2026 End of the Trail
By Marlboro Man
February 2026 saw 21 Australian’s, including seven SSAA Queensland members, travel to Phoenix, Arizona in the USA to compete at End of Trail, the 45th World Championships of Cowboy Action Shooting.
The Aussie contingent consisted of seven SSAA Queensland shooters (Charlie Wagon, Clancy, Frank Buck James, Lucky Strike Lass, Marlboro Man, Peral Starr and Wild Ruby Rose) two shooters from Western Australia (Doc Carnegie and Sister Sarah Carnegie), one shooter from the ACT (Constable Nelson), nine shooters from NSW (Broken Spur, Mean Mongrel Matt, Ringer’s Ruby, The Ringer form Down Under, Sassy Bell, Savage Sam, Tornado Tommy, Trapper from Oz and Waco Kid from Oz) and two shooters from Queensland (Jackaroo and Kathouse Kelli).
This was truly an international championship with competitors from 11 countries.
The event was a week-long affair, with the Wild Bunch Championships and other side matches held from a Monday to Wednesday and the main Cowboy Action Shooting Championships shot over a Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The main match consisted of 12 stages spread out over three days. With 645 competitors shooting, we all took it in turns to shoot four stages a day on either a morning, midday or after wave. In the main match alone, more than 185,760 rounds went down range, but not all of them hit their targets.
Three of the SSAA Queensland members (Frank Buck James, Lucky Strike Lass and Marlboro Man) all shot the match clean, as did six other Aussies (Doc Carnegie, Jackaroo, Kathouse Kelli, Mean Mongrel Matt, The Ringer from Down Under and Savage Sam).
After the dust settled in the Arizona desert, we held our own amongst the best Cowboy Action Shooters in the world. Category results for the SSAA Queensland members were:
- Charlie Wagon – 49er – 12th
- Clancy – Lady 49er – 2nd
- Frank Buck James – Silver Senior – 16th
- Lucky Strike Lass – Lady Wrangler – 4th
- Marlboro Man – Classic Cowboy – 3rd
- Peral Starr – Lady Senior Duelist – 3rd
- Wild Ruby Rose – Lady Senior – 7th
Category results for the other Aussies were:
- Broken Spur – Cowboy – 7th
- Constable Nelson – Senior – 12th
- Doc Carnegie – 49er – 22nd
- Jackaroo – Cattle Baron – 10th
- Kathouse Kelli – Lady 49er – World Champion
- Mean Mongrel Matt – Duelist – 7th
- The Ringer from Down Under – Senior – 8th
- Ringer’s Ruby – Lady Wrangler – 3rd
- Sassy Belle – Lady 49er – 16th
- Savage Sam – Cowboy – 3rd
- Sister Sarah Carnegie – Lady Gunfighter – 2nd
- Trapper from Oz – 49er – 9th
- Waco Kid from Oz – Wrangler – 9th
Special mention to Clancy, Kathouse Kelli, Lucky Strike Lass, Ringer’s Ruby and Savage Sam who all made it into the Top Gun shoot out on the Sunday. Congratulations to Ringer’s Ruby who prevailed, winning the Top Gun Lady shooter.
In addition to the shooting competition, we all had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and making new ones. There are already plans being made by most of the shooters to attend again next year.
If you wish to find out more about the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting, visit the SSAA Queensland website at ssaaqld.org.au/discipline/single-action/ or contact the Queensland state discipline chair Frank Buck James at singleaction@ssaaqld.org.au
