The Sharon Open is a historical event. Our first Sharon Open was held on November 13 & 14, 1981. Practical pistol shooting was just beginning in Ontario and this match was put on to foster and encourage the Sport. The match committee consisted of Michael Wing King (match director), Pat Breckenridge, Cal Martin and Igor Morin. As well as an open event to encourage all practical pistol shooters, it was also a club event to encourage and recognize our own members.
The annual Rizzi Trophy is the recognition trophy for the highest scoring Sharon member in each year of the competition. The trophy remains in the clubhouse and each winner gets a keeper. The trophy itself also serves to commemorate the youngest qualified practical pistol shooter we had at that time, Tom Rizzi, who met with an untimely death in the early part of 1981. His parents contributed what would have been his membership in the 1981/82 year and were pleased to consent that the donation would go to acquire and maintain such a trophy. Although qualified in 1981, Tom never got the chance to compete in a Sharon Open but he is still with us in spirit.
In that first year, Cal Martin won the Rizzi Trophy and the top three overall shooters were Nick Alexakos, Brian Hoare and Cal Martin. Kirk Houston was the top revolver shooter. There were 61 competitors.
Thanks to the imagination and ingenuity of Michael Wing King, the inauguration of the Sharon Open coincided with the inauguration of the famous Sharon moving vehicle shoot. The stage was called "Time to Leave" and it consisted of each competitor starting off in a vehicle at the bottom of the range. As the vehicle started off and moved to the top of the range the competitor engaged targets as they came into view. That particular scenario in various forms has been a trademark of the Sharon Open and has been one of the stages in almost every Sharon Open.
As time went on and practical rifle and practical shotgun was developed in the club, rifle and shotgun stages became part of the match.
Now we have club trophies, in addition to the Rizzi Trophy commemorating the highest scoring Sharon members in practical rifle and practical shotgun and also the highest overall pistol rifle and shotgun.