May 30, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

18 Guns Entered

 

      4 Ladies - Class won by Gitti Anable with a score of 32 + 4

                       2nd Lady - Marla Crouch with a score of 32 + 2

                       3rd Lady - Devon Crouch with a score of 14

                       4th Lady - Becky Smith with a score of 8

 

      9 Open Guns Entered - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 49

                       2nd Open - Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 45

                       3rd Open -  Tim Kopp with a score of 44

 

     9 Limited Guns Entered - Class won by Mark Wuesthoff with a score of 44

                       2nd Limited - Tim Anable with a score of 36

We have a tie for 3rd Limited between Mark (OJ) Kimura and Allen Caron with scores of 35

 

     Good afternoon everyone, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and our weekly Sunday afternoon Clays Match.  We had a great turnout of 18 guns entered today, and the best news is that 4 of the 18 were Ladies.  3 of our Ladies were veteran clays match competitors, but we had a new lady shooting today, Becky Smith, and we all welcome you to our Sport.

Becky is a new shooter, and a new clays competitor, and we welcome you to our ranks.  If you will persevere and continue to shoot and compete, you will see your shooting skill and your scores skyrocket in an unbelievably short period of time.

     It is great to see such a large turnout on this Memorial Day Weekend, when we remember our Veterans, past & present, and when we are reminded that "Freedom is not Free".  America is Free Today because of our Veterans, and we remember them and salute them, one and all.

     We wish to thank our Match Staff also.  Thanks to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus for hosting our match.  Chuck Nicodemus did double duty today in our regular DJ & Scorekeeper, Doug Mclean's absence.  Doug was out today with  medical malfunctions, and we wish you a speedy recovery and return to the scoretable Doug.  Get Well and Hurry Back! 

"Doug!! Get Back On My Range!!"

     Thanks go also to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, for bringing us the start of another Great Equalizer Series, Page 1.

This time around Chuck added an additional challenge.  Instead of only 4 primaries to engage before heading for the black micro in the middle, Chuck added another primary, so the task now is to pick 4 of the 5, engage and break them, then head to the  micro in the middle.  So, we start again, let's take a shooter's eye view of the arrays.

     Round 1

          It's 5 orange micros and 1 Green Standard on top row.  On the bottom row, it's 5 Green Standards & 1 orange micro.

If you are entered in the Open Class, pick 4 Orange micros.  If you are entered in the Limited Class, pick 4 Green Standards, 

break them, and then head in to the black micro in the middle.  

 

     Round 2

          Round 2 is a reprise of Round 1.  This gives the clays shooter a false sense of security which leads to lapses of attention, and then of course, MISSES!!  So, targets are targets.  The only ones in the world are the ones in front of you Now!!  The entire match could be comprised of Round 2.  But now we are going to Round 3.

 

     Round 3

          Round 3 has the top row comprised of 5 orange micros, and 1 Green Standard.  The bottom row is comprised of 5 Green Standards and 1 orange micro.  Pick 4 of your color and size, break them, then if successful, engage the black micro in the middle. 

 

     Round 4

          Round 4 is again a reprise of Round 3.  It is the intention of the Arrays Impressario to lull the shooter into a state of complacency and overconfidence.  Half asleep in this round, the shooter is invited to MISS! Targets and be rudely awakened.

 

     Round 5

          On this round we see 3 Green Standards and 2 Orange Micros on the top row.  On the bottom row we see 3 orange micros and 2 Green Standards.  You know the drill.  Pick out your designated 4 Primaries, engage and break them, then head in and engage the black micro in the middle.  So let's see the results of this encounter.

 

     In the Ladies Class, we had a tie between Marla Crouch & Giti Anable, both with scores of 32.  Now, this is a first.  We are going to have a Shootoff between 2 Ladies.  The target stands are staying at the normal 10 yards, and Marla will be shooting at 4 orange micros with her .22.  Shooting her Limited Class gun, Gitti will be engaging 4 Green Standards.  When the ladies finish breaking their primary clays, they will head in and engage the black micro in the middle.  Our Match Director and today's announcer, Chuck Nicodemus will call the action.

     Shooters to the Line, Load 5 rounds.  Shooters Ready?  Fire!!.  At the command to fire, Marla & Giti engage their respective clays; the Thunder Rolls, the clays that get hit disintegrate, silence returns to the range, the dust settles, and a cheer breaks out from the gallery.  Giti Anable has broken 4 of her Green Standards, while Marla Crouch has broken but 2 of her orange micros.  Brigetta Anable (well, ok, fine!  Giti Anable wins the Ladies Class today with a score of 32 + 4.  Congratulations Giti Anable.  Marla, practice hard and try it again next week.  Darn nice try today!!

    

     In the Open Class, this reporter, Hal Hansen, has made it 6 Open Class victories in a row with a score today of 49.  It should be noted that the 1 clay I dropped was to Tim Kopp and his Open Class .22.  In the first string Hal shut Tim out at 3.  Tim came back on the 2nd string and through the first 4 primary clays it was pretty even.  But then when this reporter engaged the black micro in the middle, it wasn't there.  There are no funny stories, no excuses, in this string, on this day, this reporter just simply got BEAT!!  One learns a valuable lesson from this duel.  It is not a good idea to cause Tim Kopp too concentrate to hard on a given task.  Tim has proven he has the ability to Focus! 

     2nd Open went to Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 45.  Third Open goes to the aforementioned Tim Kopp with a score of 44.

     In the Limited Class, Mark Wuesthoff took the honors with a score of 44.  Mark hasn't made a clays match in a long while, so we hope he starts making a habit of coming out on Sunday afternoons with his Limited Class Revolver. 2nd Limited today went to Tim Anable with a score of 36.  Uh, Tim. Your wife Giti won her class today.  I didn't want you to forget.

3rd Limited came down to a tie between Mark (OJ) Kimura & Allen Caron, both with scores of 35.

 

     So that's it for another Sunday Clays Match.  We'll be right here again next Sunday, June 6, 2010.  So far, April Showers have brought May Showers.  I guess we'll have to see what weather June brings.  So far, Spring is off to a slow start.  Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat will bring us Page 2 of the Great Equalizer Series next week, so we all know what we must do to achieve success.  Practice properly, practice diligently, and practice safely.  And always remember:

 

                                 "Speed is Fine, but Accuracy is Final"

 

Hal

 

 

    

    

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 23, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

8 Guns Entered

                                                                                Score

  

     5 Open Guns - Class won by Hal Hansen              44

 

     3 Limited  Class won by Mark (OJ) Kimura           42

 

         

    Welcome back one & all to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, for another Sunday afternoon Clays Match.  It was a pretty day today, in a cloudy, cool sort of way.  It was dry out however, and that's all one can ask in Washington State, especially on the "wet" side.

 

     Thanks as always to our Match Staff, beginnng with our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus,  Thanks to our Scorekeeper & DJ, Doug Mclean,  and thanks to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  Today, our Chuck Treat has brought us Page 5 of The Great Equalizer Series.  The arrays are made up of lines of Orange Standards, orange micros, and of course the ubiquitous black micro in the middle.  Let's visualize the arrays and find the fast path through them. It should be noted that all the clay targets today, both Standards and micros were Orange,  except, of course, for the black micros in the middle.  Also noteworthy today was the fact that the entry field was rather small, only 8 Guns came out to play.  So, an anomoly.  We only set up 2 screens and only 4 shooters at a time came to the line.  Further, no ladies came out to play today, so there was obviously no Ladies Class. Pity.  C'mon ladies, if you all show up to shoot clays, not only would our field of entries be bigger, but more competitive also. 

 

Round 1

     The top row is comprised of a line of Orange Standards.  The bottom row is comprised of a line of orange micros.  If you are shooting in the Limited Class, you engage and attempt to break the Top Row of Orange Standards.  If you are shooting in the Open Class, You engage and attempt to break the bottom row of orange micros.  If successful in breaking all of your primary clays, then you engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

     The top row in this round starts off with an orange micro, then finishes with 3 orange Standards.  The bottom row starts off with an Orange Standard, then finishes with 3 orange micros.  Depending on your class of competition, break your primaries, and then engage and attempt to break the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

     The top row begins with 2orange micros, and finishes with 2 orange Standards.  The bottom row begins with 2 Orange Standards and finishes with 2 orange micros.  If successful so far, head to the micro in the middle and break it if you can.

 

Round 4

     Now the top row begins with 3 orange micros, and finishes with an Orange Standard.  The bottom row begins with 3 Orange Standards, finishing with an orange micro.  If successful so far, the black micro in the middle awaits your attentions.

 

Round 5

     Now we see the inverse of Round 1.  The top row now is comprised of 4 orange micros, and the bottom row is comprised of 4 Orange Standards.  The black micro in the middle still awaits your attentions if you have completed the preliminaries.

 

     At The End Of Regulation Play, we have a couple of winners.  In the Open Class, Hal Hansen wins it with a score of 44.  This reporter was looking over his shoulder at the competition today.  Maybe too much.  Better to concentrate on the fundamentals of shooting.

     2nd Place today went to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat with a score of 42.

Chuck not only knows how to array them, but he can break them pretty well too.

     3rd Place in the Open Class went to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus.  Chuck hasn't gotten to play on Sunday afternoons for awhile, as he is always the odd man out who rounds out the field if the numbers don't come out even.  The game has gotten a bit more interesting since last you shot, eh Chuck? 

 

In the Limited Class, Mark (OJ) Kimura has finally won a Limited Class in the GHSC Clays Matches.  OJ has a very successful history of wins in the Open Class, but until today, a victory in the Limited Class has eluded him.  Congratulations OJ, and I trust this will be the first of many, now that you've given that NightHawk of yours a taste for victory.

     2nd Place in the Limited Class today went to Alan Caron with a score of 37. Alan always shoots his Single Action Army Revolver and shoots it one handed.  Alan apparently learned to shoot while holding his horse in his left hand.  Alan, we seldom bring the horse to the Clays Matches anymore.  

     3rd Place in the Limited Class today went to Jay Schoonmaker shooting his .38/40 single action revolver.  Jay shot a score of 35 today.  Were Jay engaging old west adversaries, and they saw what one of his rounds looked like, and saw the size of the holes in Jay's revolver's cylinder, they would all just throw up their hands and surrender.  Jay would never have to fire a shot.  

 

     So that's it for this week folks.  We'll be right here next Sunday afternoon at 4PM and we'll do it again.  Next week we'll look at Page 6 of The Great Equalizer Series which will give everyone an opportunity to practice all the skills on which you have been working so diligently.  So practice properly.  Practice hard.  And practice often.  When you are practicing so faithfully, always remember:

 

"IT'S ALL ABOUT SIGHT PICTURE AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE.  THE REST IS JUST THERE TO CONFUSE YOU."

 

Hal

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 17, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

25 Guns Entered Tonight    Match won by  Mike Burt

 

     2nd Place - Mark (OJ) Kimura

 

     3rd Place - Lee Lewis

 

     Good evening sports fans, and welcome to another beautiful evening for a falling plate match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club. 

It's bright, sunny, and almost 70degrees Warm out.  Summer is on short final. 

     Many thanks to our Match Staff for bringing us another event tonight.  Mathew Seagraves assumed the role of Match Director tonight, in Michael Blondin's absence.  Mathew paired up with Heath Uncapher to set up the stage, and many thanks to the entire field of shooters for helping to take it down after the match.  Thanks go to Mathew Seagraves & Mark (OJ) Kimura for running the line tonight, and a special thanks goes to Dan Moore for assuming the duties of Scorekeeper, DJ, Shuffler & Dealer of the duels, and giving us all 5 Rounds of Shooting, and a Sudden Death Finale.  To the Match Staff Inclusive:

THANK YOU!!

     As we neared the end of the Sudden Death Finale to the match, we are down to but Five Finalists.  They are: This Reporter, Hal Hansen, Lee Lewis, Mark (OJ) Kimura, Mike Burt, & Loren DeShon.  A special welcome home to Mike Burt, just back from the Sandbox, and on his way to Louisiana for additional training.  Upon completion of the training, Mike is headed right back to the Middle East, in the employ of a Security Firm as an Independent Contractor.  Mike, we certainly hope you aren't Too Independent. 

     After OJ put this reporter, Hal Hansen, on the trailer,  Mike & Loren step to the line for a duel.  It's fast, but in the end Mike Burt walked away with the duel.  Then it was Lee Lewis dueling with Mike, and this time Lee gets there first.  Loren DeShon

draws a duel with Mike, and Mike returns to his winning ways, duel to Mike Burt, Exit Loren DeShon.  Lee Lewis duels with OJ

next, and barely gets by him.  OJ is down to 1 number.  OJ gets a rematch with Mike Burt, and this time OJ puts'em all down first. By now, every duel that comes to the line answers the challenge of "Let's take'em all down!!"  OJ draws lee Lewis, and it's the end of the evening for Lee.  Duel to OJ, exit Lee Lewis. 

     At this point it is time for the Final of the Finals, the last run.  Mike Burt & OJ Kimura each have 1 number left, and they are the last two names on the board.  Mike Burt & OJ Kimura come to the line.  Our line Marshall, Mathew Seagraves, calls the action.  "Load & Make Ready"!  Shooters Ready?  Stand By!!  At the sound of the *horn* Mike Burt & OJ Kimura engage All Of'em!!  1911s Roar,  Plates Rattle, Poppers Fall, and when the wave ebbs, we have a winner.  Mike Burt celebrates his return from Hell with a fast, accurate victory over OJ Kimura. 

     Our Match Winner is Mike Burt.  2nd Place goes to Mark (OJ) Kimura, and 3rd Place goes to Lee Lewis.  Congratulatons to our Winners, and congratulations to our entire field for a smooth, And SAFE Match.  We hope to see you all right here June 7, 2010 at 6PM, at which tme we'll do this again.  See you then, Folks.  And until then always remember:

 

"SHOOT FAST! SHOOT ACCURATELY!!  BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHOOT SAFELY!!!"

 

Hal

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 16, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

16 Total Entry

 

            Only 1 Lady today, Carrie Morton and her Model 19 Glock.  Well Carrie, I hope some more ladies show up soon to give you some competition.

 

 8 In the Open Class, won by Hal Hansen with a score of 45

 

          2nd Open - Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 44

 

          3rd Open - David Lee with a score of 37

 

8 in Limited Class, Class won by Dan Moore with a score of 44

 

              2nd Limited was a tie between Tim Walberg

                                                                          with scores of 43

                                                                 Jim Skedd

             

              3rd Limited - Mark (OJ) Kimura with a score of 36

 

     Good Afternoon Ladies & Gents, and welcome to another great day at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and another great Clays Match.  The weather is fine, the skies lightly overcast, the weather shirt-sleeve warm, the course challenging and we are going to have Fun!

 

      Many thanks to the Clays Match Staff for bringing us the match today.  Thanks in particular to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, absent today,  for hosting our match,  thanks to our DJ & Scorekeeper, Doug McLean for cooking the books, running the match and keeping everything working smoothly.  Doug was also the Match Director, Pro Tem today.  Thanks to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat for bringing us Page 5 of The Great Equalizer Series.  Last week the course laid out all sorts of geometric shapes and designs, today it's a series of straight lines. Now I ask you: "What could be easier?"  "Live in hope, Grasshopper."  First & foremost, you have to be accurate.  Then, just to liven up the action, you have to be faster than your opponent.  Let's see what challenges our Arrays Impressario has wrought.

 

Round 1

     2 Stacked lines, Green Standards on top and orange micros below.  Just follow the dotted line to the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

     2 more stacked lines, but mixed this time.  The top row starts out with an orange micro, then morphs to 3 Green Standards.

The bottom row starts off with a Green Standard, morphing to 3 orange micros.  Pick out your clays according to your class of entry, then go to the middle of the array to engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

     2 orange micros start the top row, folowed by 2 Green Standards.  Reverse the sequence for the bottom row and then head in to the black micro in the middle. 

 

Round 4

     Now the top row starts out with 3 orange micros, and ends with a Green Standard.  The bottom row starts with 3 Green Standards followed by an orange micro.  Pick out your 4 Primaries then engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 5

     Now we see the inverse of Round 1, with the top row comprised of 4 orange micros and the bottom row comprised of 4 Green Standards.  As always, after engaging and breaking your 4 Primaries,  engage the black micro in the middle, then look to the scorekeeper and see the results of the action.

 

     Today, at the end of regulation play we have some winners.  In the Open Class, with today's high score, was this reporter, Hal Hansen with a score of 45.  Jay Schoonmaker took 2nd Open with a score of 44 & David Lee took 3rd Open with a score of 37.  After the match concluded, Jay was bemoaning the fact of a misfire that cost him a crucial target.  Sorry Jay, "There is no crying in clays shooting."  As has been heard at the pistol range so very many times over the years after a clays match, and I quote: "There's always next week."

     

     In the Limited Class, 1st Place went to Dan Moore with a score of 44.  2nd Limited went to a name we are going to be hearing in the near future, Tim Walberg.  Tim is a relatively new clays shooter, and Tim & his Kimber turned in a score today of

43.  Tim & Jim Skedd shot to a 2nd place tie in the Limited Class today, Jim returned to our Sunday Clays Matches today, after a bit of an absence, and he & his NightHawk found all the competition they could handle.  In 3rd Limited, also shooting a NightHawk, was Mark (OJ) Kimura.  Congratulations on fine shooting, one and all.

 

     We'll see you all right here next Sunday at 4PM.  In the meantime, come on out to the GHSC Plate Match, Monday May 17, 2010 at 6PM and help us celebrate the return of the Rattling Steel.  $5.00 buys you a ticket to play, and $10.00 lets you play twice.  The matches are over by 8:30PM so you won't even be late going to bed.  See you then.  In the meantime, practice a lot,

and practice properly.  Remember the handgun axiom:

 

"IT'S ALL ABOUT SIGHT ALIGNMENT AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE, THE REST IS JUST THERE TO CONFUSE YOU."

 

Hal

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 9, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsman's Club Clays Match Report

    12 Guns Entered

 

                       2 in Ladies Class, Class won by Gitti Anable  Score 25

 

                                  2nd Lady, Carrie Morton  Score 13

                                 

      4 in Open Class, Class won by Hal Hansen Score 46

 

              2nd Open - Ken Bagley Sr.  Score 43

 

              3rd Open - Herb Shahan  Score 33

 

     8 in Limited Class, Class won by Loren DeShon Score 43

 

               2nd Limited - Chuck Treat  Score 39

 

    Tie for 3rd Limited between

                                    Mark (OJ) Kimura

                                                       Scores 37

                                    Allen Caron

 

     Welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, where we have a beautiful, sunny warm 65degree day in which to shoot clays.  Yes indeed folks, it's well into Spring, and Summers coming.  12 handgun competitors showed up to enjoy the sunny weather, and to enjoy the competition and camaraderie of today's Clays Match.  Our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, is out of town today, and our Announcer & Scorekeeper, Doug McLean has got the Match Director's gig in his place.  Our Arrays Impressario,

Chuck Treat, has brought us Pg 4 of The Great Equalizer Series today.  Pages 1 - 3 have certainly been challenging, so let's take a look at the challenges of Pg 4, from the shooter's perspective.

 

Round 1

 

    We see 2 stacked diagonal lines, the top row consisting of orange micros, the bottom row consisting of Green Standards.  If you are shooting an Open Class gun, you go for the orange micros, if shooting a Limited Class gun, you go for the Green Standards.  In either case, when/if you break your 4 primary targets, you then engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

 

     We see the same two stacked diagonal lines as in Round 1, but this time the orange micros & Green Standards are reversed, with the Green Standards on top, and the orange micros on the bottom.  Again, having hit your 4 primaries, you then engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

 

     The two stacked diagonal lines are still on the screens, but now the top row starts off with an orange micro, followed by 3 Green Standards.  The bottom row starts out with a Green Standard, followed by 3 orange micros.  Now you know the drill.

After engaging the 4 Primaries, engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 4

 

     In round 4, the top diagonal line starts off with an orange micro, followed by 2 Green Standards, and culminates with an orange micro.  The bottom row starts with a Green Standard, followed by 2 orange micros, and culminates with a Green Standard.  Engage and break all your primaries then engage the black micro in the middle.  And on to.....

 

Round 5

 

     In round 5, both rows alternate evenly between orange micros & Green Standards.  The top row starts with an orange micro,  the bottom row with a Green Standard, and the clays alternate right up the line to the black micro in the middle.

 

     At the end of regulation play, we have some winners.  In the Ladies Class, Giti Anable

has emerged the winner with a score of 25.  Carrie Morton takes the 2nd Ladies spot with a score of 13. 

 

     In the Open Class, this reporter, Hal Hansen has the high score for the match with 46.

2nd Open was taken by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 43.  Herb Shahan takes 3rd Open with a score of 33. 

 

     In the Limited Class, Loren DeShon took the honors with a score of 43.  It's of interest to note that Loren used the handgun he carries on the flight deck of his Boeing 737.  I don't believe even Allah could help a troublemaker on Loren's flights.

 

     Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat took 2nd Limited today, with a score of 39.  Good shooting Chuck.  It's good to know that not only can you design the arrays, you can engage them well also.

 

     We had a tie for 3rd Limited between Mark (OJ) Kimura & Alan Caron, both with scores of 37.  There was a wide disparity in historic eras between OJs & Alan's weaponry today.  Mark was shooting his ultra-modern NightHawk, while, as is his custom, Alan was shooting his "Old West" era Single Action Army.  In the right hands, apparently there isn't much difference between potential for the two vintages of sidearms, as both OJ & Alan shot scores of 37.

 

     And that's it for another week folks.  Next Sunday at 4:00pm we'll meet back here at Gig Harbor Sportsman's Club and do it again.  Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat,

will bring us Page 5 of "The Great Equalizer Series" next week, and it looks like it will require both speed & accuracy to prevail.  Practice often, and practice well.  Keep in mind that practice, in and of itself, only makes permanent.  Perfect practice makes perfect.  Until next week then, always remember:

 

     "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL!!"

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 3, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

11 Guns Entered     Match Won by James Austin

 

                                2nd place - Lee Lewis

 

                                3rd Place - Mathew Seagraves

 

     Welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, where we have a windy, 53degree but dry evening for our plate match.  We now have overlapping poppers to decide close duels, and if history is any teacher, we'll have some close duels.  11 Guns entered the match tonight, to contest for fame, fortune, and a weeks worth of bragging rights.  Well, OK.  Mostly bragging rights. 

 

     At the end of the competition this evening, James Austin walked away with the honors.  One nice thing about a relatively small field is that there is virtually no standing around waiting to shoot.  It seems it's always your turn to shoot, and that is a really neat feature of our match, al least so far.

 

     Thanks to our Match Staff tonight.  With only 11 shooters, everyone got a chance to do almost everything, but our match was directed tonight by Mathew Seagraves & James Austin.  James Austin ran the scoretable, shuffled and dealt the duels, and called the shooters to their duels.  Mark Kimura & Mathew Seagraves ran the line and with this excellent organization we got in 5 rounds & A Sudden Death Finale.

 

     Toward the end of the finals, Lee Lewis put Mathew Seagraves on the trailer, and Mathew Seagraves ended up our 3rd Place Finisher.  This left James Austin & Lee Lewis to duel for the win, and they both came to the line looking steeley-eyed and serious.  Mathew Seagraves called the action, and here it is.  Shooters, load & make ready!  Shooters ready?  Stand By!!

The challenge was, 5 & 1,  5 plates & a Popper.  At the horn James Austin, with his Smith & Wesson .45ACP Model 645 Revolver,  and Lee Lewis with his .45ACP NightHawk, engaged the plate racks and dropped their 5 plates, then swung in to the overlapping poppers and engaged those.  When the noise ebbed, and the dust settled, James' popper was laying tight to the ground, with Lee's popper on top.  I guess this is one time when it's not a good idea to come out on top.  String to James Austin, Match to James Austin, And assuming he can find anyone to listen, 2 week's worth of bragging rights to James as well. 

 

     OK folks, we'll see you in two weeks.  On May 17, 2010 at 6:00pm, right here at Gig Harbor Sportsman's Club, we'll do this again.  It'll probably be less windy, maybe warmer, and we'll be older and wiser.  Hopefully also, we'll be better shots.  Practice hard, shoot often, and always remember:

 

                        "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL."

 

Hal

May 3, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

11 Guns Entered              Match Winner:  James Austin

 

                                                  2nd Place:  Lee Lewis

 

                                                  3rd Place:  Mathew Seagraves

 

     Welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, where we have a windy, 53 degree evening for our plate match.  We now have overlapping poppers on line to decide close duels, and if history is any teacher, we will have some close duels.  11 shooters came out tonight to compete for fame, fortune & bragging rights.  Well, ok, mostly bragging rights. 

 

     At the end of the competition tonight, James Austin walked away with the honors.  One nice thing about a relatively small field is that there isn't much standing around,  it seems like it's always time to shoot again.  At at handgun match, or any firearms match, That is Great!! 

 

   

    

 

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                  

May 2, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsman's Club Clays Match

8 guns entered our Clays Match today.

 

     3 in the Open Class, won by Hal Hansen with a Score of 49

       

          2nd Open - Ken Bagley Sr.   Score 35

 

          3rd Open - Herb Shahan   Score 29

 

     5 in the Limited Class, won by Tim Walberg with a Score of 43

 

       Tie for 2nd Limited - OJ Kimura

                                                      Scores of 38

                                        Alan Caron

 

               Third Limited - Jay Schoonmaker  Score - 36

 

          Welcome back to GHSC folks, and our Sunday afternoon Clays Match.  Our Match Staff, comprised of our Match Director and today's Scorekeeper and Announcer, Chuck Nicodemus, along with our Arrays Impressario Chuck Treat have come up with another great one, held today in dry overcast 54degree temperatures.  This week we tackle Page 3 of The Great Equalizer Series.  Last week we shot at Lines, and this week we'll shoot at Squares. Mixed into the Squares are Diamonds, arrows, and triangles, so this target array series can be said to be well formed geometrically.  Picture yourself in High School Geometry Class, with a gun, and let's see what the shooters saw today.

 

Round 1

 

     We start with two stacked Green Standards, alternating with two stacked orange micros, then the pairs repeated, forming 2 mixed Squares.  If you are shooting Open Class guns engage the orange micros, if shooting Limited Class Guns engage the Green Standards, but in either case, when (if) you break all 4 of your primary clays, head to the middle and engage and try to break the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

 

     Round 2 is easy to describe.  Just take Round 1 and switch around the stacked pairs.

Find your primary 4, break them, and then engage and try to break the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

 

     Here we see the 4 Green Standards forming a square, and the 4 orange micros forming a diamond inside the square.  According to your handgun class of choice, engage your 4 Primaries, and then it's on to the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 4

 

     Now the 4 orange micros surround the 4 Green Standards.  Pick out your 4 Primaries, break them, and then on to the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 5

 

     Here we see an arrow inside an arrow.  The 4 orange micros  and the 4 Green Standards each form their own arrow, and they are piggybacked, and both arrows aim inward to the black micro in the middle.  Pick our your arrow, break your 4 primaries, and then follow the arrows to the black micro in the middle.

 

     At the end of regulation play, we have some winners.  In the Open Class, with a score of 49, is this reporter Hal Hansen.  As was told to me by Ken Bagley Sr. today, I was my own worst enemy.  After having gone straight through the first 4 rounds, on the first relay of the 5th round, one of the orange micros was still hanging on the screen, apparently untouched.

Well, 4 is almost as good as 5, so I shot it again.  While puzzling about my "miss" during the resetting of the target screens, Ken Bagley Sr. approached me and told me I had already hit the orange micro in question once, so why did I shoot it again?  Not seeng the tiny .22cal hole in the orange micro, I just simply shot it again.  By Golly, it broke that time.  Well Hotshot, I'll bring you a carrot today, and hope for a victory lap in the future.

      2nd Open was claimed by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 35, and 3rd Open belonged to Herb Shahan with a score of 29. 

     In the limited Class today, Tim Walberg took the honors with a score of 43.  We had a tie for 2nd Limited between OJ Kimura & Alan Caron, both with scores of 38.  Jay Schoonmaker took 3rd Limited with a score of 36.

 

     No Ladies showed up to shoot today, so we had no Ladies Class.  Well, maybe next week. Come on out and shoot Clays on Sunday afternoons ladies.  You add a bit of charm to an otherwise staid group.

 

     Next week we'll look at Page 4, with even more challenges, so practice hard.  When you are practicing always remember:

 

"IT'S ALL ABOUT SIGHT PICTURE AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE,

THE REST IS JUST THERE TO CONFUSE YOU."

 

Hal