May 5, 2009 Plate Match Report

29 Guns Entered Match won by James Austin

1 Junior Shooter - Wolfgang Seagraves, uncontested
19 Young Bucks & Does, Class won by Rob Potter
5 Seniors entered - Class won by Rebecca Potter
4 Super Seniors entered - Class won by Leon Potter

We actually had good weather for our match tonight. It was a comfortable (with all the heaters on) 52degrees with scattered clouds and a lot of blue sky showing. Both of the umbrellas were up tonight, in anticipation of a lot of rain, but the heavens must have run out of water, as it was wet in surrounding areas, but at GHSC it was bright and dry.
Thanks to Mathew, Wolfgang, and OJ for showing up early and setting up the stage. Thanks to Reba for running the board and the microphone, and thanks to George Flaherty for coming by, albeit too late to shoot, but staying and running the line. This gave Rob Potter an evening to "play" instead of being "on duty" all evening. Thanks also to Wolfgang and Mathew Seagraves for having our bonfire going, giving more heat for the shooters, and adding no end of ambiance to our match.
Even with 29 guns, due to the efficiency and skill of the match staff, we still got in 5 rounds of regulation shooting and a sudden death finale. With all that action tonight, we finished up with time to spare. Thanks to the match staff, and well done. During the course of the match we have a couple of class winners. Early on, Leon Potter won the Super Senior Class. Then, sometime later Reba emerged victorious in the Senior Class. Wolfgang Seagraves was uncontested in the Junior Class tonight, and shot well enough to be a factor during the early shootoffs. Well done, class winners. At the end of the sudden death finale, we have 3 guns still standing: To no one's surprise they are Rob Potter with 4 numbers on the board, James Austin with 6 numbers up, and OJ Kimura with 1 number. OJ and James Austin square off the begin the finale, and James takes a fast duel over OJ, putting OJ on the trailer for the evening. A lot of people had that problem tonight, OJ.
Now it James Austin with 6 numbers, and Rob Potter with 4 numbers. James and Rob square off and James get the first win. Rob is down to 3 numbers. James and Rob duel again, and this time it's Rob with the win. James 5, Rob 3. James and Rob go for it at the starter's horn for the 3rd duel and this time it's James, and Rob is down to 2 numbers. Rob gets a little payback next time and now it's James with 4 numbers and Rob with 2. Not to be outdone, James takes a flaming duel with Rob, the time for which must have been in the 2second bracket. Wow! James 4, Rob 1. Uh oh. But wait, in the next duel Rob comes back strong, and now it's Rob with 1, and James is down to 3. Can you feel the pressure, people? Finally, one more time. Shooters, Load and Make Ready! Shooters Ready? Stand by! At the horn James and Rob hammer the plates, and we have a winner!! James Austin takes one more duel for the Match win this evening. Rob Potter puts his Nighthawk to Bed with Rebas and Leons and takes home the class win for the Young Bucks and Does Class. The Potter family's trio of Nighthawks have acuitted themselves well tonight. 3 Nighthawks, 3 class wins. And James Austin and his Smith & Wesson wheelgun reigns supreme for another week.
Folks, this is handgun competition at it's best. Come on out to the plates practices on Monday evenings at 5pm and practice, practice, practice. And don't forget the Clays Match on Sunday afternoons at 4pm. It's a different game, but no less challenging, and no less fun. Put these matches together, and it's just about all the fun in one week that a shooter can stand. Almost! See you folks soon.

Hal