July 25, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

12 Guns Entered

 

     No Ladies Class

 

     7 Open Guns,  Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 45 + 4 + 5

         2nd Open won by Loren DeShon with a score of 45 + 4 + 4

         3rd Open won by Tim Kopp with a score of 38

 

     5 Limited Guns, Class won by Steve Tinner with a score of 43

         2nd Limited won by Hal Hansen with a score of 33

         3rd Limited won by Mike Blondin with a score of 28

 

     Good afternoon all you fans of Clays Shooting.  It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon, with bright BLUE skies and a temperature, in the range building, of 80 degrees.  Many thanks to to our match staff, comprised of our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus,

our Scorekeeper and dealer of the duels, Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  Chuck brought us another Helter Skelter Match today, with the arrangement of the clays up to whoever was resetting the arrays.  The only limiting factor was simply that there must be 4 orange micros, and 4 Green Standards on either side of the black micro in the middle.

Outside of that proviso, the arrays are limited only by the imagination and energy of whoever is setting the clays.

     At the end of 5 Rounds of shooting, we have a winner in the Limited Class.  Steve Tinner has turned in a score of 43, and taken the win.  Steve was shooting a .38 Spec Revolver.  In 2nd Place in the Limited Class, was this reporter, Hal Hansen

with a score of 33.  Almost certainly, I would have gotten a perfect 50, but I missed 17 clays.  sigh....  In 3rd Place in the Limited Class today was Mike Blondin, with a score of 28. 

 

     In the Open Class today, at the end of 5 Rounds of shooting, we have a tie.  Both Chuck Treat & Loren DeShon turned in scores of 45.  "Little Tim" Kopp placed 3rd in the Open Class with a score of 38.  By virtue of Chuck & Loren both shooting scores of 45, the winner of the class is still undecided, so we are going to have a Shootoff.  The screens are once again arranged Helter Skelter, but remain at 10 yds.  Our Scorekeeper and Clays Match DJ, Doug McLean, calls the action.  "Shooters to the line, Load 5 rounds!! The shooters are asked if they are ready, and when, by their silence, the shooters reply in the affirmative, Doug calls the command "FIRE"!!  Loren & Chuck engage their clays, and each of them breaks 4.  Well, that solved nothing.  Let's do it again. 

     Chuck  & Loren switch sides, and approach the line, and load 5 rounds.  By their silence they indicate they are ready when queried, and at the command of "FIRE!!" they engage their clays.  When the thunder ebbs, and silence returns, Chuck Treat has broken 4 more clays, and Loren DeShon has accounted for only 3.  Chuck Treat wins the Open Class today.  Congratulations on a SAFE, clean and challenging match.  Next week, August 1, 2010 at 4PM, we'll do it again.  Until then, always remember:

 

                  "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL"

 

Hal

 

                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 19, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

18 Guns Entered        Match Won by Loren DeShon

 

                                          2nd Place won by Lee Lewis

 

                                          3rd Place won by Mark (OJ) Kimura

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  We're finally getting back on track for our bi-weekly plate matches, and a perfect summer evening provided the setting for tonight's contest.  Our Match Staff was in fine form again this evening, and they deserve a standing ovation for their efforts.  The stage was set up and ready well before 6:00PM,

The match ran smoothly, safely, and efficiently.  Due to this efficiency, we were able to get in 5 rounds of preliminaries, and a Sudden Death Finale.  Many thanks go to our Match Director: Mike Blondin, our Set-Up Crew: Mathew Seagraves, Lee Lewis, and Dylan Hasselhuhn.  Our scoretable was handled with skill & efficiency by Mike Blondin, and the shooting itself was kept safe and on time by our Head Line-Marshall Mark (OJ) Kimura. Virtually everyone in the field pitched in to help OJ run the line tonight, and rather than list everyone entered in the contest, I'll just say a grateful Thank You to everyone who contributed to the running of tonight's match.

 

     The summer weather was perfect tonight, with clear blue skies, and mid-sixties temperatures, all combining to offer a perfect summer's backdrop for the match.  18 guns contested the victory tonight, and there were a couple of features of tonight's match worth noting.  First, to add a bit of challenge to the match, Mike Blondin directed that all of the duels, all night long, be directed at all of the plates, before engaging the popper.  There are 5 plates on the racks, and the popper, which equals 6 targets. The number 6 equals the load out of ammunition allowed to start a duel.  So, if one can "run the rack" and drop the popper, 6 rounds of ammo is enough.  But, don't miss even one plate, or the popper, or a reload is mandated.  Therefore, the watchword is:  "Don't Miss". 

 

     The "don't miss" dictum sounds easy enough, so the set-up crew, at Mike Blondin's direction, made it a bit more challenging.

The plates, and the poppers, were all painted a dark Olive Green.  Our plates stage more closely resembled a "subdued light"

stage.  Well, this lasted for the first half of the first round, after which the plates, and the center circle of the poppers, were painted a bright snowy white again.  I guess no one brought their weapons mounted flashlights. 

 

     As everyone is aware, there are no classes in Gig Harbor Spotsmans Club Plate Matches.  Whoever shoots best, wins.

While 10th place pays the same as 1st place, which is a large measure of satisfaction, there is but one winner. We can be assured of the fact that the winner of a Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match worked!! for his victory. 

 

     As the Sudden Death Finale wound toward it's conclusion, 18 guns were reduced to only 3:  Loren Deshon, Lee Lewis, and Mark (OJ) Kimura.  OJ's night came  to a screeching halt at the hands of Loren.  Exit OJ.  At this point, Loren and Lee had what looked like most of the numbers publicly available on the board.  For the next 6 duels, Loren & Lee traded wins & losses.  Finally it came down to a point where Loren still had 8 numbers up, to Lee's 1.   I suppose the end result was predictable, and I must say that Lee went out in a blaze of glory.  It's hard to beat runs like Loren demonstrated all evening long. 

 

     So that's the straight dope on tonight's match.  Loren DeShon won it convincingly, and we all know what we need to do to improve our performance two weeks hence.  Our next match will be in August, and as pretty as the weather was tonight, August should really present some elegant weather.  We'll see you right here on August 2, 2010 at 6PM.  In the meantime, practice often and properly.  Concentrate on fundamentals, putting accuracy ahead of speed, and safety ahead of all else.  When you are practicing, always remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 18, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

16 Guns Entered The Competition Today.

    

     1 Lady - Giti Anable, uncontested

 

     6 Open Guns - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 47

           2nd Open - Loren DeShon with a score of 44

           3rd Open - Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 43

 

   10 Limited Guns Entered - Class won by Jim Skedd with a score of 43

           We had a tie for 2nd Limited between Tim Anable and Hal Hansen with scores of 42

            3rd Limited - Chuck Treat with a score of 39

 

     A good Summer Sunday to you all, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club for a beautiful, warm 64degree summer's Clays Match.  This is the kind of day we think about during the winter when we are so enjoying the rain and cold temps.

Our Match Staff, comprised of our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper Doug Mclean and our Arrays Impressario Chuck Treat brought us another fine match, in the form of Pg 6 of The Great Equalizer Series.  Let's look at what the shooters saw today.

 

Round 1

     Round 1 starts with 2 White Standards, followed by 2 orange micros on the top row, with the order reversed on the bottom row.  If you are shooting in the Open Class, aim at the orange micros, and if you are shooting in the Limited Class, shoot at the White Standards.  As always, if you are successful in breaking your primary clays, engage and attempt to break the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

     In this round, the top row stays the same, but the bottom row shows the orange micros and the White Standards alternating.

As before, and as always, if, and only if, you successfully break your primaries, engage and attempt to break the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

     Now both top & bottom rows alternate the clays.  The top row shows the white standard followed by an orange micro with the sequence then repeated.  On the bottom row, an orange micro alternates with a White Standard, with the sequence repeated.

 

Round 4

     This round shows the top row to be comprised of first a White Standard, still followed by an orange micro, with the sequence again repeated.  The bottom row leads with 2 orange micros followed by 2 White Standards.  Break your primaries, and the black micro in the middle awaits.

 

Round 5

     Back to symetry once again.  On the outside of the screens, 4 orange micros, 2 on the top row and 2 on the bottom row

bracket 4 White Standards with 2 on the top row and 2 on the bottom row.  Pick your 4primaries, and if you successfully break them, engage the black micro in the middle.  Good Luck!!

 

     The match results today show that only 1 Lady competed.  Giti Anable shot uncontested today, and won her class handily.

In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker led the field of 6 Shooters with a score of 47.  2nd Open was won by Loren DeShon who turned in a score of 44.  In 3rd Place in today's Open Class, Ken Bagley SR.  shot a score of 43.

 

     In the Limited Class, Jim Skedd and his predatory NightHawk shot a score of 43.  Tied for 2nd Open, both with scores of 42

were this reporter, Hal Hansen & Tim Anable, both shooting Kimbers.  In 3rd Open, our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat,

with his Single Action Army Revolver, posted a score of 39. 

 

     We had two new shooters on the firing line today,  Mike Davis & Rich Repp.   Gents, we hope you had a good time and will join us every Sunday at 4:00PM.  Until next Sunday at 4:00pm then, drive carefully, shoot often and shoot safely.  We want to shoot with you, not read about you.  Remember your fundamentals and priorities in practice.  Job #1 is Safety, followed by accuracy, and finally speed.  Keeping in mind that safety is most important,  don't let anyone fool you about the other two fundamentals.  Remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

July 11, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match

14 Guns Entered

 

      2 Ladies Shooting today;  Class won by Giti Anable with a score of 16 + 1 + 4

            

             2nd Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 16 + 1 + 2

 

      5 in the Open Class;  Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 46

          

             2nd Open:  Tim Kopp with a score of 42

 

             3rd Open:  Herb Sheehan with a score of 40

 

      9 in the Limited Class;  Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 43

            

             We have a tie for 2nd Limited between Mark (OJ) Kimura & Tim Anable with scores of 38

 

             3rd Limited:  Hal Hansen with a score of 35

 

     Good afternoon Shooters, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and our weekly Sunday afternoon Clays Match.

We had 14 guns brave the 70degree, dry, overcast and meteorologically perfect day.  Let's first thank those responsible for bringing us the match today.  Thanks to Chuck Nicodemus, our Match Director, for putting on this soire'.  Thanks to Doug McLean for running the scoresheet, shuffling and dealing the duels, and announcing the proceedings on the microphone.  And thanks go to Chuck Treat for bringing us Page 5 of the Great Equalizer Series.  Let's look at the challenges the competitors saw today.

 

Round 1

 

     Round 1 saw 4 Green Standards on the top row, with 4 orange micros on the bottom row.  If one is entered in the limited Class, one engages the Green Standards.  If entered in the Open Class, one engages the orange micros.  Irregardless, if one is successful in hitting the primary targets, one goes to the center of the screen and engages the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

 

     The first modification of the original array is effected by alternating the first orange micro to the bottom row, and replacing it with the first Green Standard from the top row.  The black micro in the middle hasn't moved, but if, and only if, you have hit all your primaries, you can attempt to move it yourself.

 

Round 3

 

     Now, Two of he clays on each row change places.  The first 2 orange micros have found their way to the top row, while 2

of the Green Standards have migrated to the bottom row.  Now a little "Topping" and "Bottoming" is in order, and if successful, one can move to the middle, and shoot the black micro.

 

Round 4

 

     In a mirrow image of Round 2, the top row now has 3 orange micros and one Green Standard.  The bottom row has 3 Green Standards and an orange micro.  The black micro in the middle awaits.  Do ya feel lucky, Shooter?  Well, do ya?

 

Round 5

 

     Now Round 5 is a mirrow image of Round 1.  The top row is comprised of 4 orange micros, the bottom row is comprised of

4 Green Standards, and the black micro in the middle is in the same ol' place, beckoning.  Let's see what results Chuck Treat's Page 5 has wrought.

 

     In the Ladies Class, we have a tie between our only 2 competitors today.  Carrie Morton and her 9mm Model 19 Glock, and

Gitti Anable with her .357magnum Ruger PT100 Revolver have shot to a tie, with scores of 16.  We're going to have a shootoff!!!  

     The screens stay at 10yds, and we'll keep the array from Round 5.  Our DJ, Doug McLean calls the action.  Shooters to the line, Load 5 rounds!!  Ready?...    Fire!!!  When the noise evaporates and the tallys are taken, we still have a tie.  Shootoff, take 2.  Again, Doug calls it.  And at the command of Fire!!  the ladies do so, with gusto.  Thunder Roll, the roar disipates, the screens are read, and we have a winner.  Giti Anable has hit 4 of the Green Standards to Carrie's 2, and Gitti Anable takes the Ladies Class today.

 

     In the Open Class, with 5 guns entered, Jay Schoonmaker takes the win with a score of 46.  2nd Open is claimed by

Tim Kopp with a score of 42.  3rd Open is the reward for Herb Sheehan, with a score of 40. 

 

     In the Limited Class, our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat has another win under his belt, with a score of 43.  2nd Limited

was claimed by both OJ Kimura and Tim Anable, both with scores of 38.  In 3rd place Limited, this reporter, Hal Hansen,

scores a 35.  Well, in the immortal words of a whole lot of people:  "There's always next week." 

 

     And so there is, shooters.  Next Sunday afternoon at 4:00PM, right here at GHSC, we'll play this game again.  Remember the priorities of handgun practice and competition:  First and Foremost:  SAFETY!!  In a pronounced 2nd Place is Accuracy.   And only after the first two have been practiced and satisfied, we go the 3rd Priority:  Speed!!  We'll see you all here next Sunday afternoon, and until then always remember:

 

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

 

Hal