Edson Warner

Edson Warner (6 March 1930 – 20 August 2019) was a Canadian sports shooter.[1] He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.[2] He represented Canada at the World Shooting Championships in Oslo (1952), Moscow (1958) and Wiesbaden, West Germany (1966). He earned a place on nine Bisley teams, and competed in matches or friendlies in 13 countries.

At the 1960 Summer Olympics, Warner led Group Two of 50m prone rifle in qualifying with 394 out of 400, or an average of 98.5 points per target.[3] On the second day, 99 on his first target was second only to the eventual gold medalist's 100. However, 93 on his second target and 95 on his fifth target dropped him from credible challenger to 27th place, even though his score of 578 was only 9 points behind the bronze medalist's score. Such was the level of competitiveness in that event. Fellow Canadian and defending 1956 Summer Olympics bronze medalist Gil Boa finished 12th with 584.

As a member of the Militia in the Canadian Army, he won five Queen's Medal for Champion Shot in the Canadian Armed Forces (1955, '68, '69, '70 and '71);[4] the Canadian Forces Decoration and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, for a lifetime of high level competitiveness, good sportsmanship and contribution to the military and civilian shooting sports.[5] The Major Edson Warner CD QM5 Trophy is awarded to the top individual in Service Rifle, Stage 1 - CAF Reserve.[6]

He was a member of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association's Target Rifle Hall of Fame,[7] inducted in 2001 as the 51st member, and the 4th member in the inaugural induction to the Service Conditions Hall of Fame in 2011, was presented his 60-year badge in 2008[8] following a 60-year tradition of attendance at the National Matches.[9] In 2012, he was named to the Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame.[10]