and Closed Championship, which was contested in Ottawa and included American shooters.

In 1976, Grundy finished third at the Canadian Olympic Trials. While his performance qualified him for the Olympics, Canada decided to take only three shooters to the Games as opposed to the customary four. Another competitor had qualified for both the prone and standing competitions, meaning Grundy was the odd man out.

In 1979, Grundy set the Ontario prone record with a score of 11 9211 200. The record has since been eclipsed.

In 1980, Grundy again qualified for the Olympics, this time by winning the Canadian Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, he missed out again as Canada decided to boycott the Moscow Games. Instead, he represented Canada at the Grand Prix of Brazil.

Grundy was the Canadian prone champion in the Veteran (age 60-plus) category in 1984, ’86, and ’87. He continued to find success later in life. He won gold medals at the ’94 and ’95 Indiana State Matches, contributing to his recognition as a “Distinguished Marksman” by the USA National Rifle Association in ’96.

Grundy won the Michigan State Long Range (200 yards) Championship in 1998 and 2000. In ’99, he took the USA Nationals Senior (65-plus) “Anysight” Championship. He won further Anysight titles at Indiana State (in 2000 with a perfect score of 1600/1600) and Ontario (2001).

Grundy won the 2004 Mons Club Championship at CFB Borden, which involved a 30-calibre rifle and targets at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards.

Grundy represented his province and country on several occasions throughout his career. He twice travelled to Bisley, England with Team Ontario (1994, 2000) and joined Team Canada at the World Championships in Bisley on eight occasions between ’77 and ’98. He also shot for Canada at five World Long Range Matches at Palma (’68, ’82, ’85, ’92, ’99) and five Pershing Team Matches (’66, ’70, ’82, ’86, ’93).

Grundy qualified 25 times for Canada’s Dewar Rifle Team, which competed in Canada, the USA, Britain, and South Africa. He also represented the Ontario Provincial Team on 25 occasions.

Outside of the Grand Prix of Brazil in 1980, which was funded by the Canadian Government, Grundy was responsible for paying his own expenses throughout his career. Had he received funding, it is very likely that he would have been able to participate in — and win — several further championships. Grundy is known to have made his own ammunition from separately purchased cases, bullets, primer, and power.

During Grundy’s career, adverse weather conditions — including wind, rain, clouds, and “in and out” sunshine — often affected his shooting accuracy. He and his competitors were allowed only one minute between shots, during which time they were required to mark their own scorecards and chart the wind, among other responsibilities.

Remarkably, Grundy suffered from poor eyesight throughout his life. He had astigmatism, experienced “floaters,” and was farsighted.

Outside of shooting, Grundy was an impressive Lacrosse player. He spent 12 years, between 1959 and ’71, playing Senior B Lacrosse. He won back-to-back Canadian Senior “B” Lacrosse Championships with the Windsor Clippers and Windsor Warlocks in ’70 and ’71.

Grundy passed away on June 10, 2012.

Grundy Art
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