11/28/10 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

10 Guns Entered

 

     2 Ladies - Class won by Giti Anable with a score of 33

 

     Jay Schoonmaker took the Open Class with a score of 45

 

     Chuck Treat took the Limited Class with a score of 41

 

     Good afternoon, Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to another GHSC Clays Match.  10 Guns came out in the cold, wet air today to shoot the match, and our Match Staff pulled off another good match despite the late Fall temperatures.  This reporter is still down with the "BUG OF THE MONTH", and it seems to be taking most of it's month to clear up.  Among the other virus induced problems caused by this reporter's ailments, the propane heater(s) ran out of propane.  Honest folks, I'll get back to work as quickly as I can.  I'm sorry :( 

     Heaters or no heaters, the match went on under the direction of our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus.  Doug McLean ran the scoresheet and the microphone, & our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat,  trotted out Page 2 of The Great Equalizer Series today. So lets take a look at what the competitors saw from the firing line. 

 

Round 1

     Two straight lines of clays on each side of the screens,  The top row was comprised of 4 Orange Micros, and the bottom row was comprised of 4 Green Standards.  Nestled stealhfully in the middle of the screen is the black micro in the middle.  If you are entered in the Open Class, the orange micros are your targets.  If entered in the Limited Class, the four standards are yours for the shooting.

 

Round 2

     Now, the second clay in has switched from the top to the bottom, and from the bottom to the top.  Now the top row starts with an Orange Micro, then comes a Green Standard, and then back to 2 orange micros.  If successful in breaking all of your primaries, you can then engage and attempt to break the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

     Now there is two of each color and size of clays on each row.  The top row starts off with an orange micro, morphs to 2 Green Standards, and finishes with another orange micro.  Logically, the bottom row begins with a Geen Standard, goes to 2 Orange Miros, and back to another Green Standard.  Hit all of your primaries, and you are encouraged to engage and attempt to break the

black micro in the middle.

    

Round 4

     The top row now alternates, starting with an orange micro, then a Green Standard, and the pairing is repeated.  The bottom row starts off with a Green Standard, becomes an orange micro, and again, the pairing is repeated.  The black micro in the middle

hasn't moved though.  It's still hanging around, just waiting. 

 

Round 5

     X marks the spot.  On each side of the screen is an X, comprised of a line of Green Standards and a line of orange micros.  On the left side of the screen  going from top left to bottom right are the Green Standards.  These are intersected with a line of orange micros hanging from top right to bottom left.  The right side of the screen is a mirror image of the left, with the ubiqutous black micro in the middle separating the Xs.  So let's see who did what today.

 

     We had 2 Ladies shooting today, and Giti Anable won her class with a score of 33.  Well done Giti.  In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker took the honors with a score of 45.  In the Limited Class, our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat won it with a score of 41. 

 

     OK Folks, that's it for today.  We'll meet right back here next Sunday at 4PM when we'll start the month of December.  It's probably not going to get any warmer outside, but if we can get one of the heaters repaired, and the others filled with Propane, and get this reporter repaired as an afterthought, we'll be back to normal for another match next week.  In the meantime, practice hard.  This weather is custom made for dry fire practice inside one's nice warm house, so make sure your ammo is in the other room, and make sure you take the dry-fire practice seriously.  One note for you Open Class Shooters, DON'T DRY-FIRE YOUR .22S without snapcaps.  Do what you have to do to get appropriate snap-caps, then have at it.  Take your Dry Fire practice seriously, remembering your grip, stance, sight picture and trigger prep stages.  You can learn & practice everything necessary with dry firing, and it FREE!! Practice a lot, dry and live fire when possible, and always remember the axiom:

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

 

Hal

    

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

November 21, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

Well, the weather outside was frightful, the heaters were quite delightful, the clays match still goes on, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.   And it did snow today, though not very hard, the temperatures right at freezing kept the flurries on the ground and let us know that it's almost winter.  No matter, it's Sunday afternoon, and the clays match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club must go on.  8 entrants braved the elements, and when they met at the range building, and all the heaters were fired up, everyone brought out their guns, and a clays match broke out. 

     Many thanks to Chuck Nicodemus and his match staff for hosting and presenting the match today.  Without further ado, I'll present the winners. As Chuck pointed out to this reporter, at home with an early season headcold, by the end of the match all anyone cared about was going home where it was warmer.  Ours Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, brought out Page 1 of "The Great Equalizer Series" .  At the end of 5 rounds Chuck Treat himself, shooting his .38cal Revolver, had won the Limited Class.  In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker and his Ruger .22 took the honors. The Ladies were wise enough to stay home where it was warm, and folks, by golly, that's all the information we have.  Next week we'll do it again, and if this reporter is cured by then, I'll be back at the range and try my hand with my Glock.  Until then, stay safe, drive carefully, and remember:  Driving to work in the snow isn't just a job, it's an Adventure.  Remember also, even in this weather, dry-fire practice can accomplish virtually as much as live fire practice, and it's Free.  No matter if you're dry firing or live firing, take the practice seriously, practice each and every one of your techniques, fundamentals and disciplines, and never forget:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 14, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

18 Guns Entered

 

     1 Lady, Carrie Morton, and her pet Glock 19

 

     7 Open Class Entries - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 45

          2nd Open won by Tim Kopp with a score of 44

 We have a tie for 3rd Open between Darren Foreman and Ken Bagley Sr., both with scores of 43

          

    11 Limited Class Entries - Class won by Dan Gowdy with a score of 43

          2nd Limited won by Hal Hansen with a score of 39

          3rd Limited won by Jeff Morton with a score of 33

 

     Good afternoon clays match fans, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and a Clays Match in November.

The weather as cool with the temp at 50degrees, the sky was heavily overcast and the air felt heavy with rain, but

surprisingly it didn't.  The heaters were on, the shooters were dressed for the weather and everyone was comfortable

even on this november day in the Pacific Northwest.  18 Guns came out to play today, and Chuck Treat had a special

feature for everyone.  We have gone all the way through another six pages of the Great Equalizer Series, and today

was dedicated to the targets being set "HELTER SKELTER."  The arrays varied according to the moods of the shooters

setting the targets on the screens, and with the exception of putting only 4 Standards and 4 micros on each side of the

black micro in the middle, the arrays potential was unlimited.  Put'em where you want, let the shooters figure it out.

In keeping with the ambiance of the arrays, Chuck Treat went a step further.  He had gone to the effort to paint the

clays all sorts of different colors.  Some were white, some orange, some green, and some gold, But the one constant

of the arrays, when the Open Class competitors break all of their micros, and the Limited Class competitors break all

of their Standards, they go to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle. 

 

     Before we go any further, many thanks are in order to our match staff.  Chuck Nicodemus was in his usual role as our

Match Director, Doug McLean was back as our scorekeeper and DJ, and of course, Chuck Treat was here in all his

technicolor as our Arrays Impressario.  Thanks gentlemen, and this match was sufficient to do you all proud.  All the color

on the screens today apparently was sufficient to distract all of the shooters from paying strict attention to their

fundamentals, because the scores, while high enough to maintain standards, seemed just a bit below par.  And we didn't

even have any rain to blame it on either.  It was certainly good to have Doug back at the microphone once again.  We have missed his ascerbic wit, and all his stories of injuries past and present.  It's good to know that the human body, despite numerous dents and dings, can still function reasonably well, but just at a slower velocity.  One is reminded of the wisdom of Rick Marcinko, The Rogue Warrior, when he counsels:  "If thou sufferest numerous dents and dings during thy activities,  thou art doing it right!!"  Well, Doug must be doing it very, very right.  Welcome back Doug.

 

     So let's see the results of all this color and creativity.  18 guns turned out on this cold, dreary day, 7 in the Open Class,

and 11 in the Limited Class.  Carrie Morton was the only Lady shooting today, so she and her pet Glock 19 are going to have to wait for another day and more competition to get the fame and acknowledgement she so richly deserves for braving the elements and going up against all the guys.  (actually this reporter just forgot to get her score off the scoresheet, but doesn't want to  admit it :( 

    

     In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker continued his winning ways  with a score of 45. Jay shot his Ruger .22

aemi-auto.  Tim Kopp was one off the pace with a score of 44, also shooting a Ruger .22 all decked out with optics.   

We had a tie for 3rd Open today between Darren Foreman and Ken Bagley SR. for 3rd Open, both with scores of 43. 

 

     In the Limited Class,  Dan Gowdy returned after a way too long absence to win the class with a score of 43.  Dan

shot his Les Baer .45ACP 1911, and very well, too.  Welcome back Dan, we hope you make shooting our

clays matches a habit.  It's been way too long since we have seen you.  This reporter, Hal Hansen, took 2nd Limited

with a score of 39.  Hey Dan, don't forget where this range is next Sunday at 4PM.  I want a re-match!!  Jeff Morton

took 3rd Limited today, with a score of 33.  Jeff shoots a Sig 226 in .45ACP.  

 

     OK Folks, that's it for today.  Next week we start over with The Great Equalizer Series, Page 1, Front and Center!

Remember shooters,   The heaters will be on, the roof doesn't leak, and the clays are just challenging you to engage

them.  Come on out and practice all of those fundamentals you have been thinking about and learning.  Remember

tomorrow's Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club's Plate Match, right here at 6PM.  The heaters will be on then as well. 

Practice a lot, practice properly, and then bring the skills out and show them off.  Clays matches are fun and challenging!!

So until next week, shoot a lot, do it right, and always remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

    

November 7, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

12 Entries

 

     Ladies Class - 2 Entries - Class won by Carrie Morton with a score of 30

                                              2nd Lady - Giti Anable with a score of 20

 

     5 Entries in the Open Class, Class won by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 45

              2nd Open - Chuck Treat with a score of 44

              3rd Open - Loren DeShon with a score of 43

 

     7 Entries in the Limited Class - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 46

              We have a tie for 2nd Limited between Tim Anable and Ben Olson with scores of 36

               3rd Limited won by Carrie Morton with a score of 30

 

     Good evening Sports Fans, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and our weekly Sunday afternoon Clays Match.  As always, but with increasing intensity, we thank our Match Staff for another great match.  Thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, to today's DJ and Scorekeeper, Jon lagerquist, and to our Arrays Impressio, Chuck Treat, who brought us Page 6 of The Great Eqaualizer Series.  We said goodbye to Daylight Savings Time way early this morning, so we said hello to the white dots in the center of the black micros in the middle this afternoon.  By the start of the match this afternoon, the necessary range lights were working, the heaters were put into play, and we had another great match.   Thanks guys.  Let's take a look at Page 6 now from the Clays Shooters perspective. 

 

     Round 1

          The top row starts out with 2 Green Standards, then morphs to 2 orange micros.  The bottom row starts with 2 orange micros, morphs to 2 Green Standards.  If you enter the Open Class, engage the orange micros.  If entered in the Limited Class,

engage the Green Standards.  In either class, if successful in breaking all the primaries, then go to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.  And on to Round 2.

 

     Round 2

          In this round the top row stays the same, but the bottom row starts with an orange micro, followed by a Green Standard,

with the pattern then repeating.  If the shooter is successful in breaking all the primaries, then the black micro in the middle awaits.

 

     Round 3

          Now the bottom row has the different sizes and colors of clays alternating as well.   The bottom row starts with an orange micro, followed by a Green Standard, with the pattern repeating.  Now, every clay on the screen alternates with a different size and color, but no matter if the shooter is entered in open or Limited, if successful in breaking the primaries, the black micro in the middle becomes the objective.

 

     Round 4

          The top row remains the same again, but the bottom row now begins with 2 orange micros, morphing to 2 consecutive

Green Standards.  By now, strategy plays a part in the action, and finding the fastest path through the arrays can save valuable time.

No matter which path one takes however, the black micro in the middle is just waiting.

 

     Round 5

          Now the arrays start off with 4 orange micros forming a box on the ends of the screens, and the 4 Green Standards 

form a box next to the black micro in the middle.  Let's see how the shooters fared today.

 

     We had 2 Ladies forming a class today, with Carrie Morton and her Glock 19 scoring a winning score of 30.  Giti Anable

shot her Ruger GP100 for a score of 20.

 

     in the Open Class, Ken Bagley Sr. showed the way with a score of 45.  Chuck Treat took 2nd Open with a score of 44.  3rd Open was claimed today by Loren DeShon with a score of 43.  All three of our Open Class guns were .22 cal Rugers, and Loren's stood out as it had a peep sight on the rear, while Ken and Chuck's .22s had Red Dot Optics.

 

     In the Limited Class, this reporter, Hal Hansen, took the honors with today's high score of 46.  2nd Limited went to Tim Anable and Ben Olson, tied with scores of 36.  Ben was shooting a Colt Single Action Army while Tim shot a Kimber 1911.  3rd Lmited

went to our Ladies Class Winner, Carrie Morton, shooting her Glock 19.  Carrie, it's good to see you on the podium with a solid 3rd place in the Limited Class.

 

     Ok Folks, that's the action for today.  Next Sunday, having completed another Great Equalizer Series, we will have another

Helter Skelter Match.  The arrays, size and color combinations, and designs, will be up to the people hanging the targets, and their mood can change in the blink of an eye.  So prepare for the worst, then enjoy the best, and be ready for anything.  As always, remember your priorities: 

           1st - Safety

         2nd - Accuracy        

         3rd - Speed

 

     Next Sunday at 4PM then, right here at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, we'll see you all for another Clays Match.  Be ready for anything, but always remember:

 

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

 

Hal