March 29, 2009 Clays Match Report

18 Guns Class won by score

Open Chuck Treat 44

Limited Dan Moore 38

March does not appear to be going out like a lamb. People driving to GHSC to attend today's clays match drove in the rain, it was a cold 54degrees today, with the sky overcast and threatening more rain. I guess we are lucky it doesn't snow. So much for global warming.

First the important stuff. Thanks to Chuck Nicodemus, our Match Director, for hosting our match. Thanks to Doug McLean for driving the microphone and the score-sheet. Doug, if I draw number 15 again I'm putting it back! Thanks to Chuck Treat, Chuck Nicodemus and O.J. for designing the target arrays. We are very fortunate indeed to have match personnel with the imaginations to creat our arrays. Not only are they esthetically pleasing, which is totally irrelevant, but they are challenging. In order to succeed in our clays match, one's fundamentals must be ON!! It is important to not break one's shots until the sight picture and trigger prep are properly done, and one can learn a lot about patience by playing this game. Chuck, Doug, Chuck, OJ Thanks for the great work and for the challenges you present. Now, it's up to the shooters to meet those challenges.

Round 1 today was the "bait" round. 8 Huge Green targets surrounding 1 Huge Black one. Go ahead, shoot fast. How could one possibly miss targets that big? (it's easy, refer to earlier comments about fundamentals and patience.)

O O O O O

O O O O

Round 2 went from Huge to hardly. 8 orange micros surrounded one black micro.

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Round 3 changed colors 180 degrees, but contined in the micro sized target mode. This time 8 black micros surrounded an orange micro.

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Round 4 went back to some green standards, some orange micros, and a black micro in the middle.

O O o O O

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Round 5 did a straight line array of 8 orange micros surrounding a black micro, straightforward but oh so challenging.

o o o o o o o o o

At the end of regulation play we have 2 winners. In the open class, Chuck treat led the field with the high score for the match of 44, a testament to the challenge presented by GHSCs Clays Matches. In the Limited Class Dan Moore let the way with a score of 38, again showing the precision needed to succeed in this game.

Well folks, another clays match, another challenge, and another good excuse to engage in the consumption of bi-carbonates.

We'll see you all out here next week, a good grasp of the fundamentals of shooting in hand, and ready for the challenges when you step up to the firing line. Until then, remember this very important mantra:

SHOOT FAST, SHOOT ACCURATELY, BUT MOST OF ALL - SHOOT SAFELY!!

Hal

March 24, 2009 Plate Match Report

30 Guns came out tonight
3 Juniors - Class won by Kiel Marvik
17 Young Bucks & Does - Class won by Rob Potter
6 Seniors - Class won by Dan Moore
4 Super Seniors - Class won by George Flaherty

30 guns came out to play on this 46 degree, overcast evening. All the heaters were on, and there was a really neat & warm split wood bonfire at the top of the rifle range. For a cool spring evening, this was OK. Welcome to our new plate shooters, and welcome back to some who haven't been around for awhile. While I'm thanking people, thanks to Mathew and Wolfgang Seagraves and helpers for setting up the stage. Thanks to Rob Potter for running the line, with a lot of help from several of the other shooters, and thanks to George Flaherty for running the board in Reba's absence, again, with a bunch of help. And finally, thanks to everyone who pitched in to break down the stage after the match. With all this help, we got in 5 stages and a sudden death finale with time to spare. A good time was had by all.

We join the last of the finals in the sudden death finale, Kiel Marvik having already won the Junior Class for the evening. George Flaherty, James Austin & Rob Potter comprised the final 3 and they dueled back and forth as they had most of the night.

We join the festivities as James duels with Rob, edging him for the win. George and Rob duel with George winning this one. James and Rob duel with James winning, putting Rob on the trailer for this week as our Young Bucks & Does Class winner. George and James are the two left standing, and folks, it's showtime!

James has 2 numbers on the board, to George's 1. Shooters load & make ready. shooters ready? Standby! James and George hammer the plates and James edges George by 1 plate. String, duel, class and match to James Austin.

Don't feel too bad George. Winning the Super Senior class is getting to be quite an accomplishment. We all know this, as we see you do it so often.

OK folks, spring is coming, I've heard it on the news. See you all here at GHSC next week and we'll all enjoy it together.

Hal

March 22, 2009 Clays Match Report

22 Guns Entered class won by Score 9 Open Guns Chuck Treat 46 13 Limited Guns Rob Potter 42 52degrees at gametime today, partly cloudy skies, a light breeze so the weather of the past few weeks fades from the memories of the GHSC Clays shooters. The target arrays were as bright and cheerful as the weather, and about equally as challenging. Thanks go to Chuck Nicodemus for hosting our clays match, and for dreaming up the target arrays. Thanks to Doug Mclean for running the match and scoring it, while juggling the lineup cards, the microphone, and "motivating" our shooters. With 22 guns today, Chuck and Doug had plenty to do to keep from getting bored, and the match ran smoothly and steadily. Thanks also go to our lineup of shooters for getting the screens set up, targets changed and the stage broken down after the match. And what a match it was. Round 1 saw a mix of clay targets including the entire gamut of colors. o O O o O O o O O Round 2 changed to a display of micros. o o o o o o o o o Round 3 mixed large and small, orange green black, it was all there. o O O o o o O O o Round 4 started to darken the screens a bit, with just a hint of color for a teaser. O o o O o O o o O Round 5 saw the onset of darkness, at least on the screens. 2 rows, mixed sizes and colors, and trouble - the lot o o o o o O O O O At the end of regulation play, we have a couple of winners. In the Open Class, Chuck Treat led with a score of 46, coincidently the high score for the match. Congrats Chuck. In the Limited Class, Rob Potter showed the way with a winning score of 42. Chuck, don't look back, people have you in their sights. OK folks, same time same place next Sunday. Bring your most accurate, fastest pet handgun out and show us how it's really done, back home where people used to use their handguns to put food on the table, and vanquish bad guys. We'll all be right here waiting. Hal

March 17, 2009 Plate Match Report

MATCH WINNER: ROB POTTER 29 ENTERED CLASS WON BY 4 Junior Guns Wolfgang 16 Young Bucks & Does Mark Kimura 4 Seniors Mark Wuesthoff 6 Super Seniors George Flaherty It was a dark, rainy, cold, overcast night, 44degrees at gametime, and 29 guns came out to play. We grow'em tough here in Washington State. All the heaters were on, and everyone at the range was glad of it. First things first; A lot of people are owed a great deal of thanks from this Match Director. I was running late to the match tonight, and when I got there everything was set up, the sign up sheet was mostly full, and we were ready to rock & roll. Thanks so much to all those who pitched in to help set up the stage. Thanks to Rob, Reba, OJ, George James.............all those that helped run the match tonight. The list is long and distinguished. At this point let me depart from the standard format of this report, and not give a blow by blow rundown of all the duels. The one point of consistency in the match tonight, this reporter notwithstanding, was a steady display of fast, accurate shooting, and a lot of "Want To" amongst the shooters. All the usual suspects were on tap for the finals tonight, and the winners were.........(drumroll please............) In the Junior Class - Wolfgang. In the Young Bucks & Does Class - Mark Kimura. the Senior Class Winner tonight was: Mark Wuesthoff the Super Seniors Class was won by George Flaherty. THE MATCH WINNER; Rob Potter The match came down to Rob and OJ dueling it out for the ribbon. Rob had about half of the board covered with his numbers, and he had gone through the pack tonight like the Grim Reaper driving a runaway Nighthawk. Rob didn't quit when it was all on the line, and congrats to OJ for almost staying with him on the last run. Folks, it only gets better from here. Come on out to our practices on Monday night at 5pm and get tuned up for the Tuesday matches. All the hot guns come out Mondays, so come on out and intimidate George, Rob, James, the two Marks, Reba and the others, and get a close-up look at what GOOD really looks like. See ya next week. Hal

March 15, 2009 Clays Match Report

BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH 16 Guns Class won by Score Open - 8 Jay Schoonmaker 45+7 Limited - 8 Bryce Brown high 30s (blame old age...Ed.) Attention shooters, winter is still here. We got snowed on early this morning, and the match dawned cold, 44 degrees, wet with rain mixed with snow & sleet, and windy. All the heaters were on and roaring, and everyone could easily be found huddling around them. Still, 16 guns came out to enjoy the fresh air; 8 Open guns and 8 Limited guns. The arrays changed with each round, and were all colorful and challenging. The trick today was deciding the best way to engage each array so that as little movement on the part of the gun was necessary. If each array is studied, there comes a roadmap dictating the best path through them. Round 1 showed a black micro surrounded by 8 orange micros. ooo o ooo o o Round 2 showed 3 orange micros over a green standard, with a black micro in the middle ooo o ooo O O Round 3 showed all black micros surrounding an orange center micro ooo o ooo o o Round 4 showed 8 black micros surrounding a green standard ooo O ooo o o Round 5 showed alternating orange and black micros, all the way across o o o o o o o o o At the end of regulation play, Bryce Brown had won the Limited Class with a score in the high 30s. This reporter apologizes for the oversight, but it got kind of busy toward the end of the match, and I forgot to look at the final scores. (except for my own of course) Hal Hansen and Jay Schoonmaker shot to a tie in the Open Class, each with a score of 45. Yep! Shootoff!! The target screens moved back to 44 feet and sported all black micros, all the way across. Shooters to the line, load 5 rounds. Shooters ready? Fire!! Jay and Hal limped through the strings of fire with each getting 2 targets. Hmmm. Finalists ought to do better than that. This reporter even had a failure to feed malfunction that he was lucky to clear without dropping a round. Still, after the jam was cleared he managed to hit a 2nd clay to tie Jay for that string. Let's try this again. Once again Hal and Jay square off on the target arrays, showing the same array as the first shootoff string, and with the targets once again at 44 feet. Shooters, load 5 rounds. Shooters ready? Fire!! This time is much better, especially for Jay Schoonmaker. Jay hits all 5 of his targets, while Hal misses one. String, Shootoff and match high score to Jay Schoonmaker with 45+2+5. Well done Jay. I'll be back. Next Sunday will once again be Ruger - Ruger Playtime. See you then, and we'll both see you all next Sunday. In the meantime remember, March has definitely come in like a lion. I guess we'll all see if it goes out like a lamb. Hal

March 10, 2009 Plate Match Report

March 10, 2009 Plate Match Report 42 Guns Entered - Tying the all-time high entry for the GHSC Plate Matches Class Won by 2 Juniors Kiel Marvik 30 Young Bucks & Does James Austin 4 Seniors Mark Wuesthoff 6 Super Seniors George Flaherty The evening started out cool and clear, with blue skies and a temperature of 38 degrees. No snow tonight though, and with all the heaters out and roaring, the comfort level, shooting or not, was acceptable. Remarks were heard from the shooters on the firing line that their breath looked like smoke from their guns, sometimes obscuring the plates. As the evening progressed, and darkness fell, the temperature fell to 34 degrees. Still not freezing, but there was no lack of fresh air. We had a record equaling number of entries tonight, 42 guns, but thanks to the efficiency of the match staff, and thanks to all those that pitched in to set up the stage, we were able to get in 4 rounds with a sudden death finale, and still had a few minutes left over. Way to go shooters, way to move things along smartly. We join the sudden death finale in progress, with Kiel Marvik already having won the Junior Class. Good shooting Kiel. For any newcomers that think that kids can't shoot, may I suggest you give Kiel and Wolfgang your full attention when you come to the line against them. Otherwise, you are liable to have your pride handed to you. These guys are good by any standard, and getting better with age. Welcome back to Mike Burt. Mike has not made an appearance for a good while, and it's good to have him back. Mike gave everyone a good run for their money tonight, and it wasn't until well into the sudden death phase of the match that Bryce Brown put him on the trailer. Welcome back Mike. Mark and Rob then dueled in a preview of the final finals, with Mark winning this one. Reba and Mark dueled with Reba winning the duel, followed by Rob and James shooting it out, with Rob winning. Mark and Bryce dueled with Mark winning this one, exit Bryce. Rob and Reba had a family squabble, with Rob getting there first. Then on the replay, Reba showed Rob who was really boss. James and Mark dueled with James winning with a string of fire that must've approached 2:10 secs. Wow!! James did it again against Mark, and didn't take much longer to do it either. Rob and Reba had another tift, with Rob winning this one, then Mark put Reba on the trailer to become our Senior Class winner tonight. Mark dueled against Rob with Mark winning this one, and folks, it's showtime. The two left standing, out of 42 guns, are Mark Wuesthoff and Rob Potter. Mark has 1 number on the board, to Rob's 2. Shooters, Load and Make Ready. Shooters Ready? Stand By!! At the horn Mark evened the score at one each. For all the marbles, it's now Mark and Rob, each with 1 number. You folks know the range commands. At the horn both guns go for it, and both hammer the plates fast and true. Rob Potter just gets to the line 1st, for the string, the Class, and the Match Win. Well done Rob. And, well done to the entire field. 42 Guns, 4 Rounds, Sudden Death, time left over, and we're looking at next week now. Now this week, Remember: SHOOT FAST! SHOOT ACCURATELY!! BUT MOST OF ALL, SHOOT SAFELY!!! Hal

March 8, 2009 Clays Match Report

16 guns entered


Class Won By Score

10 open guns Jay Schoonmaker 46
6 Limited guns Jim Skedd 39

It was 46 degrees at game time, with beautiful blue skies, cool, but with the heaters on it felt good. Midway through the match, in round 3 to be exact, the Puget Sound Convergent Zone, well, converged, and the skies poured forth with snow, sleet, & rain. The temperature, in conditions like these of course......Went UP! Now it was 52 degrees. By the end of the match, the ground was white, it was snowing hard. Hard at least by Western Washington standards for the Month of March.
16 guns came out to shoot in the snow; 10 Open guns and 6 Limited guns. Now the heaters felt REALLY good!! The snow didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm for shooting at the clays either. The arrays changed from round to round, and were as colorful as the ever-whitening ground.
In the 1st round, we had 8 black micros bracketing 1 orange micro.
In round 2, we had 8 orange micros bracketing a black micro.
Round 3 found 6 orange micros and a green standard clay staggered and bracketing a black micro.
Round 4 found an array of orange micros, all the way across in a staggered pattern.
Finally, in round 5 we saw 6 orange and 2 black micros all bracketing a black micro centerpiece.
As if snowed harder, the competitors shot better. By now the snow was completely covering the ground, with the snow settling and the sleet bouncing. When the shooters went out to re-hang the clays they would come in looking like snowmen, abominable and otherwise. Well, so much for global warming.
At the end of regulation play we had a couple of winners. Jay Schoonmaker led the Open Class with a score of 46. Jim Skedd and his predatory Nighthawk took the Limited Class with a score of 39. Jim was heard to say at the end of the match that he would have scored higher, but all the snowflakes kept knocking his .45ACP bullets out of the way. Apparently Jays little .22LR bullets zigged and zagged around all the snowflakes and sleet pellets.
Fortunately, the roads were just wet, not slick, nothing was freezing, yet!, and so all the adventures hopefully ended at the conclusion of the match. Thanks to Chuck Nicodemus for hosting the match today, and thanks to Doug McLean for doing the announcing and score keeping. Thanks also to OJ for designing and arranging the target arrays. This match just doesn't get boring. See you all next week.

Hal

March 1, 2009 Clays Match Report

18 guns entered
11 Open Class Guns
7 Limited Class Guns

We start the month of March with our new, at least for our Clays Match, classes of gun entries. A brief review of said classes is in order. In the Open Class, the choices of equipment, as long as they are handguns, are OPEN. Optics, Compensators, any caliber, rather they are rim fire or center fire, and as long as the firearm is safe and dependable, bring it on.
In Limited Class, the choices of equipment are Limited, but not much. No optics; iron sights only, no compensators, and again, any caliber rather it be rim fire or center fire. And of course, the firearms must be safe and dependable, which allows a lot of leeway for light but safe triggers, whatever type of iron sights you may prefer, and pick a caliber to your preference.
18 guns started the month of March by entering our Clays Match, and welcome to you all. 11 of the handguns were Open Class, and 7 were Limited Class. The arrays were challenging and varied as usual, and thanks to OJ Kimura for arranging the target patterns. For rounds 1 & 2 we had 3 orange micros and green standard sized clays bracketing black micro center clays. For round3 we ditched the huge green standards, and went with 8 orange micros bracketing black micro center clays. For round 4 the arrays remained the same, but for round 5 we had 8 black micros bracketing orange micro center clays.
To top off the event today, it was 50degrees at game time and with a couple of heaters going it was as warm as spring, which is coming the 20th of this month. Can summer be far behind?
At the end of regulation play we had a couple of winners. In the Open Class, with the high score for the day, Chuck Treat led the way. In the Limited Class Mark Wuesthoff and his hotrod revolver was the winner. OK everyone. The stage is set for a great summer of Clays Shooting, Plate Shooting and good times to be had by all. See you here next Sunday and we’ll do it again.

Hal

Steel Results March 3, 2009

Total Entries: 31 Guns

Match Winner: George Flaherty

Junior Class: 2 guns - Kiel Marvik, winner

Young Bucks & Does Class: 17 guns - James Austin, winner

Senior Class: 5 guns - Mark Wuesthoff, winner

Super Senior Class: 7 guns - Hal Hansen, winner

It was a cool evening, 52 degrees at game time, but it felt colder. We had all 3 heaters on and roaring, plus some of the guys had a campfire on the open ground at the top of the rifle side of the range. The campfire sure looked and felt good, and we all hope it will become a tradition on chilly Tuesday evenings.

This reporter and Plate Match Director wishes to take this opportunity to thank the guys that get to the range early and set up the stage. Thanks to the guys who runs the board and the firing line, and to all those guys & gals who pitch in to take the stage apart at the end of the evening. All during the match each Tuesday whenever something needs doing, shooters are literally standing in line to jump in and do it. Way to go shooters, We all appreciate it.

The large field of shooters tonight necessitated limiting the match to 4 rounds and a sudden death finale. We were able to get in that much shooting only because of everyone's willingness to help and the smooth and practiced efficiency of the various people doing all the many tasks inherent in putting on a match like this.

We pick up the action in the midst of the finals. I use the term "action" advisedly tonight, as the speed and accuracy of the shooters increased as the night went on. Let's start in a duel between James and Ron, this one won by James. Then Mark and Chris dueled with Mark winning, followed by George showing this reporter the door. Mark then got by George and Ted followed up with a win over Mathew.

Mark then put Ted on the trailer in a fast duel. James and George gave a preview of things to come, with James winning this one.

Mark then put Chris on the trailer, and George got some payback against James. Mark followed up with a win against Mark, and then did it again back to back. Mark decided enough was enough, and beat George in a rematch from earlier. Folks we are just about there.

At this point, we have 3 guns still standing: George, James and Mark. First, George duels with Mark, and is victorious, putting our Senior Class winner, Mark Wuesthoff on the trailer. Now it's James and George, each with one number. Shooters, Load and Make Ready! Shooters Ready? Stand By!! At the horn, James and George go for it. Not much time elapses, and we have a winner. George Flaherty is not to be denied tonight. James Austin comes away with a win in the Young Bucks and Does Class, and George Flaherty emerges as our Match Winner tonight. Congratulations George. Not to bad for a guy your age. (this reporter will doubtless pay for that one)

To catch everyone up on ancient history, Kiel Marvik was our Junior Class winner, and by virtue of George winning the match, Hal Hansen sort of backs into the Super Senior Class win. This reporter will take it any way he can get it. When he can get it::)

Ok Folks, we'll see you here next Tuesday evening and we'll play this game again. Just a reminder, our Monday night practices are becoming more and more popular, and we now have both racks set up so 2 shooters can shoot at the same time. There is very little, if any, time wasted standing around. Come on out and get tuned up for the Tuesday evening matches. Remember, practices are held at 5pm Monday evenings, national holidays excluded. This reporter wishes to leave you shooters with these words of wisdom:

SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL!

Larry Vickers

See you all next week

Hal