The only excitement about single shot rifles is the bit of controvery that surfaces from time to time. Nothing wrong with that, probably healthy. But how do we recapture the interest generated when Coors was sponsoring those shoots?
Money. Nothing stirs folks competitive nature like the promise of substantial reward. Let's offer the prize and publicize the offer in many shooting journals. Let's try to get Olympians like Matt Emmons interested in this sport, at least for the money. 
The ads would carry a website that would offer the history and romance of this fine sport. Links also to folks like CPA, Ballard, etc. Maybe even get old David Tubbs into this. Or the kid from California who is beating David's records. The rules would be simple; single shot rifle of 1917 type or replicas of same, iron sights, shot in one day. No jackets.

Chances are this campaign would only cost as much of the ads. Throw down the glove to these international type shooters, challenge them, offer the prize.

Yes, Jim and Jim have been and remain outstanding shots. One of the problems older shooters have, and just hitting 70 I understand, is that we don't practice much with iron sights. A mere 49 years ago at the AAMU, Ft. Benning, it was proven to me that the opical error at 600 yards was about 2". This was done by having a stationary MI pointed at a reversed target. Communicating by hand-crank phones, and with the "shooter" looking through the sights, a person at the target received directions and moved a 20" disc until the shooter ssid "mark it". The disc had a hole in the center and it was marked with a pencil. Center to center of most distant marks averaged just a fraction over 2". Conditions were a black target against a white background, a six-oclock hold, sights blackened, post front, aperature rear. And younger eyes. The eyes are not really the problem for older shooters. In most cases shooting glasses, aperatures, etc., can make most corrections. What older shooters suffer from, and it appears that this happens generally past 60, is a that the brain is shrinking and along with it a similar decline in the balance system. The shaking we experience comes from trying to maintain an aiming point while the central nervous system is lagging behind. Just watch geezers trying to do things in a hurry. Herky, jerky, nowhere.  Balance exercises will help. Keep the legs strong. But it ain't never going to be the same. The secret is to never grow old. I'm working this problem and when I have compounded a medical nostrum you will see me peddling it on an TV infomercial. Can't be any more questionable then the penis enlargement pills being hustled!  As to the shooting of 2301 with irons it will take a world class shooter performing under very good conditions. Should we lower the threshold. Maybe dropping the level for female shooters. Just kicking ideas around to stir things a bit. Since we don't have costumes and six guns, nor do we play SWAT team wannabees, we need something to stir the pot. Maybe publications would jump on the challenge aspect of the deal. 
Like our Editor is finding out stories can sometimes be hard to find. How many more bullcrap articles can we stand in the American Rifleman about the "ideal caliber" for Whitetails,etc.

Sure. And I may attempt to do the same exercise with new HP shooters at the Phoenix range. I recall reading somewhere that Harry Pope, upon learning of Hudson's score, commented that "he must have used iron sights". What was Pope trying to convey? Possibility that the wiggle visible in a scope contributes to negative thoughts and diminished confidence and resultant poorer performance for the shooter. Meantime I'll continue working on my "cure" for what ails older shooters. Active ingredients to date include, LSD, Meth, Viagra,Ex-Lax.

As to that PSE, and his being blessed with skills and confidence, I watched 83 y.o. Auggie Westergard shoot fine iron sighted scores from the bench! The Army coaches hammered us time and again with 1939 1000 yd Championship at Camp Perry. A marine Pfc shooting on the 5 ring target kept 27 straight shots in the 20" V ring! (You were permitted to keep shooting past the initial 20 rounds so long as you were in the V-ring) He shot a Springfield 03, the Marines did not adopt the M1 until about 1941. I don't know if he shot it with issue sights in which case the sight radius would have been no more than 18". He probably shot Palma Match made by Remington. 

I would guess there are a dozen guys shooting today that could match Dr Hudsons 2300 score with Iron sights. To shoot that score Irons would not be the real handicap. Not making any errors or off shots is what you need to do.

What I would be more intrested is a matching prize, one for traditonal class rifles and one without any rules other than Iron sights.

I would guess there is no pratical difference in potental score with the more modern strker actions.  You would have to go to real fast lock time and velocity like a modern bolt action could provide  to improve on a typical well set up pre 1917 single shot. Bench rest is another matter but in my mind offhand the old boys are just as good.

Boats

Thanks Joe for remembering the good ol' days of the Coors Regionals. I was a callow youth of 53. Now just callow. Recently I spent much research time on this matter of diminished reflex speeds  and postural instability as we age. 
There is no magic pill. Naturally, lower body conditioning. That wiggle seems to focus around the hips but that is a result and not a cause. The other thing being suggesed is video games, fast ones like NASCAR. I have not looked into this yet but it makes sense. Contrary to accepted shooting practice the use of a stimulant might help. The good neurological sites suggest that 50mg of caffine 30 minute prior to starting an endeavor has proven helpful via extensive testing.  That's about 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee. I believe the No-Doz tablets are 200mg each for those sensitive to coffee. "Choking" via stress.
I've really suffered during tennis competitions. What happens is that your shots start falling about 1 foot shorter in the court. The cause is a very subtle tightening of major muscle groups.  This takes pressure off your opponent and puts you under the gun. At this time in life I'm simply going to the firing line, get the best sight picture I can, fleeting that it may be, and squeeze off. No stress in the back or stomach. Accept that shot, move on to the next. Most important, laugh and have some fun. No use crying.  Two weeks ago I talked with three time Gold medalist Lones Wigger, Lt.Col. (ret) at a major smallbore shoot. He holds the record at 50 & 100 meters prone. 400x400. Now he shoots 396's what puts him deep in the standings. Wigger is about 66 years old. A 20 y.o. female won the shoot. Pretty good looking too.

I've never shot rifle competitively, but I did shoot Bullseye Match pistol for a number of years. I found that in my youth, the times I shot best were matches held in the evening, after I had worked all day, and was basically dog tired!
I seemed to have enough jitters on Saturday AM matches, that I couldn't settle down, and shoot well. But when I was pretty tired, I settled in quickly, and shot the best scores I ever had.
In the old days of competitive shooting, prize matches were what got a lot of really good shooters involved. I think there are still those who are in it for the monetary reward, as well as the personal satisfaction. I think a prize match might bring in some more interest. It might also intimidate some average, or below shooters. 
It is an interesting subject though!

Leadball, raising the testosterone level by injecting steroids just does not have any effect on relex speed or balance. I did research the topic. If it would help us old shooters our rear ends would look like pincushions! Early on, when I started this topic touting the 2301 shot by Hudson it may have appeared that I was ignoring the 2300 + scores shot by Jim Luke and Jim Feren. Their scores are brilliant in their own right.