March 27, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

16 Guns Entered

 

     3 Ladies - Class won by Gitti Anable with a score of 31

        2nd Place Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 26

        3rd Place Lady - Betty Blondin with a score of 21

 

    2 Juniors - Class won by Brian Tinner with a score of 32

       2nd Place Junior - Kirk Foreman with a score of 14

 

    5 Open Class Entries - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 47

        2nd Open - Chuck Nicodemus with a score of 38

        3rd Open - Thor Palm with a score of 31

 

    11 Limited Entries - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 45

         Tie for 2nd Limited between Steve Tinner and John Iverson with scores of 41

         3rd Limited - Chuck Treat with a score of 37

 

     It was a dark and stormy Sunday afternoon.  All right, so March is going out like a lion as well.  April has a head start on it's showers, and we can only hope for May Flowers.  We have 3 heaters, they were on and roaring, so we don't care. 

     16 hardy souls turned out for today's Clays Match and it was a good one.  Lots of intense competition and close scores.  Our

Match Staff brought us another winner.  Many thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus.  Chuck commented before the match today that he was tired.  This reporter told him he had a lovely day for it.  Tired or not, the match went on smoothly, and more importantly SAFELY!!  Many thanks to our Scorekeeper and DJ, Doug McLean.  Doug's legubrious voice calls the duels, and his computer-like mind computes the scores and records the winners.  Well done, Doug.  Now get off my range!!

     Our Arrays Impressarios, Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman, brought us Page 2 of The Great Equalizer Series today.

Gentlemen, we thank you and appreciate your efforts.  Chuck & Darren went back to orange micros & Green Standards today,

featuring the Black Micro In The Middle.  A note on the black middle micro.  It was darker today, with clouds and rain and not much ambient light to illuminate the black micros.  The area between the arrays on each side of the screens could best be described as an astronomical phenomenon:  i.e. Black Holes.  As we may remember from last winter, the black holes are totally devoid of light, and the blackness is dense.  The trick is to aim about 2" below the clothespins and see if you get motion from the bullet hitting the black micro clay.  The projected location of The Black Micro In The Middle does lend an aura of mystery to the arrays.  Look at the innermost clays on each side of the screens as Event Horizons, the thresholds into the Black Holes.  Challenging!!

     16 shooters took the challenge, and with those 16, we have 4 Classes of competitors.   Let's take a look at the arrays those 16 faced.

 

Round 1

     Straight forward.  A line of 4 orange micros on the top row, and a line of 4 Green Standards on the bottom row.  If entered in the

Open Class, shoot at the orange micros.  If entered in the Limited Class, shoot at the Green Standards.  In either class though,

if the shooter breaks ALL of his/her primarys, go to the center of the screen, cross the Event Horizon and engage The Black Micro In The Middle. 

 

Round 2

     Now the 2nd clays from the outer edge of the arrays switch places, with the orange micro going to the bottom row, and the

Green Standard immigrating to the top row.  The Black Micro In The Middle hasn't moved though, it's still firmly between the 

Event Horizons, hiding in the middle.  Pity the shooters can't see it.

 

Round 3

     Both the 2 middle clays switch rows now, so the center 2 Green Standards are on the top row, and the 2 orange micros are on the bottom row.  IF the shooter is successful in breaking all the primary's, the Black Micro In The Middle awaits.  No really, it's out there, right in the middle.

 

Round 4

     The clays alternate now, with the top row starting out orange, and the bottom row starting out Green.  The shooter is well served by finding the fastest route through the arrays, and doing it accurately.  No matter which route is chosen, the objective is to break all the primarys and thus be invited to engage The Black Micro In The Middle.  The one between the Event Horizons, in the middle of 

The Black Hole.

 

Round 5

     X Marks The Spot.  On each side of the screens, starting at the outside top, 4 Green Standards traverse from the outside top to the inside bottom, while 4 orange micros traverse from the outside bottom to the inside top.  This forms 2 Xs bracketing the Black Micro In The Middle.  Aw heck, just aim 2" below the clothespins.  So let's see how the shooters did today.

 

     In the Ladies Class, Gitti Anable continued her recent unbroken string of wins with a score of 31.  2nd Place in the Ladies Class was claimed by Carrie Morton, who shot a score of 26.  Betty Blondin took 3rd Place in the Ladies Class with a score of 21.  Well done, Ladies.

 

     2 Juniors competed for fame and fortune today, with Brian Tinner taking the win, shooting a score of 32.  Kirk Foreman followed with a score of 14.  Observe Shooters, The Wave Of The Future.  Time for the Seniors to start looking over their shoulders.

 

     5 Open Class shooters took the field today, with Jay Schoonmaker leading the squad at the end of the festivities.  Jay shot a score of 47, as is his habit, but uncharacteristically, today he did it shooting Right Handed.  Jay is by nature a SouthPaw, which explains a lot, but today he shot the match weak-handed.  Well done Jay.  2nd Place was claimed by our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, shooting a score of 38.  Thor Palm got the nod for 3rd Open today, with a score of 31.  And finally,

 

     11 limited Guns competed today, and at the end of regulation play, this reporter, Hal Hansen took the win with a score of 45.

I would have gotten a perfect 50, but I missed 5.  There was tie for 2nd Limited, between Steve Tinner and John Iverson, both shooting scores of 41.  Our Head Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, took 3rd Limited, with a score of 37.  Well done, Gents.

 

     OK Folks, that's the report on the action for today.  We'll meet right here next Sunday at 4PM.  In the meantime, practice hard

and remember your priorities:  1st - Safety  2nd - Accuracy  and only when those priorities have become second nature does one worry about Speed!!  We'll see you next Sunday, but in the meantime always remember:

 

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

 

Hal 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 21, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

20 Guns Entered     Match Won By Rob Potter

 

      2nd Place - George Flaherty

 

      3rd Place - Hal Hansen

 

     Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club for the last Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club plate match of March 2011.  It was pretty decent weather for a plate match too.  The temperature was hovering about 50degrees, broken clouds forming a light overcast, and best of all, it was dry.  No Rain!!  With the addition of the 3 heaters, everyone was warm, dry and full of the competitive spirit. 

     20 guns  turned out for our match tonight, and we welcome our new shooters, and some that haven't been in attendance for awhile.

Many thanks as always to our Match Staff.  Thanks for a great job to our Match Director, Mike Blondin.  Thanks to our Scorekeeper & DJ, George Flaherty.  Welcome back and thanks for a great job as tonight's Chief Line Marshall, Rob Potter.  Last to get thanks, but the first to arrive at the range and get the stage set up, thanks to our Stage Manager, Mathew Seagraves,

who with help of Match Director Mike Blondin, and several others, got the stage ready to rock, set up properly and on time.

 

     The field started out with 20 guns, and as the field approached the final duels, the number was cut to 7.  The semis started with a duel between Hal & AJ, with the win going to Hal - exit AJ.  Hope you had a good time on your return to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club's plate matches, AJ., and we hope to see you back soon. Next it was a duel between our Stage Manager, Mathew Seagraves and Ron, with Mathew winning, exit Ron.  George dueled with our Match Director, Mike Blondin then, with George winning, putting paid to Mike's bid for stardom tonight.  Exit Mike.  George dueled with this reporter, Hal, next and continued his winning ways.  Ah, but Hal still has one more number on the board.  Rob Potter then drew a duel with Mathew and led the way wire to wire to take the duel.  Rob continued his winning ways against George next, immediately prior to putting Mathew on the trailer for the evening. Exit Mathew. 

 

     Now we're getting down to it.  George draws a duel with Hal now, and shows Hal the door in a fast accurate string of fire. That was George's string of fire I was talking about.  Exit Hal with a 3rd Place Finish for tonight's match.  It now is down to George Flaherty with 2 numbers, vs. Rob Potter with 3 numbers.  George takes the first duel of the finals, leaving him tied  with Rob at 2 numbers each.  The next two duels go to Rob Potter, putting George Flaherty away for the evening, and giving Rob Potter the Match Victory.  2nd Place goes to George Flaherty, and 3rd Place to Hal Hansen. 

 

     OK Folks, that's it for tonight's plate match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  We'll do it all again in two weeks, on Monday April 4, 2011 at 6PM.  We again welcome the new shooters as well as those that have been away for a while, we hope you had fun and will make our match a regular event on your calendar.  In the meantime, practice a lot, practice properly and alway remember your priorities when shooting.  They can be summed up in the shooter's axiom:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 20, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

22 Guns

 

     4 Ladies - Class won by Gitti Anable with a score 32________________Very Close Ladies.  Gitti, She's gaining on you.

           2nd Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 31

 

    12 Limited - Class won by John Iverson with a score of 41 + 1

            2nd Lmited - Steve Tinner

 

       8 Open - Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 47

 

        3 Juniors - Class won by Jacob Iverson with a score of 29

             2nd Junior - Kirk Foreman with a score of 27

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to another Clays Match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  The temperature was in the 50s today, overcast, but thankfully not raining.  So far, the lamb on whose back March is progressing still has horns, but today is the first day of SPRING, so break out the suntan lotion and get ready.

 

     22 Clays shooters came out today to celebrate Spring's arrival, and we herald the arrival of two new Clays shooters that show great promise for the future.  John Iverson and his son Jacob came out to play today, and in the process won their respective classes.  Not bad for a start, gentlemen. 

 

     Many thanks to our Match Staff, in the personages of our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeper and DJ Doug McLean, and our Arrays Imprssarios Chuck Treat & Darren Foreman.  Chuck & Darren brought us Page 1 of The Great Equalizer Series, starting another series.  I know you all have the arrays memorized by now, but let's review Page 1 for the new readers.

 

Round 1

     The top row is made up of 4 orange micros, while the bottom row is made up of 4 Green Standards.  The shooters in the Open Class engage the orange micros, while the Limited Class shooters engage the Green Standards.  No matter your class, IF

you are able to break all of your primary targets, you then engage The Black Micro In The Middle.

 

Round 2

     Round 2 is a repeat of Round 1.  The repetition gives the shooter a false sense of confidence and lulls one into complacency.  Big Mistake.

 

Round 3

     The first 3 clays on each row remain the same, but the innermost clays switch places between the top and bottom row.  Now tactics becomes important, highlighting the need to find the fastest way through the array.  No matter, if successful in breaking your primarys, then go to the center of the screen and engage The Black Micro In The Middle.

 

Round 4

     Round 4 is a repeat of Round 2, and that leaves us with just Round 5.

 

Round 5

     The top row of Round 5 starts with a Green Standard, followed by 2 orange micros, followed by another Green Standard.

The bottom row starts with an orange micro, followed by 2 Green Standards followed by another orange micro.  If the shooter

successfully breaks all the primarys, the Black Micro In The Middle awaits.  So let's see who's hot today.

 

     In the Ladies Class, Gitti Anable took the honors yet again with a score of 32.  Carrie Morton followed with a score of 31.

 

     In the Junior Class, Jacob Iverson showed the way with a score of 29.  Kirk Foreman followed with a score of 27.

 

     In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker won it with a score of 47.  This reporter missed the action today, and doesn't have the 2nd place winner.

 

     In the limited Class, regulation play ended with a tie between John Iverson & Steve Tinner, both with scores of 41.  We're goiing to have a SHOOTOFF!!  Target screens back to 44 Ft, and all of the targets were micros.  Our Scorekeeper & DJ, Doug McLean makes the call:  Shooters to the line, load 5 rounds.  Shooters ready?  FIRE!!  When the thunder Ebbs the gallery peers out at the screens, and a cheer goes up.  Our new clays shooter, John Iverson has the distinction of having broken 1, and win today's Limited Class, becoming our newest "A" Class Clays Shooter in his first effort.  Congratulations, John Iverson, and Congratulations to all of our Clays Shooters for a smooth, accurate and SAFE Match.

 

     We'll see everyone right here next Sunday for another Clays Match.  Don't forget our Plate Match tomorrow evening, right here at 6PM.  Until next week, practice a lot, practice properly, and always remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

Clays Match Next Sunday March 13, 2011

GIG HARBOR SPORTSMANS CLUB CLAYS MATCH SHOOTERS;

     THERE WILL BE NO CLAYS MATCH NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2011 DUE TO THE RANGE BEING CLOSED FOR A

CONTINENTAL TRAP SHOTGUN MATCH.  CLAYS MATCHES WILL RESUME AS USUAL THE FOLLOWING WEEK,

MARCH 20, 2011 AT 4:00PM.  IF ANY OF YOU ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OF THE NEW SHOOTERS FROM

YESTERDAYS MATCH, PLEASE CONTACT THEM AND TELL THEM OF THE ONE WEEK HIATUS.  THANK YOU.

Hal

March 6, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

22 Guns Entered

 

     2 Ladies - ladies Class won by Gitti Anable with a score of 35

            2nd Lady - Betty Blondin with a score of 21

 

    Junior Class - Class won by Kirk Foreman with a score of 11

            2nd Junior -  Brian Tinner with a score of 8

                   The Junior Class is new as of today.  Please in the future, all Juniors (18 yrs of age and under) please indicate your age class wth a "J" on the entry sheet next to your name.  Thanks, Hal

 

    9 Entries in the Open Class - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 47

          2nd Open - Darren Foreman with a score of 46

          3rd Open - Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 45

 

    13 Entries in the limited Class - Class won by Dan Moore with a score of 37 + 5

          2nd Limited - Steve Tinner with a score of 37 + 3

          3rd Limited - Tim Anable with a score of 32

 

     Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to the month of March at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  It's Sunday afternoon and time for another Clays Match.  This afternoon finds the weather giving our shooters a break.  The skies were overcast with temperatures in the high 40s.  It was dry, and warmer than it has been recently.  With all three heaters on, the ambient temperature of the range building skyrocked to 50 degrees by the conclusion of the match. 

 

     We had 22 shooters come out today, quite a number of which to keep track and still make the match progress smoothly.  Smoothly is exactly how the match did progress today, and for that we thank our match staff.  Doug Mclean did double duty again today, both as Match Director in Chuck Nicodemus' absence, Scorekeeper & DJ.   A new feature of the match today is the creation of a Junior Class for shooters 18 yrs and Younger.  If there are as many as 2 Juniors entered in the match from now on,

there will be a prize medallion given to the winner of the class.  Juniors, be advised, when you sign in for the match, indicate on the scoresheet that you are in the Junior Class.  We had a lot of new faces at the match today, and they are all welcome.  This reporter's problem is that I don't know everyone by name.  So indicate that you are in the Junior Class when you draw your numbers.  To all the Juniors, to all the New Shooters, and to all the Veteran Shooters, welcome. 

 

     Many thanks to our Arrays Impressarios, Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman.  Today's match was a reprise of Helter Skelter,

with the twist that all the clay targets for the entire match were BRIGHT ORANGE.  In addition, for the Limited Guns, for most of the match the standard sized clays, weren't.  Instead of the standard sized clays being 4", today they were Sporting Clays in Bright Orange, and only 3" across.  The 20th of March is the first day of Spring, we clays shooters will shoot at anything.  Speaking of variety, today was another HELTER SKELTER match.  When the shooters that are standing by to shoot go forward to change the clay targets on the screens, their only limitation is to present 4 micros, 4 Standards and the black micro in the middle.  Where the clays are hung, and in what formation, is totally up to the imaginations of those hanging the clays.  As for the shooters, if entered in the Open class, shoot at the 2" micros, and if entered in the Limited Class, shoot at the (usually) Green 4" Standards.  Today of course, all the clays were Orange, the standards were 3" wide, becoming 4" wide only very late in the match.

 

     We had two Ladies in our match today, and Gitti Anable won her class with a score of 35.  Betty Blondin followed with a score of 21.  It should be noted that when Giti and Betty started shooting the clays matches, with Betty being a very recent new entry, neither had done much shooting previously.  Both Gitti & Betty, as well as Carrie Morton & Shirley Treat who didn't attend today, are much improved in the time they have been shooting the matches.  Ladies, if you continue to attend the matches, and apply yourselves, you will be shooting with the frontrunners very soon indeed.  Well done ladies, keep on keeping on.

 

     In the Junior Class today, Kirk Foreman took the honors with a score of 11, followed by Brian Tinner with a score of 8.   If history is any teacher, the young will improve faster and more consistently than their Seniors, and will one day be the one's receiving the awards for their achievements.  Young Ladies and Gentlemen, get the "old folks" to help and work with you, pick their brains and their talents, and then don't look back.  It was the same for all of us in our youth. 

 

     In the Open Class, this reporter, Hal Hansen, showed the way with a score of 47.  Following much too close for comfort, Darren Foreman shot a score of 46 followed by Jay Schoonmaker, close on Darren's heels with a score of 45.  This was one of the closest finishes in a long time in the Open Class.

 

     In the Limited Class, regulation play ended with a tie between Dan Moore & Steve Tinner, both with scores of 37.  Tim Anable

finished 3rd with a score of 32.  Well folks, you know what a tie score at the end of regulation play means:  SHOOTOFF!!  A target stand was set back to 44 feet, with 4 x 4" Clays in a straight line (well, sort of straight) on each side of the black micro in the middle.  Darren Foreman & Dan Moore come to the line and load 5 rounds.  Our scorekeeper and DJ, Doug McLean makes the call:

 

"Shooters Ready?"  *FIRE!!!*  Dan & Darren engage the arrays in a burst of thunder & Fire, Clays disintegrate, the thunder ebbs,

and a cheer breaks out from the gallery.  Dan Moore has broken all 5 of his targets, while Darren has broken but 3.  Dan Moore is today's Limited Class Victor with a score of 37 + 5.  Congratulations to our winners, and to our entire field for a smooth, efficient, and fun Clays Match.  Most especially thanks to everyone for the fact of a SAFE match.

 

     That's it for  today folks. We'll meet right back here next Sunday, March 13th at 4PM, and we'll see who's hot then.  In the meantime, remember your fundamentals, practice your techniques properly, and always remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 27, 2011 Clays Match Report

6 Guns Entered.

 

     1 Lady - Carrie Morton

 

     2 Open - Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 40

        2nd Open - Jeff Morton with a score of 31

 

     4 Limited - Class won by Thor Palm with a score of 33

        2nd Limited - Dan with a score of 24

        3rd Limited - Carrie Morton with a score of 20

        4th limited - Jay Schoonmaker with a broken gun

 

     It was a dark and stormy day, and only 6 Clays shooters turned out for the Clays Match, one of whom was not this reporter, at home in hibernation.  The pouring rain was melting the snow on the ground, and all the shooters shot every relay, so only one heater was necessary. 

     Thanks as always to the Match Staff for bringing a somewhat abbreviated match under unfavorable conditions, I know our regular Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus was home with his wife Carolyne, both recovering from the ailments of February.  Not having heard any differently, thanks to Doug McLean for braving the wilds of February and running the scoresheet and calling the firing line to order.

     Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat brought us Helter Skelter today, which typified the entire match.  The Helter Skelter Format will be repeated next week, when March roars in like a Lion.  We all hope that the lion is busy lapping up some milk, stetching and taking a nap next Sunday, leaving our clays match to enjoy some decent weather.

     In the Open Class, our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat won it with a score of 40.  2nd Open fell to Jeff Morton with a score of

31.

     In the Limited Class, Thor Palm made his debut into the Winner's Circle.  2nd Limited was claimed by a new Clays shooter,

Dan who apparently struggles through life without a last name.  Welcome Dan, and we hope to see you again next week when you will be presented with a last name to use for future events.  3rd Limited was taken by our one lady, Carrie Morton, who shot a score of 20.  Our 4th Place Finisher, Jay Schoonmaker, in addition to having to suffer through the February weather, also had to endure the fact of his handgun Tanking.  The front sight separated itself from his firearm, going it's own way and leaving Jay to guess where he was aiming.  In firearms competition, guessing isn't usually as effective as aiming, and Jay's score of 19 proves it.  Well Jay,  as we all say from time to time: "There's always next week." 

     OK Folks, that's it for today.  We'll see you all back here next Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 4PM.  We hope the Lion is basking in the sun and we can enjoy better weather for the Clays Match.  Until then, practice when you can, and do it well.  Always remember:

 

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

 

Hal