January 31, 2010 Clays Match Report

12 Guns Entered

 

      5 Open Class guns entered  -  Class won by Jay Schoonmaker  Score 48 

              We have a tie for 2nd Open between Chuck Treat and Mathew Seagraves Score - 43

                 3rd Open Kirk Foreman Score 37

 

      7 Limited Class Guns   -  Class won by Loren DeShon  Score 47

            2nd Limited Darren Foreman  Score 22

            3rd Limited Hal Hansen Score 21

 

     Here we are again sports fans, at GHSC for our weekly Clays Match.  Today is the last day of January 2010, and the weather in Western Washington is cloudy & cool at 51 degrees.  We had the heaters all on and were reminded that it could be worse, we could be in the deep Sunny South under a foot of snow. 

     Thanks to our Match Director,  Chuck Nicodemus, for hosting our match today.  Thanks to our DJ, Doug Mclean for cooking the books and running our match.  And thanks to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, for bringing us Target Array Series "G" today.  Let's take a look at what the shooters saw while negotiating Target Array series "G".

 

Round 1

 

     A straight line of clays, alternating between Green Standards and orange micros.  Successfully break those and then it's on to the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

 

     Round 2 sees a Green Standard Clay surrounded on 4 sides by orange micros.  Pick 4 of the 5 clays in that cluster, and if successful at breaking those 4, it's on to the black micro in the middle.

 

     Round 3 sees 2 vertically stacked orange micros bracketing a Green Standard, which itself is guarding another orange micro.  Break those 4, then engage the black micro in the middle.

 

     Round 4 Say goodbye to any Standard sized Clays.  Henceforth through the end of this match it's all micros.  5 orange micros in formation with 2 vertically stacked  orange micros on either side of an orange micro.`  Pick 4 of the 5 orange micros,  break them, and then go after the black micro in the middle.  

 

      Round 5  We have 5 orange micros forming a V, each of the V formations bracketing the black micro in the middle.

 

     At the end of Round 5, we have some winners.  In the Open Class with a score of 48 is

Jay Schoonmaker.  Good shooting Jay.  Jay was heard commenting after the match that this was his 3rd consecutive victory in the Open Class, but that he had never had four in a row.  Well, stay tuned everyone, and we'll find out if Jay can make it to four in a row next week.  

     In 2nd place in the Open Class we have a tie.  Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat and Mathew Seagraves both show a score of 43.  Good shooting guys.

     In 3rd place in the Open Class was Kirk Foreman, with a score of 37.  Kirk is a young, enthusiastic shooter and Clays Match competitor that is just now starting to step into the top ranks of Clays competitors.  Nice Shooting, Kirk.  Keep it up!!

 

     In the Limited Class, with a winning score of 47, is Loren DeShon.  Loren's score of 47 looks more like a score from the Open Class.  As you may know, Loren is an Airline Pilot for Alaskan Airlines.  Loren makes a habit of packing his .40SW handgun on the flight deck of his Airliner.  It has been suggested that he hang one of his handgun targets on the door to the flight deck for his flights, and any troublemaker on his flights would doubtless be pursuaded to take his bad attitude elsewhere after viewing the target.  Good Shooting Loren!

 

     in 2nd place in the Limited Class was Darren Foreman with a score of 22.  Good shooting Darren.

 

     Taking 3rd Limited today was this reporter, Hal Hansen.  I have been in the habit of shooting an Open Gun, usually my MK II Ruger, and shooting appreciably higher scores.

In an effort to bring my Limited Class scores up to rival my Open Class scores, I have challenged myself to enter my Kimber Polymer Custom .45ACP in All handgun competitions for the foreseeable future, or at least a comparable, legitimate Carry type gun.  When any competitor shoots scores consistently in the mid to upper 40s with a handgun equipped with optics and bull barrels with compensators, and then brings a real Carry type gun out and cuts his score in half, it is time for said shooter to get serious.  The axiom to Train like you fight comes to mind. While none of us desire or plan to have to fight, if the need arises, God Forbid, it is in his/her best interest to prevail in the encounter.  We live in uncertain times, and it does no one any harm to prepare.  Another axiom comes to mind, and applies to all of life:  Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.

     OK folks, the gauntlet has been thrown.  For those of us who ever carry concealed weapons, let's prepare for success.  Bring your carry guns out to shoot clays.  I believe it fair to say, if one can hit a micro sized clay targets at 10yds, one can feel confident in his/her skill at 10 feet.  Any takers? 

     We'll see you right here next month.

 

Hal