In the Distinguished Pistol shot competition of the Smith & Wesson Masters, Bowker was the 1986 Masters overall winner. That was the inaugural Masters shooting championship and was held on August 6 with more than 100 of the world's finest pistol shooters assembled at a 125-acre shooting range in Barry, Illinois. The event might go down as one of the toughest all-around challenges to determine who was the world's best.
In addition to Bowker, such outstanding marksmen as Robert Leatham, Brian Enos, Jim Clark, Allen Fulford, Paul Lisbenberg and Linda Perry were on hand for the four-day competition consisting of precision, action and long range silhouette shooting.
Each participant had to compete in all events, using three different handguns and could use a scope for one event of his choice.
Bowker, then from Long Beach, California, tiered a 22, 22 and 34.55 for top gun honors that enabled him to earn $7,500, a Rolex watch, plus other cash prizes.
In precision shooting, the participants had to employ a .22 caliber handgun to knock down a small steel disc at 25 and 50 meters. Bowker used a Model 41 Smith & Wesson with a 7-3/8"- barrel and the sights were a Series 2000 Aim Point. The trigger on the gun was two pounds out of the box.
A Colt .38 Super was employed in action shooting with a Bomar rear sight. ln long range competition, he used a Remington XP 100 in 7 Millimeter Bench Rest caliber. This was a stock gun with no scope.
The story of the event was published in the spring 1987 Handgun Illustrated edition by Jack French. Bowker was in three photos, including the opening photo of the article which shows him competing in precision shooting.
This weekend competition saw more than $87,000 for 181 places awarded and with merchandise awards the total was more than $100,000.00
In 1987 Bowker finished third in Professional Class, fourth in 1988, 12th in 1989 and 10th in 1990. He won the Dress Rehearsal in 1988 and wound up fourth in 1989.
Bowker, taking part in the IPSC, was champion of New York State in 1980 and 1981 plus Great Lakes Section champion in 1981 and the 1982 National Mid-Winter Championship runner-up.
Moving to the NRA Action Shooting, Bowker has done especially well in the Bianchi Cup. In 1985 he set a national record in the .22 caliber event while placing llth overall. That same year, he was the LAPD Pro Cup Winner.
In 1989 competition for the Bianchi Cup, Bowker established a national record in moving target event and was also a two-man team winner with John Pride. Overall it was a 15th place finish.
Other rankings in the Bianchi Cup saw him 19th in both 1980-1981, 24th in 1992-1986, 16th in 1986, eighth in 1987, 14th in 1988, and 37th in 1990. In 1989 he was Bianchi Cup Warmup Champion.
Runner-up finishes were achieved in 1988 at the California Challenge of Champions and in 1989 at the California State Championship.
Bowker was born April 26, 1949 in Silver Creek and graduated from Silver Creek Central School where he played basketball and football for the Black Knights.
