November 29, 2009 Clays Match

18 Guns Entered            

 

     10 Open Guns - Class won by:

 

1)  Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 48

 

2)  Hal Hansen with a score of 47

 

3)  we have a tie for third place between Darren Foreman and Ken Bagley Sr. with scores of 44

 

      8 Limited Guns - Class won by:

 

1)  Loren DeShon with a score of 44

 

2)  Jim Skedd with a score of 43

 

3)  Torsten Arnold with a score of 39

 

     Today is the day before November leaves for this year.  It was typical November weather, just a bit warmer. Temperatures hovered at 55degrees, skies were heavily overcast, it wasn't raining or snowing, and not as cold as it has been.  The weather could have been worse, and probably will become so as the winter progresses.  Still, all the heaters were on today, and they felt very good indeed.

     Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat brought us target array series I today.  It was varied, colorful, and challenging.  The challenges varied between large black and green clays, tiny orange micros, target arrays in different shapes, different numbers of clays, but always, always, after crossing the Event Horizon, one began searching for the tiny, black, micro clay in the middle.  After about 4:00 oclock pm it is pitch black outside, and with the ambient light drastically diminished, the black micro in the middle sometimes becomes a matter of guesswork.  Sometimes, depending on the reflected light, it just disappears.

     Round 1 saw 4 standard and 4 micro clays.  The 4 standard clays were black, forming a diamond, and the micros were orange, forming a square.  The innermost black standard clays pointed to the black micro in the middle.  A very colorful array that allowed the shooter to pick big black clays to engage pretty quickly prior to moving inward to engage the tiny centermost micro.  It was an excellent array to start the match, giving the shooters all a false sense of power and invincebility.

     Round 2 featured 3 standard clays, 2 Green, and one Black.  These 3 standard clays were interspersed with 5 orange micros, and in the middle, in increasing darkness, lay the ubiquitous black micro in the middle. 

     Round 3 had but 2 standard clays, 1 Green, and 1 Black.  By now it is full dark, all the range lights are on of course, but the black micro in the middle is really getting hard to see.  sigh.....

     Round 4 saw only orange micros, formed in a circle with 5 clays on each side of the really hared to see,  black??? micro in the middle. 

     Round 5 featured 4 orange micros, formed into squares, and both squares surrounding the black?? micro in the middle. 

Even lowering one's handgun before engaging the center black micro, confirming it was still there, and re-engaging it was no guarantee of success.  Take heart Clays Shooters, spring and summer are coming back, albeit in about 4 - 5 months, By then, seeing the targets will be easier, faster, and all one will have to contend with are the other shooters who will also be able to see the clays faster and better.  Chucks, Treat and Nicodemus, if you are going to retain the black micros in the middle during winter months, how about putting *strobe lights* on them? 

 

     At the end of regulation play, Jay Schoonmaker led the Open Class contenders with a score of 48.  Loren DeShon, with his Airline Pilot eyes, led the Limited Class with a score of 44.  It would appear from the target arrays catalog that we'll start back with target array series "A" next week.  Many thanks to Chuck Treat for bringing us sometimes invisible targets, Thanks to Chuck Nicodemus for hosting our Sunday Clays Match, and thanks to Doug McLean for running the microphone and scoresheet.

We'll see everyone right here next Sunday at 4PM when we take the Clays Challenge again, and we'll see if our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, will allow us to actually see all the targets in the winter months to come.  Maybe we can return to  handgun matches that are between the shooters, and not between the shooters and the course designers.  I live in hope.

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 22, 2009 Clays Match Report

16 guns Entered

 

     6 Open Guns - Class won by   1)  Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 45

                                                    2)  Chuck Treat with a score of 42

                                                    3)  Chuck Nicodemus with a score of 41

 

    10 Limited Guns - Class won by 1) Jim Skedd with a score of 45

                                                       2) Mark (OJ) Kimura with a score of 34

                                                       3) Dan Moore with a score of 23

 

     We're 2/3rds of the way through November already, and the entry list for the GHSC Clays Match is growing again.  16 guns turned out this cold, dry, partially overcast day, but with our 3 heaters roaring, the 46degree temperature at the range felt a bit warmer, especially the closer to the heaters one stood.  

     Thanks to Chuck Nicodemus for hosting our match today, and to Doug McLean for running the scoreboard.  Our arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat brought us target array series "H" today, and as the scores portray, this target array series was plenty challenging.  Thanks Chuck for turning an otherwise sleepy day into one capable of keeping competitors awake nights for another week.

     Target Array Series "H" appears to start off hard, with a combination of orange micros, Green Standards, in the shape of a big Check Mark leaning on a Green Standard, the check pointing at the little tiny black micro in the middle.  Pick 4 out of the 5

intro clays to engage, then if successful in breaking any 4, go to the black micro in the middle and engage it.

 

     Round 2 still looks like a check mark, except now the Green Standard is at the bottom of the point,  on the way in to the black micro in the middle.  Once again, pick 4 of the 5, engage them, and if successful engage and break the black micro in the middle.

 

     Round 3 bids farewell to the Standards, of any color, but retains the shape of a checkmark, all in orange micros, the check pointing once again at the black micro in the middle.  Did I say that Array Series "H" started off hard.  Well, at the start of the match at least we had some Standards to shoot at.  No more.  At least the fastest route to the black micro in the middle is pretty obvious.

 

     Round 4 takes the shape of a parrellogram, the corners of which are defined by orange micros, all micros leading to the black micro in the middle. There are only 4 preliminary orange micros on the screen.  Shoot'em all and head for the black

micro in the middle. 

 

     Round 5 epitomizes "easy".  Uh huh...  A straight line of orange micros surrounding a black micro in the middle.  Only 4 orange micros, then the one in the middle.  What could be easier?  Have you noticed that the best shooters in the lineup are slowing wwaaayyyy down by now, and really concentrating on their task?  By now it's been pitch black dark outside for a good while, when one steps away from the heaters for a couple of minutes one cools right on down, and all of the targets are really little.

That's why the scores were down a bit across the board today.  Easy??!!  NOT!!

 

     At the end of regulation play we have a couple of winners.  In the Open Class, Ken Bagley Sr. led the way with a score of 45.

Target array series "H" sure can hold one's attention, can't it Ken?  In the Limited Class, with a score of 45 also, is Jim Skedd.

Good Shooting Clays Shooters. 

     Next week we will see target array series "I" brought to you courtesy of our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  Chuck, you are nothing if not creative, and we all thank you for the challenges.  We'll see you all right here next week and we'll see just what challenges target array series "I" presents. 

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 15, 2009 clays match report

10 guns entered 

 

     4 Open Guns - Class won by David Lee with a score of 45 + 2

         2nd place in Open Class - Hal Hansen with a score of 45 + nothing

 

     6 Limited Guns - Class won by Loren DeShon with a score of 44

apologies for not listing 2nd & 3rd placings, this reporter forgot.

 

     November is halfway over already, and the weather shows it.  It was dark, completely dark by 4:30pm, cold - 46degrees at gametime, overcast with intermittant drizzle.  A typical November day in Western Washington.   The lights were on, one heater roaring, and the shooting challenging enough to wake the dead.

     Chuck Treat, our Arrays Impressario, brough us target array series G today.  Thanks also go to the competitors that set up, replenished, and removed the screens and clays today.  Thanks as always to Chuck Nicodemus for hosting our Sunday afternoon match, and welcome back to Doug McLean, replete with photographs of his latest hunts.  Doug finally quit talking about how good the meat from his latest hunt is going to taste long enough to run our scoresheets and microphones.  If your freezer gets too full Doug, some of us will offer to take the meat off your hands, since it's you. 

     Target Array series G started off with great promise.  White standard sized clays alternating with orange micros, and in a straight line leading to a highly visible orange micro in the middle.  Apparently the Clays Chucks finally developed a heart and gave the competitors targets they could see.  Anyway, it was a straight run in to the middle orange micro and a great start for a match.

     Round 2:   This array saw a white standard clay surrounded by 4 orange micros, and WOW!! another orange micro in the middle.  Chucks, Nicodemus and Treat, the clays competitors take back everything we have been saying about you.  The day is dark, but the targets are bright and highly visible, and life is good.

     Round 3:  Bitter Reality sets in..... 2 stacked orange micros adjacent to a white standard with an adjacent orange micro leading to a blaccckkkkk!! micro in the middle.  It was a nice dream while it lasted.  If it wasn't bad enough trying to see the black micro in the middle, the clothespin holding it on the screen was black as well.  well, phooey.  Some hit it, and some don't but all walk away from the firing line shaking their heads.

     Round 4:  Five clustered orange micros on each side of the blaccckkk micro in the middle.  One finds oneself engaging the highly visible orange micros, then having to stop, look up and peer intently into the screens to see if the black micro is even still there.  If it is, line up on it and shoot at where you think it is.  Sometimes it's there, other times it isn't.  These center black holes with the black micros do absolutely describe the absence of all matter, even light.  The Event Horizon to these black holes presents a drastic contrast.

     Round 5:  V is for Victory, orrrr Victim,  depending on one's frustration with the ability to see the recurring black micro in the middle.  Five orange micros form a V on each side of the black center objective micro.  Just pick 4, engage them, and then, after peering at the array for a bit, try and find the black micro in the middle and shoot it too.  (or at least shoot at it.)

 

     At the end of regulation play we have a winner in the Limited Class.  Loren DeShon has shot a score of 44 and is this weeks Limited Class Winner. 

     In the Open Class.  David Lee and Hal Hansen, each with a score of 45 are tied and prepare for a shootoff.  Target screens back to 44 ft. and a line of black micros all across the screen with another black micro in the middle.  Shooters to the line, load 5 rounds.  shooters ready?  fire!!  If the shooters thought it was hard to see black micros at 30 ft., they should try it at 44 ft.

The black clays just disappeared.  One could shoot at where one thought they were, but it was only a guess.  Well, apparently David Lee guessed better than this reporter, because David hit 2 of the 5 and wins the shootoff, this weeks clays match, and bragging rights for another week. 

     This is a particularly sweet victory for David Lee, because for all the times he has entered this match, and, to quote him: "The thousands of rounds he has put downrange" this is the first time he has won it.  Well, David, you picked about as hard a contest under the most trying circumstances available to win it.  Well done and good shooting.  Your young eyes did you proud. 

     Good News, Clays Shooters!!  I have been assured by our Clays Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, that he agrees that the visibility of the black clays today required extreme good fortune to hit the targets.  One must, however, remember the adage quoted by WWII fighter pilots:  "Never, ever, trade good luck for skill!!"  It's better to be Lucky than Good every time.  Today, David Lee and Loren DeShon were both Lucky AND Good.  Lucky and Good makes for successful handgun competition.  Well Done guys.  And we'll see you all right here next Sunday at 4PM, when, I'm told, we'll be able to see all the clays all the time.  WOW!!

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

    

 

November 8, 2009 Clays Match Report

16 Guns Entered        8 Open Guns             8 Limited Guns

 

Class Winners:

 

In the Open Class  1) Chuck Treat with a score of 46

                              2) Ken Bagley Sr.  with a score of 44

   and a tie for 3rd  3) Darren Foreman with a score of 43

                              3) Hal Hansen with a score of 43

 

In the limited Class  1) Loren DeShon with a score of 42

                                 2) Jim Skedd with a score of 38

                                 3) Brigetta Anable with a score of 29

 

     It's November in the Pacific Northwest, and the weather well reflects it.  The day was cold, rainy, dark (though not as dark as the black objective micros ) and a very cool 50degrees.  It felt colder than that.  No doubt our heaters warmed the range building sufficiently to make the thermometer read warmer than it was. 

     Many thanks today to all the shooters who pitched in to keep the target screens fresh.  Even with 16 guns entered and shooting, the match moved right along.  Thanks to Match Director Chuck Nicodemus who did double duty today as he also ran the scoresheet and the microphone in Doug's absence.  Thanks to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat as he presented target array series "F" today, and what a challenge it was.  On a dark November day like today, all the clay targets showed up well, except for the black micros in the middle of the arrays.  They just virtually disappeared.  Some time back mention was made of Chuck Nicodemus' (and now Chuck Treat's) apparent interest in Astronomy;  specifically the study of Black Holes throughout our Solar System.  In this case, all the really black holes were on our target screens, right in the middle.  When mention was made of the difficulty in seeing the black micros in the middle, and the need for colored middle objective clays, green for instance, the response was concern that everyone would be shooting perfect scores of 50 all the time.

Personally, I doubt it!!

     In round 1 we saw 3 Large Green Standards in line, topped with an orange micro between standard Green Clay 1 & 2.  All the shooter had to do was vary his speed and care of aim between 2 vastly different sized clays, in a real hurry, and then do it again prior to crossing the event horizon and entering the black hole in search of the black micro in the middle.

     Round 2 saw 2 standard green clays flanking 2 stacked orange micros.  Having figured out some sort of order in which to engage that foursome, the shooter, if successful, then crossed the event horizon, and again entered the black hole in search of the black micro in the middle.

     Round 3 saw the last of the Green Standards, the only standard clay remaining was as black as the center micro, just a Lot bigger.  Having engaged and, hopefully, broken the black standard, one finds 3 orange micros in a triangle, the lead micro pointing to the event horizon.  Once having crossed the event horizon the black micro in the middle lay hidden, waiting.

     Round 4.  No more standard sized clay targets of any color.  From here on in its all micros.  In round 4 we see the Orange Arc.  4 orange micros shaped like a rainbow.  The pot of GOLD for this rainbow however lay across the event horizon in the form of a tiny black 

micro clay, virtually invisible to a clays shooter in a hurry. 

     Round 5.  A straight line of 4 Orange micros on either side of the black micro in the middle.  Both sides of the target array had it's own event horizon, and both sides led to the Black Hole hiding the Black micro in the middle.

 

     At the end of regulation play we have 2 class winners.  In the Open Class, with a score of 46 is our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  I guess no one except this reporter gets to complain about the targets when our Arrays Impressario sets the example and leads from the front of the pack.  Good shooting Chuck.

     In the Limited Class, with a score of 42, is Loren DeShon.  Loren is, while an experienced shooter, a relative newcomer to the Clays Matches.  Loren is not, however, inexperience in winning the Limited Class in our clays matches, having done so quite regularly lately.  As you may know, Loren DeShon is an airline Pilot, holding the rank of Captain, and from the left seat shepherds one of the great silver birds for Alaska Airlines.

We were honored with Loren's attendance today, probably since it was raining and we all know Alaska Airlines doesn't like to get it's birds wet.  Well done Loren, and we'll look up from time to time and see you enjoying the Friendly Skies.

     OK folks.  that's it for this week. We'll see you right here next Sunday at 4PM and maybe the sun will be out and we can all even see the black micro targets.  Maybe!

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Gig Harbor Sportsman's Clubs Plate Matches

Folks;

      Pursuant to Hal Hansen resigning and stepping down as Match Director for the Plate Matches held the last several years at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, no one has yet stepped up to take over the directorship of the matches.  Therefore, unless/until someone qualified takes over the directorship of GHSCs plate matches, the matches are summarily discontinued until further notice.

      The requirements for someone to take over the position of Match Director for our plate match are as follows:

 

          1) Be a Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Range Officer in good standing.

 

          2) Be familiar with, and experienced in, handgun competition; the customs, protocols, safety practices and requirements.

 

          3) Be willing to make the necessary committment in time and effort each week to attending, directing and promoting 

              the matches.

 

          4)  Be responsible for keeping the match equipment, including heaters during cold weather months, fully functional and

               operative.

 

          5)  Be responsible for keeping the match sign-in records, match receipts, and associated forms & paperwork applicable to

               the administration of the matches up to date and turned in to the appropriate entities.

 

          6)  Be responsible for replacement personnel in the event of your missing a match for whatever reason.

 

          7)  Be responsible for set-up and take-down of the plate match stage for each match.

 

          8)  Be responsible for inter-acting with the GHSC Board of Directors in affairs concerning the plate matches.

 

     If you feel you desire and are able to fulfill these qualifications, please contact the Rifle/Pistol Range Chairman, Rich Beals, at rlbeals@comcast.net  (253) 851-6140, or any of the GHSC Board of Directors members for referal to the appropriate person.

Again I repeat, by direction of the GHSC Vice-President, Chuck Nicodemus, the plate matches are summarily discontinued until a person who is qualified for the position of Match Director steps up and is appointed for the position.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hal Hansen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 1, 2009 Clays Match Report

18 Guns Entered

 

     6 Open Guns

          Class won by Charles Treat with a score of 47

                  2nd place - Ken Bagley with a score of 42

                   3rd place - Hal Hansen with a score of 41

 

    12 Limited Guns

          Class won by Loren DeShon with a score of 46

                  2nd place - Dan Moore with a score of 35

                  3rd place - Walt Stephens with a score of 33

 

     Welcome to November, the month all turkeys love to hate.  It was a cool, overcast day today with the thermometer hovering at 50 degrees.  The heaters were out and the shooting was hot, and as usual it was a great day for a Clays match. 

     Double thanks to Chuck Nicodemus today.  In addition to his usual duty as our Clays Match Director , in Doug's absence Chuck ran the Scoresheet and the Microphone.  What did you do in your spare time, Chuck?  Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, presented target array Series E today.  This is the target array series that starts out Soooo easy, yet ends up Soooo in need of a fine touch, and patience. 

     Array series E starts off with 4Standard Sized Green Clays in a straight line on either side of the black micro in the middle.  Now, as you may have noticed, it's November in the Pacific NW, Pacific Standard Time, and very very shortly after the match starts at 4PM, it's dark outside.  The lights come up, the orange and green clay targets stand out, and the little bitty black micros just disappear. Well, just shoot at the clothespins.  That'll set you in solid with Doug. 

     Round 2 has another straight line of targets, with 2 Green Standard Clays, one on either side of 2 orange micros, these strings of clays bracketing the omnipresent black micro in the middle.

     Round 3 has more orange micros and a couple of Green Standards.  The orange micros form a triangle outside of a Green Standard, with both sdes bracketing the black micro in the middle. 

     Round 4 sees four orange micros forming a diamond, this pattern on each side of the black micro in the middle.  No more standard sized targets now.

     Round 5 is a simple straight line, all the way across.  Start off on either side with 4 orange micros and in the middle of the orange micros is the black micro in the middle.

 

     At the end of regulation play we have a winner in each class.  In the Open Class, with a score of 47, is Chuck Treat.  In 2nd

place we find Ken Bagley with a score of 42.  Finishing 3rd in the Open Class is this reporter, Hal Hansen. 

     In the Limited Class, with a score of 46 is Loren DeShon.  In 2nd place is Dan Moore with a score of 35, and in 3rd place is Walt Stephens with a score of 33.

     Good shooting everyone.  It is going to be a trifle moe difficult from now until Spring when it stays lighter later.  Daylight Savings Time may well save energy, but it does nothing good for lighting up the black micros. 

 

     Remember our altered plate shoot calendar.  We'll have our Plates Practice as usual Monday Nov 2, at 5PM.  Tuesday, many of the plate match competitors will go to Bremerton, to Kitsap Rifle & Pistol Club,  to participate in their inaugural plate match.  See Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club's Website for Details.  No plate match at GHSC Tuesday Nov. 3, 2009

     We'll see you all right here next Sunday at 4pm for next week's Clays Match.  Until then remember:

 

     SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL!!

 

See you all next week.

 

Hal