16 Guns Entered
5 Open Guns - Class won by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 45
11 Limited Guns - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 44
Well, it's about time to say goodbye to August and hello to September. The weather is fine with blue skies and a balmy 72degrees at gametime. Our arrays impressario, Chuck Treat, has set up target array series "G" today, so, after a couple of announcements, let's get to it.
As you may have heard, pursuant to winning a chair on the Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Board Of Directors, Rob Potter has taken over the job of Competition Director, and so is now the Match Director for this Clays Match, our Defensive Shotgun Match, and will continue his role as Match Director of our Falling Plates Match. Well Rob, you have your hands full now.
Robs first act as the Clays Match Director was to institute some new policies that should simplify and ensure safe gun handling at our matches. Rob has a long history of competition in IDPA and Speed Steel matches, and knows whereof he speaks. Let's look at how we do it when Rob is running the show. These policies very closely reflect practices in the plates matches, and it's great to have consistency and seamless transitions.
1) Firearms shall remain in holsters or bag until the line official directs the shooters to come to the line and load 5 rounds.
(I'll direct these directions strictly to the Clays Match in this match report). At that time the shooter may draw or unbag his/her firearm and load 5 rounds, putting the safety (if any) on and keeping his/her finger out of the triggerguard. Shooter will assume the "low ready" position and await further direction.
2) While awaiting one's turn to shoot, magazines and speedloaders may be loaded at any time.
3) After a shooter has completed his string of fire, the observer standing behind the pair dueling will physically inspect the magwell and chamber of both the shooters firearms, observing, then declaring the firearms clear. Directions will then be issued to run the slide forward, (slide forward), aim downrange and pull the trigger (hammer down), and direct the shooter to put the cleared gun away (holster or bag).
In the event the shooters firearm has a magazine safety requiring a magazine to be inserted into the magwell in order to pull the trigger, the shooter will insert the (now empty) magazine they just finished using into the firearm, aim downrange and pull the trigger on an empty chamber, and then drop the empty magazine and holster or bag the firearm, all under the watchful eyes of the observer.
For any new shooters not familiar with these procedures, observe and learn well. These are standard safety procedures in effect in every organized firearm contest held anywhere in the USA. (and the world for that matter). Get used to them.
Having completed the firearm clearing procedures, the shooter then may walk back to the other side of the range and reload magazines.
The rest of the procedures in effect for the clays matches have been in effect virtually from the start of the matches. If you have any questions, ask Chuck Nicodemus or Rob Potter, or any of the regular clays shooters. If whoever you ask doesn't know the answer they will direct you to someone who does. Always remember:
THE ONLY DUMB QUESTION IS ONE YOU DON'T ASK!! Safety violations can result in being disqualified from the match, so don't be bashful. With that said, let's take a look at target array series "G" presented at todays match.
Round 1: Straight Line Deductions*
The array starts with standard Green clays, alternating with orange micros. As always, there is the black micro in the middle.
Round 2: Celtic Cross*
On each side of the omnipresent black micro in the middle are four orange micro clays surrounding a green standard.
The trick is to pick 4 out of the 5 clays to hit before ending up engaging the black micro in the middle.
Round 3: Arrows In*
on the outer edge of the array are two stacked orange micros to the left of a green standard, on the right of which is an orange micro with the arrow shape culminating in the black micro in the middle.
Round 4: Bracketed*
Say goodbye to any standard sized clays from here on in. In this array we see 2 orange micros on top, 2 orange micros on the bottom, bracketing an orange micro in the midst of the other 4 micro clays. This forms 2 "squares", one on each side ot the black micro in the middle.
Round 5: "V" for Victory*
Again we see 5 orange micros on each side, this time forming a V. After picking which 4 to engage, and after actually hitting and breaking those four orange micros, the shooter is free to engage the black micro in the middle.
* This reporter has taken the liberty of giving each round of clays a name, nominal to be sure, and subject to change before you see Array Series G again.
At the end of regulation play we have some very high scores and 2 winners. In the Open Class, Ken Bagley Sr. has shot a score of 45. In the Limited Class, Jay Schoonmaker has shot a score of 44. Mighty fine shooting, gents. In closing, we wish to welcome the new shooters, and especially the Juniors. Young Men & Young Ladies, we welcome you to our sport, and hope you enjoy learning and perfecting your skills for a lifetime. Until next week, always remember:
SHOOT FAST! SHOOT ACCURATELY!! BUT MOST OF ALL, SHOOT SAFELY!!!
Hal
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