February 21, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Falling Plate Match Report

17 Guns Entered       Match Winner:  George Flaherty

                                    

                                       2nd Place:  Mathew Reid

 

                                       3rd Place:  Hal Hansen

 

     Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, and our Bi-Monthly Falling Plate Match.  17 guns came out in the balmy 40degree February weather, lit the heaters, locked and loaded their own heaters, and enjoyed the fresh air and camaraderie to the fullest.  Thanks to our Match Staff for putting on another great match.  Our Match Director, Michael Blondin runs a good match; smooth and on time.  He is ably assisted by our ScoreKeeper, George Flaherty,

our Line Marshalls, Mathew Seagraves and our Setup Crew; again Mathew Seagraves, Mike again, and most all the shooters that were there.  Great Match Guys, and we thank you.

     17 Guns entered the fray, and by the end of the Sudden Death Finale of the match, 3 Shooters were left to decide the winner:

George Flaherty, Mathew Reid and this reporter, Hal Hansen.  George put "paid" to this reporter's efforts for the night, and that left George with 6 numbers on the board to Mathew's 1. 

     Well!  George and Mathew squared off, the challenge was for All 5 plus the popper, and the challenge was met first by Mathew

Reid, leaving Reid with his 1 number, and George with 5.  Again they duel, and again Mathew Reid gets there first.  Mathew 1,

George 4.  Reid seems to be getting faster, with George show signs of pressure.  They duel again, and once again Reid knocks'em all down first.  Reid 1, George 3.  

     At this point the ex-fighter pilot in George comes out to play.  George flew F-106s during the Vietnam War era, and he didn't survive unscathed by succumbing to pressure.  Once again they square off for a duel and our line Marshall, Mathew Seagraves, calls the action:  Shooters, Load and Make Ready!  Shooters Ready?  Stand By!!  at the *Tone* George & Reid go for all 5

& the popper.  The plates rattle as they fall, and with a clatter the poppers drop, with George's popper tight to the dirt.  George Flaherty is tonight's match winner, with Mathew Reid finishing 2nd and this reporter, Hal Hansen finishing 3rd.

     Congratulations to all of our shooters tonight, for a clean, fast, sportsmanlike, and SAFE match.  We'll meet here for another falling plate match next month, Monday March 7, 2011 at 6:00pm.  Until then, practice a lot, practice properly, and remember the mantra:

 

                                 "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL."

Hal