September 26, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

10 Guns Entered

 

     2 Open - Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 47

 

           2nd Open won by Chuck Nicodemus with a score of 44

 

     8 Limited - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 44

 

        2nd Limited - Steve Tinner with a score of 40

 

        3rd Limited - Dave Schinkel with a score of 38

 

     Good afternoon Folks, and welcome back to gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and another Sunday Afternoon Clays Match.  It was an overcast 62 degree, and very humid afternoon, threatening rain at the start of the match, and lightly fulfilling the threat before we were done.  Be advised however, according to today's weather forecast, only 80% of us got wet.

     Following on the heels of a PITA Trap Match at our club today, and the dark somber weather, only 10 Guns showed up for our match; 2 entered in the OPEN Class, and 8 in the Limited Class.  Todays Target Array Series is best described as HELTER SKELTER!!  On each side of the screen were still 4 Orange Micros & 4 Green Standards.  In the middle of the screen was, of course, the ubiquitous, but stealthy black micro in the middle.  This early in the fall, ours clays competitors have been in the habit still of being able to see the black micro in the middle,  so at this point nothing has been done to make it more visible.  I'm told on good authority that that will change very, very soon.  Well, if the black clay target is not visible, I guess one can always shoot at the clothespin.  

     Before we get into the meat of the match, lets dole out our heartfelt thanks to our Match Staff.  We wish to thank our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, today's Scorekeeper & DJ Jon Lagerquist, and our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat for bringing us a great match on a dreary fall day, and for sending a vicarious message to those who weren't here that they should have been.  

From all of us to all of you, THANK YOU!!    

     Today's Clays Match was designated Helter Skelter, in notation of the fact that a shooter is liable to find him or her self facing just about any target array possible.  The formation of the clays is limited only by the imagination of the personnel hanging the clays between sets.  As long as there are 4 orange micros, 4 Green Standards, and a black micro in the middle, the frame is good to go.  Beside being a lot of fun, spontaneous, and challenging, it is good training for if, God Please Forbid, the trumpets sound for real someday.  But let's just enjoy the match for what it is today, shall we? 

 

     At the end of 5 Rounds, we have some winners.  In the Open Class, Chuck Treat took the flag with a score of 47.  2nd Open was won by our other Open Class shooter, Chuck Nicodemus, with a score of 44. 

 

     In the limited Class, this reporter, Hal Hansen won with a score of  44.  2nd Limited was taken by Steve Tinner with a score of

40 and 3rd Limited was taken by Dave Schinkel with a score of 38. 

 

     OK folks, that's it for today.  Remember that next week I have been told that the black micro in the middle will be standing out for all to see, and we all hope that a good crowd of shooters will attempt to decimate as many of the middle black clays as possible.  Until then, practice hard, practice properly, and practice safely!!   We'll start the Great Equalizer Series of Arrays

over again with Page 1, with additions and subtractions limited only by the imagination of our Arrays Impressario.  Come on out and see just how malevolent he is feeling now that Fall is almost here.  Until then, always remember the mantra:

 

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

 

Hal

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

September 20, 2010 Gig Habor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

17 Guns Entered - Match won by Loren DeShon

      2nd Place - George Flaherty

      3rd Place - Lee Lewis

 

Our Match Staff

          Match Director & Head Line Marshall - Mike Blondin

          Scorekeeper & DJ - George Flaherty

          Stage Setup -  George Flaherty & Mathew Seagraves 

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to another week's Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match.  It was a cool, cloudy, breezy 60degree evening tonight, but dry and therefore perfect for shooting at plates.  WOW!! the range looks good after the renovations have been completed to this stage.  The work is still ongoing, and at this stage there are no downrange lights, so we made do with portable outside shop lights provided by George Flaherty.  Thanks George, without your lights, we'd have had to use either flashlights or road flares. 

     With the configuration of the stage now there is no need for the plastic shields, and shooting the match tonight without them went without a hitch. The shields were not missed.  In there place was enough space to adjust one's stance without having to worry about bending around the ports to get good shots, and the extra manueverability was much appreciated by all. 

     Another experiment that proved interesting, and only slightly more challenging, was the fact of the plates being painted a bright orange.  Apparently there was only orange paint from which to choose, and the orange plates, in conjunction with the shop lights, gave a "subdued" appearance to the plates.  Surprisingly, the plates were quite visible, and if the shooter was paying attention they fell as if they were painted white.  Good training.

     17 Guns entered the match tonight, and by the end of the evening, most had found their way to the trailer.  The Final 3 were

Loren DeShon shooting his H&K P-7, George Flaherrty shooting his S&W 1911, & Lee Lewis shooting his NightHawk.  Loren & Lee coincidently found themselves in back to back duels, with Loren winning both duels on reloads. Exit Lee Lewis with a Third Place finish tonight.  Well done, Lee.  Next, George stepped up to challenge Loren, with the same result as was dropped on Lee,

and for the next 5 Straight duels, Loren's more youthful eyes, reflexes and especially his H&K P-7 answered the call.  Our match winner tonight was Loren DeShon, with a 2nd place finish to George Flaherty.  Congratulations Loren, George and Lee, and congratulations to all of the shooters in this match for a challenging and Safe Match.  We hope to see you all here next Sunday at four O'Cloke for our Clays Match, and we'll see you all right here in Two Weeks for another GHSC Plate Match.  Until then, practice a lot, practice properly, and always remember:

 

   

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

 

Hal

 

  

 

                                                    

    

September 19, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

14 Guns Entered In Match

 

      7 Open Guns, class won by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 45

            We have a tie for 2nd Open between Walt Stephens and Jay Schoonmaker, both with scores of 44

            3rd Open won by Hal Hansen with a score of 38, and lucky to get that

 

      7 Limited Guns, class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 39

            2nd Limited won by David Lee with a score of 36

            We had a tie for 3rd Limited between Loren DeShon & Tim Anable, both with scores of 35

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and another Sunday afternoon clays match.  It was a cloudy, overcast afternoon with the temperature in the mid-sixties, and perfect for shooting.  Our match staff did another great job, and brought us another great match   Chuck Nicodemus did double duty today, acting both as the Match Director, and also as the scorekeeper and DJ in Doug Mclean's absence.  Doug got, well, crunched, stapled, spindled and generally banged up working on our range project last week, and we wish him a speedy recovery.  Doug, next time let the professionals and the younger people handle jobs like that.  They get paid more and they move faster.

     We had 14 guns entered in today's match, 7 in each division, and we saw Page 6 of The Great Equalizer Series on the screens. Page 6 was brought to you today by our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  It was  obviously a challenging series of arrays, as the scores were down a bit at the finish.  The arrays were all comprised of orange micros, Green Standards, and of course the ubiquitous black micro in the middle.  Let's take a look at what the shooters saw today.

 

Round 1

     The top row in round 1 started out, from the outside to the inside, with 2 Green Standards, then 2 orange micros.  The bottom row, from the outside in started out with 2 orange micros and then 2 Green Standards.  If your are entered in the open class, the

orange micros are your targets.  If entered in the Limited Class, you engage the Green Standards.  No matter, engage and break all of your designated targets, then go to the middle of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

     The top row stays the same as Round 1, but the bottom row, from the outside, alternates between orange micros, and Green Standards, alternating with each clay. After breaking all of your designated targets, engage the black micro in the middle, and prepare for Round 3.

 

Round 3

     The top row now starts with a Green Standard, morphs to an orange micro, then repeats.  The bottom row is laid out exactly the opposite, starting with an orange micro.  If ya get lucky, engage and break the black micro in the middle, if ya can.

 

Round 4

     The top row starts with a Green Standard, morphs to an orange micro, and repeats.  The bottom row is comprised of, first,

2 orange micros followed by 2 Green Standards.  If you are successful in breaking your primary designated targets, the black micro in the middle awaits.

 

Round 5

     Now, the top row starts with 2 orange micros, followed by 2 Green Standards.  The bottom row is exactly the same.  The 4

identlcal clays, top and bottom, each form a box.  Pick your box, break them if you can, and then, if successful, engage the black micro in the middle.

 

     At the end of regulation play, we have 2 winners, and some ties for 2nd & 3rd.  In the Open Class, Ken Bagley Sr. showed the way with a score of 45.  We had a tie for 2nd Open between Walt Stephens and Jay Schoonmaker with scores of 44.  All alone in 3rd Open languished this reporter, Hal Hansen, with a score of but 38.  sigh....

 

     In the Limited Class, Chuck Treat led to the wire with a score of 39.  David Lee finished 2nd with a score of 36.  The tie for this class came for the 3rd place finishers, Loren DeShon & Tim Anable, both with scores of 35.  Remember sports fans, I told you Pg 6 was tougher.   Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, has advised us that it is not going to get any easier next week.  Next Sunday afternoon, September 26, 2010 we will be looking at HELTER SKELTER,  an array series to be made up as we go along.  Just remember your fundamentals, and do what you do best, just faster.  And remember while practicing this week:

 

                           SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL!!!

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

    

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 5, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report`

18 Guns Entered

 

     1 Lady - Giti Anable, who shot a score of 29

 

      4 Open Guns - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 43

            2nd Open - Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 42

            3rd Open - Chuck Treat with a score of 40

 

     14 Limited Guns - Class won by Jim Skedd with a score of 43 + 4

            2nd Limited - Loren DeShon with a score of 43 + 3

            3rd Limited - Rob Potter with a score of 41

 

     Welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, and our Sunday afternoon Clays Match.  18 Guns showed up to contest Page 5 of The Great Equalizer Series today, and of all that number, only 1 Lady, Giti Anable, was among the entrants.  Giti was shooting her demure, ladylike Ruger GP 100 chambered in .357 Magnum, and hit or miss, when she fired the ground shook.  Giti

shook the ground often enough to finish with a score of 29.  Good Shooting, Giti!

 

     In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker was able to join us today, and with the aid of his Ruger Mk III, resumed his winning ways with a score of 43.  2nd Open was claimed by Ken Bagley Sr. also shooting a Ruger .22, but in this case it was a Model 22/45.

Ken shot his Ruger 22/45 well enough to score a 42, only 1 clay target off the pace.  Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, shooting a Ruger Mk III, took 3rd Open with a score of 40.  Now, that's a bunch of close scores, and the balance could have tipped in any direction with one extra breath at the wrong time.   Good Shooting, Open Class gunners, now you've got to get some new names on the entry list and swell the numbers in your class.

 

     In the Limited Class, having enough shooters was not a problem.  14 guns signed up to shoot the match today, and the scores were very close in this class also.  At the end of the day, we had a tie for 1st Limited between Jim Skedd and his NightHawk 1911 and Loren DeShon and his 4" Colt Python Revolver.   Both Jim & Loren shot scores of 43, and by virtue of shooting tie scores contesting 1st place in a class, they earned the right to have a shootoff!!!  Screens moved out to 44 Ft, 3" clays were substituted for the standards, and Jim & Loren are called to the line.  Our Scorekeeper and DJ, Doug Mclean, calls the action.

"Shooters to the Line, Load 5 Rounds!  Shooters Ready!! FIRE!!!"  Jim & Loren engage their clay targets, thunder rolls, orange clays fragments fly, and when quiet returns to the range all of Jim Skedd's clays are GONE, but one of Loren's hangs resolutely to the wire, just laughing.  String and the Limited Class win go to Jim Skedd and his no longer hungry NightHawk, with a final score of 43 +4.  Finishing 2nd Limited is Loren DeShon, his Colt Python finishing with a score of 43 + 3.  Finishing in 3rd Place in the Limited Class was Rob Potter and his NightHawk 1911.   Gentlemen, don't become complacent with your successes today.  There was a 3-way tie for 4th place between Mark Wuesthoff shooting a S&W Model 52-2 .38Spec Wadcutter semi-auto, Tim Anable and his Kimber 1911, and Hal Hansen also shooting a Kimber.  These 3 wannabees all shot scores of 39 and will be looking for more next week, along with the rest of the field. 

 

     With that said, I'll close with the information that the range will be fully closed this coming week, while all sorts of construction takes place, so when we meet for another clays match next Sunday September 12, 2010, all sorts of new shiny additions and improvements to our range shoud be in evidence.  Practice hard and well this week, and join us right here next Sunday afternoon at 4PM and we'll do another clays match under the lights and accoutrements of our newly renovated range.  Keep in mind your priorities when you are practicing your shooting..

 

1st is SAFETY!  2ND IS ACCURACY!!!  WHEN THOSE TRAITS ARE FIRMLY INGRAINED, THEN START THINKING ABOUT SPEED!!!

 

Hal