December 20, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

10 Guns Entered      MATCH WINNER:  GEORGE FLAHERTY

     2nd Place:  Hal Hansen

     3rd Place:  Jeff Berres

We had one lady in our match tonight, Stephanie Stevens.  Stephanie did very well indeed in yesterday's GHSCs Clays Match, and has already decided to expand her repertoire to plates.  Stephanie, we like your attitude.  Welcome, and welcome back.  See you next year. 

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome to the last GHSC Plate Match of 2010.  It was a dark & crisp evening for a plate match, but the lights were all on, the heaters were all on, and 10 Guns came out to brave the elements.  There was a lot of shooting, virtually no standing around, and it was Fast & Furious competition. 

     Congratulations to our match staff for all the great matches during the year.  Our Match Director, Mike Blondin runs a good show.  Our Score Keeper & DJ George Flaherty runs the scoretable, the scoreboard, shuffles & deals the duels, and shoots his Smith & Wesson 1911 well enough to have virtually dominated the field for a lot of this year's matches.  Thanks also to Wolfgang and Mathew Seagraves, our head Stage Managers this year.  It's the Christmas Season, and we had a fairly low turnout for tonight's match, so everyone waited to be sure enough people were going to show up to have a match, and everyone!! pitched in to set up the stage.  Thanks everyone, and thanks Mathew & Wolfgang for all your efforts this year.

     At the end of the Sudden Death Finals of tonight's match there were 2 guns still contending:  George Flaherty and this reporter,

Hal Hansen.  George had started out fast!! tonight, then sped up as the evening progressed.  Hal started off slowly, but finally got it together barely in time to avoid early retirement, and it was Hal with 1 number vs. George with a lot more than 1.  Shooters, Load & Make Ready!  Shooters Ready?  Stand By!!  At the Tone Hal & George engaged the plates, there followed the rattle of falling steel as The Thunder Rolled!!  When the steel was all down, and the Thunder subsided, George Flaherty had crossed the line narrowly ahead of Hal.   It was close, but George Flaherty is tonight's winner.  Hal Hansen finishes 2nd, and Jeff Berres finishes 3rd. It should be noted that Jeff is new to our crowd of shooters, and we welcome him to our sport.

Jeff sure did well tonight, and appears to be a force to be reckoned with next year.  Jeff, Welcome!! 

     That's it for this year folks.  We'll meet right back here next year, January 3, 2011 at 6:00PM, Rain or Shine.  Well, we can bet it'll be dark, and cool, that the LIGHTS & HEATERS will be blazing, and between those and the competition, it'll be summer in January.  We'll see you then.  Use the time to practice fundamentals and techniques, practice properly, and always remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

December 19, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

12 Guns Entered

 

     3 Ladies - Class won by Carrie Morton with a score of 27

           2nd Lady:  Stephanie Stevens with a score of 14

           3rd Lady:  Shirley Treat with a score of 11

 

      5 entries in the Open Class:  Class won by Darren Foreman with a score of 44

          2nd Open:  Tim Anable with a score of 37

          3rd Open: George Stevens with a score of 24

 

       7 entries in the Limited Class:  Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 40

           2nd Limited won by Chuck Treat with a score of 38

           3rd Limited won by Hal Hansen with a score of 37

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club  and our last Clays Match of 2010.  Next Sunday will wrap up the Christmas Holiday and we'll take a day off to spend with our families.  Merry Christmas Everyone,

we'll see you all right here next year.

     This week will see an annual event and a historic event.  Next Tuesday, December 21, 2010, will be the first time in 372 years that the winter solstice and a full Lunar Eclipse have happened on the same day.  The last time was clear back in the year 1638, during the Middle Ages.  That's a long time ago.  If the skies are clear, questionable at this time, it should be quite a sight.  It'll actually attain totality during the wee small hours of Wednesday Morning, so if you stay up to watch it, I hope you all can sleep in the next morning.

     We've had a great year of Clays Matches this year.  Thanks go to a great Match Staff.  Thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper & DJ Doug Mclean, and our Arrays Impressario Chuck Treat.  At this time I'd like to introduce another member of the match staff, in to substitute for our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  Chuck is going into the body shop for a tuneup very soon, and in his place Darren Foreman will be maintaining the target screens and making sure the proper clays are in place and available.  We all have known Darren for a very long time, and have enjoyed his companionship.  Now he will take his place on the Match Staff, as well as shooting the matches. Darren, Thank You!! for stepping up and stepping in during Chuck's recovery.  Just to keep his hand in on the firing line, it should be noted that Darren Foreman WON the Open Class today with a score of 44. 

     Our Clays Match was held today in Cool Weather!!  The temperature at gametime today was a very brisk 44degrees, all three heaters were on and roaring, and all the shooters were bundled up for the winter.  All in all, not too bad.  Chuck Treat & Darren Foreman brought us Page 5 of The Great Equalizer Series today.  Let's take a vicarious look at the arrays as they challenged today's contestants. 

 

Round 1

     Pretty straightforward.  The top row was comprised of 4 Green Standards.  The bottom row consisted of 4 orange micros.

If the shooter is entered in the Open Class, the orange micros are the targets.  If entered in the Limited Class, it's the Green Standards. IF the shooter is successful in breaking the four primarys, the shooter engages the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

     Now the outside orange micro is on the top row, and the corresponding Green Standard is on the bottom row.  Now the topping and bottoming begins, with the black micro in the middle the reward for success.

 

Round 3

     The top and bottom row are now even, with 2 orange micros and 2 Green Standards on each.  Find the fastest & smoothest route through your designated primarys, then engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 4

     3 orange micros now occupy the top row, with 1 Green Standard on the inside.  On the bottom row, 3 Green Standards introduce the inside orange micro.  If successful in breaking all four of one's primarys, the black micro in the middle awaits.

 

Round 5

     The role reversal in now complete.  The top row is now fielded by 4 orange micros, while the bottom row is now fielded by 4 Green Standards.  As always, if successful in breaking all the primarys, the black micro in the middle becomes the target De Jour.  So let's see how we did today.

 

     We were priveleged to have 3 Ladies shooting with us today.  Carrie Morton won the Ladies Class with a score of 27.  We had a new Lady, Stephanie Stevens, join our ranks today, and did so in grand fashion, shooting a score of 14.  Keep practicing a lot Stephanie, and keep coming back to the matches, and those scores will go up and up.  Welcome Stephanie, Mighty Glad To Have You With Us.  Shirley Treat was back for another go today, taking 3rd Place in the Ladies Class with a score of 11.  We'll let you try this again a whole bunch of times next year, Shirley. 

 

     In the Open Class today, Darren Foreman took the honors with a score of 44.  2nd Open was won today by Tim Anable, shooting a firearm that was a cross between a handgun and a rifle.  It doesn't matter what feature of either one looked for on Tim's firearm,  it was on there somewhere.  Tim was able to find everything when he needed it though, and shot a score of 37 to take 2nd Place in the Open Class.  3rd Open was won by another new Clays Shooter, George Stevens.  Ed note:  George, if I got the last name wrong, my apologies.  Welcome to our sport, and we hope you enjoyed it a lot.  Good shooting today too.  Welcome to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and we hope to see you often next year.

 

     In the Limited Class, Jay Schoonmaker pulled slightly ahead to win the class with a score of 40.  Taking 2nd Limited, shooting a score of 38, was our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, with a score of 38.  Taking 3rd Limited, having had his own personal

Full Lunar Eclipse, is this reporter, Hal Hansen, having shot a score of 37.  I was just trying to help Darren Foreman.  Darren,

look at the extras as an early Christmas Present.

 

     One other very, very, important note of Thanks!! today goes to Shirley Treat.  Shirley brought two plates of  HOMEMADE BROWNIES that were just delicious.  Shirley, we all appreciate your Brownies, THEY WERE GREAT!!.  Now, of course,

you have us all spoiled, and we will expect your offerings probably more often than we deserve.  Just let our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, know how much room on the counter in the office you'll need each week, and he'll see to it you have plenty of space for your treats.  Shirley, Thanks!!

 

     OK Folks, that's it for another Clays Match, and that's it for another Year.  We'll take next Sunday, December 26, 2010 off, spending it instead with our families.  We'll see you all right here next year, Check with Chuck Nicodemus about rather we will have the first match of 2011 in two weeks on January 2, or in 3 weeks on January 9, 2011.  Chuck will know.  Chuck knows everything!

 

     Until then, have a Joyous, and more importantly, SAFE!!  HOLIDAY.  As Clays Shooters another great activity during the holidays is dry fire practice.  Remember your fundamentals, your techniques, and take the dry fire practice sessions very seriously.  One can learn everything one needs to know by dry firing, and it's Free!! We'll see you all right here next year and in the meantime always remember:

 

 

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

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/12/2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

12 Guns Entered

 

      3 In The Ladies Class - Class won by Carrie Morton with a score of 33

           2nd Lady - Shirley Treat with a score of 31

           3rd Lady - Giti Anable with a score of 25

 

     4 Open Guns - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 48

        2nd Open won by David Lee with a score of 39

        3rd Open won by Shirley Treat with a score of 31 

 

     8 Limited Class Guns - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 37 + 2

        2nd Limited won by Tim Anable with a score of 37 + 0

        3rd Limited won by Jeff Morton with a score of 34

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club's Sunday Afternoon Clays Match.

It's 54degrees at gametime today, and wet!!  The Pineapple Express blew into town this weekend, and it's primary cargo was Rain.

Because Mother Nature knows her place in the overall scheme of things, it quit raining for our Clays Match, and didn't start again until after the match's conclusion.  Thanks Mom :)

 

     We were pleased to see a new shooter, and in this case a Lady joining our ranks today.  None other than the wife of our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  Shirley, Welcome.  We hope you had a good time and will make this match a regular Sunday Afternoon Event.  Since Shirley made the effort today, she took one more step and claimed 2nd Place in the Open Class.  

Shirley, that is not a bad beginning.  Keep at it Ma'am, and you will soon be competing "heads up" with your husband, Chuck.   

Again, Welcome to our sport.

 

     Thanks as always to our Match Staff, in the persons of our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper and DJ, Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat.  Chuck brought us Pg 4 of The Great Equalizer Series today.  Let's

vicariously join our shooters in a round of Clays. 

 

Round 1

     For the Limited Class, at each end of the target screens we see a square formed of 2 Green Standards on the top row, and

2 Green Standards directly underneath on the bottom row.  For the Open Class shooters, we see a straight line of orange micros

on each end bisecting the Green Squares.  If you are entered in the Limited Class, the Green Squares are your targets.  If entered in the Open Class, direct your attentions to the straight line of orange micros.  No matter which class you are in, if you break all of your primarys, go to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle, now replete with a white dot in the middle.

 

Round 2

     The 2 o'clock Green Standard on each box at each end of the target screens now has reclined to about 45degrees.  The 3rd orange micro from the outside has "climbed up on top" of the 4 o'clock Green Standard.  Now the shooter has to start planning the most direct route through his/her clays, and if successful, the black micro in the middle waits in the center of the screen. 

 

Round 3

     The two outside Green Standards are still vertically stacked, but now the two inside Green Standards are laid down bracketed on the outside by the orange micros.  Now the Open Guns are the ones having to plan the fastest routes to the black micro in the middle. 

 

Round 4

     The orange micros have now formed 3 corners of a square on each end of the screens.  The 4th corner orange micro is still not yet in the square, but we know now it is coming.  3 Green Standards are in a row, with the 4th Green Standard still in it's original "corner" position.  Engage and attempt to break all of your primarys, and if successful, engage the black micro in the middle. 

 

Round 5

     The transition is now complete.  The 4 orange micros form a square on each end of the screens, with the 4 Green Standards

forming a straight line bisecting the two orange boxes.  After breaking ALL of your primarys, move to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.  If you are done, unload and show clear, close your chambers, holster your firearm, and sit down to await results.

 

     First, The Ladies.  In the Ladies Class, Carrie Morton and her Glock 19 has shot a score of 33 to win her class.  Well done Carrie.  Taking 2nd in the Ladies Class, shooting a Ruger Mk 3,  Shirley Treat has shot a score of 31.  Shirley, that is a great beginning.

3rd Place in the Ladies Class went to Giti Anable and her S&W Model 17 .22LR. shooting a score of 25.  New gun,Giti?

 

In the Open Class, 4 Guns Entered.  Winning the class handily was Jay Schoonmaker, with the high score for the match of 48.  From all appearances, Jay was ON!! today.  In 2nd Place in the Open Class was David Lee, shooting a score of 39.

In Third Place in the Open Class was our rookie, Shirley Treat shooting her Ruger Mk 3, and shooting it very very well indeed.  Well done Open Class Shooters!!

 

     The Limited Class was won today by this reporter, Hal Hansen, shooting a score of 37.  Also shooting a score of 37

was Tim Anable causing a tie.  Guess what, we're going to have a shootoff.  Target stands back to 44ft.  The target array will consist of 4 orange micros on each side of the screen, all in a row,  with a black micro in the middle.  Tim & Hal are called to the line and instructed to load 5 rounds.  The shooters are ready, and they get the command to FIRE!!  Somewhat haltingly, the thunder rolls and subsides.  Those little bitty orange micros are really little way out there.  Tim hasn't hit any of the orange micros, while this reporter has managed to hit two.  Hal Hansen, finally back from a case of the flu, has won the Limited Class today with a score of 37 + 2.  2nd is Tim Anable with a score of 37 + 0, and third is Jeff Morton with a score of 34.

Uh, Jeff.  In case you forgot, your wife Carrie won her class!!  Make him take you out to dinner tonight Carrie.

 

     OK folks, that's it for today.  We'll see you right here next Sunday for another Clays Match.  I don't know if it'll be any drier, but we'll be better practiced and be better shooters.  Practice properly, practice safely, and bring your enhanced skills right here next Sunday at 4PM.  In the meantime, always remember:

 

 

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

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

December 6, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

13 Entries         Match Winner:  Lee Lewis

                            2nd Place:  George Flaherty

                                   3rd  Place:  Mark Wuesthoff

 

   3 Ladies made up a class tonight:  Class won by:  Randa Aho

                             There was a tie for 2nd Place in the Ladies Class between:  Helen Todhunter and Jessica Spadoni

 

      Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  It's the First Monday in December and time for another Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match.  It was a heavily overcast evening, temperatures in the lower 40s, but the heaters were out, the lights on the pistol range were all up and running, the lighting was great, and we had a hot, closely contested and stimulating plate match.  13 Guns  came out to play tonight, and they were greeted with all the fun and competition anyone could ask. 

      We were honored and pleased to have 3 Ladies enter the fray tonight.  No one can say that the weather on the cusp of winter daunted these Ladies.  We grow them tough at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  Helen Todhunter, a veteran of many of our plate matches returned tonight, and the ranks of the Lady Plate Shooters was swelled by two new shooters, Randa Aho & Jessica Spadoni.  Welcome ladies, we hope you had a great time and will attend our matches as often as you are able.

     Many thanks to our Match Staff, for putting on a great match as always.  Thank you to our Match Director, Mike Blondin, for presenting and directing the match.  Thanks ever so much to our Scorekeeper and DJ, George Flaherty, for running the board and  dealing and calling the duels.  A special thanks also goes to Mathew and Wolfgang Seagraves for setting up the stage, and having it ready to rock with time to spare prior to the start of tonight's match.  It was a fun, well-run match gentlemen, and we shooters appreciate it.

     After George was kind enough to put this reporter on the trailer, he then dueled with James Austin.  James had been having a sort of on-and-off night, but on this duel he bore down and crossed the line just a bit ahead of George.  Duel to James.  George took his frustration out on our Match Director, Mike Blondin next, showing him the door and the quick route to the trailer.  Lee and James dueled next, with Lee having a great run, and putting James on the trailer with so many of the rest of us.  George next dueled with Wolfgang Seagraves, and shortly Wolfgang took his place on the trailer, sitting next to his LadyFriend Jessica Spadoni.

     Now George advanced to a duel with Mark Wuesthoff.  George, as is his habit, was shooting his Smith  & Wesson 1911 against Mark's trademark Smith & Wesson Revolver.  Under the circumstances, it was hard for Smith & Wesson to lose, but not quite as hard for Mark.  George had a great run and crossed the line just a bit before Mark.  James drew a duel with Lee Lewis

next, and Lee, his NightHawk charging talons-first into the duel, succeeded in doing what few ever can; putting James Austin on the trailer.  Exit James.  In the last of the semis, Lee just outran George by a very narrow margin, indeed.

     Now we are down to just three:  George Flaherty has 3 numbers, Lee Lewis has 2 and Mark Wuesthoff has 1.  George draws

Mark, who wins the duel, keeping his 1 number but dropping George to 2.  George draws Lee next, and in a fast accurate run, barely hangs on to his 2 numbers, and dropping Lee down to just 1.  Mark steps up to duel with George at this point, George wth 2 numbers to Mark's 1.  Not tonight Mark, and George opens the door for Mark, showing him the path to the trailer. 

     At this final pairing of the evening, George has 2 numbers to lee's 1.  The shooters are loaded and ready, the command to fire is given, and George and Lee go for All Of'em.  When the thunder ebbs, and the dust settles, Lee's popper rests on the bottom, and folks, we're not quite done yet!!

     Once again, George and Lee are loaded and ready.  Once again we have a duel between the North and the South.

The North is represented by George's Smith & Wesson from way up North in Massachusetts, and the South is represented by Lee's NightHawk from way down South in Arkansas.  The shooters get the command to fire, the thunder rolls, the plates clatter and fall, and both of the poppers head for the dust.  After the thunder ebbs, and the dust settles and the smoke clears, Lee Lewis' popper lies tight to the ground, and Lee Lewis wins tonight's Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match. 

     OK Folks, that's it for this match, on this night.  We'll meet right back here on Monday December 20, 2010 at 6PM and see what action the plates present then.  Until then, we know who the hot guns are, we know who we look up to and desire to emulate, and safe technically correct practice will guide us along to road to overcoming more experienced and currently faster guns.  Practice hard and often, remember your priorities.  1st is Gun Safety.  2nd is Accuracy.  Only when those requirements are fully met does one concern themselves with 3rd - Speed!!  Don't forget our Weekly Sunday Afternoon Clays Matches right here at GHSC, and we'll see you here for another plate match in two weeks, on December 20, 2010 at 6:00PM.  Till then, always remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 5, 2010 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

T12 Clays Shooters

 

           Open Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 42 + 3

                 2nd Open won by Darren Foreman with a score of 42 + 2

 

            Limited Class won by Dan Moore with a score of 38

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to another Sunday afternoon clays match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  It was a chilly December afternoon, it's almost winter and the heaters were on and roaring.  Thanks to our Match Staff for bringing us another fine match.  Thanks to Chuck Nicodemus for Directing The Match, and for doing double duty by sending this reporter, almost well, the data for this report.  Thanks to Doug Mclean,  for running the mic and cooking the books, and thanks to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, for bringing us Pg 3 of The Great Equalizer Series.  Let's take a look at the arrays as seen by the competitors today.

 

Round 1

     So many boxes, with so little time.  The top and bottom rows alternate two stacked Green Standards, followed by two stacked orange micros, with the pairing repeated.  This array forms two boxes, one of Green Standards, interspersed with a box comprised  of orange micros.  If entered in the Open Class, engage the orange micros.  If entered in the Limited Class, engage the Green Standards.  In any case, if successful in breaking All of the primaries, go to the center of the screen and engage and attempt to break the black micro in the middle. 

 

Round 2

     Now the boxes start on the outside with a stacked set of orange micros, followed by a stacked set of Green Standards, with the pairing repeated.  If you break your box, then engage the black micro in the middle and prepare for Round 3.

 

Round 3

     The box comprised of 4 Green Standards remains, but nestled inside the box is a diamond of orange micros.  So, whether engaging Green Standard Boxes, or orange mcro diamonds, if you do it right, move into the middle of the screen and pick up the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 4

     The box comprised of Green Standards is now surrounded by the diamond of orange micros.  If successful in breaking all of your primaries, move to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.  And on to Round 5

 

Round 5

     Now the 4 Green Standards form the point of a spear, and mixed in among them are 4 orange micros, forming an arrowhead, both pointing to the middle of the screen, and the black micro in the middle.  Let's take a look at the results of our competition today.

 

     In the Limited Class, Dan Moore, who we haven't seen shooting clays for awhile, returned to win his class today with a score of 38.  Welcome back, Dan.

 

     In the Open Class, we had a tie score between our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat & Darren Foreman, both with scores of 42.  We're Going To Have A Shootoff!!  The target screens are moved back to 44ft.  and the arrays are comprised of Red Micros.  Our Scorekeeper & DJ, Doug Mclean makes the call.  Shooters to the line, Load 5 Rounds.  Shooters ready?  Fire!!  Dan & Darren bring up their Open Guns, engage the Red Micros, and when the noise and the dust settles, we have a Winner!!

     Dan Moore has hit 3 of the Red Micros, while Darren Foreman has hit but 2.  Dan Moore is today's Limited Class Victor.

 

     And that wraps up another Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Sunday afternoon Clays Match.  Next Sunday we'll meet right back here at 4PM and do it again.  Don't forget the Plate Match here at GHSC tomorrow evening, Dec. 6, 2010 at 6PM.  There's lots of competition available for the shooting, so practice hard, dress warmly, and come on out and play.  In the meantime, while practicing, always remember:

 

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

 

Hal