CANYON CITY The Oregon State Fast Draw Championships in Canyon City attracted 93 gunslingers including Tod Vonfeldt, the youngest world champion in the history of the fast draw.

The turnout was more than we had expected, said Canyon City resident and North American Fast Draw member Ray Thielke.

The event was held last weekend in historic Canyon City, with the mood set by the towns history-rich murals and shooters dressed in 1800s western attire.

Fast draw competitors, with their Colt .45s strapped to their hips, stepped up to the shooting line as if they were called out into the street in some dusty old Western town.

In reality, they were competing against the fastest hands around, including Vonfeldt, the worlds best. Fans of Tombstone, 3:10 to Yuma, Lonesome Dove, and heroes like John Wayne, Billy the Kid and Clint Eastwood felt right at home as the sound of six-shooters echoed in the streets, and the smell of gunsmoke lingered in the air.

With the theme, The Gunfight at Trails End, the competition was hosted by the Legendary Idaho Shootists and the Great Western Fast Draw Club.

The contest distributed $5,000 in cash and prizes. Larry Hendrick, aka Kaleb from Richland, earned a spot in history as the first Oregon resident to win the championships. Hendrick went home with $500 cash and a championship buckle.

Kathy Lansdowne, aka Cool-hand-Suz of Idaho, took the overall title for the women, also taking home $500 in cash and a championship buckle. Lansdowne and Hendrick have now chalked in several territorial championships.

In the midst of world class talent, Richard Schneider from Nevada, aka Kodiak, set a new world record in a time of .311 seconds.

In the celebrity shoot, local gunslingers stepped up to the line, ready to draw early Thursday morning. Les McLeod had the fastest recorded time as he finished first in the line of shooters, followed by Damon Rand, Rich Tirico, Tom Hutchison, Ryan Joslin, Ron Lundbom and Todd McKinley.

The local shooters were welcomed and congratulated with open arms, as members of the Idaho Shootists, and The Great Western Fast Draw Club gathered around to support the local entertainment.