April 4, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

15 Guns Entered                                MATCH WINNER:  LOREN DESHON

       2nd Place - George Flaherty

       3rd Place - Mathew Seagraves

               4th Place - Hal Hansen

 

      Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, and our inaugural April 2011 Falling Plate match.  It's spring in the Northwest, folks, and the skies opened up significantly for most of the match.  No matter, both the umbrellas were out, all three heaters were out, the lights on the range all worked, and life was good.  Late in the match, Mother Nature realized she couldn't compete with all of our amenities, and the rain quit.  15 guns entered the match tonight,  everyone stayed warm and dry, so what's not to liike?

     Many thanks to our Match Staff for presenting another fine match.  It should be noted that when our Match Director Mike Blondin, our Head Line Marshall & Stage Manager Mathew Seagraves, and our Scorekeeper and DJ George Flaherty

arrived early to assemble the stage, the rains were drumming down.  Undaunted, they perservered and had the stage fully assembled and dripping on time and ready to rock!!  Thanks guys, we appreciate it.  If it makes you feel any better, the weather is supposed to get worse for the next several days. 

 

     15 Guns entered the match tonight, and at the end of 5 Rounds, we were down to 4.  Loren DeShon put this reporter, Hal Hansen on the trailer, leaving only 3; Loren DeShon, George Flaherty, and Mathew Seagraves.  George & Mathew dueled next, with the victory going to George.  A glutton for punishment, Mathew then drew Loren, who ended Mathew's evening, leaving Mathew with a 3rd Place Finish for the match.  Not bad Mathew.  This left Loren with 4 numbers, and George with 1.  One of our plate racks suffered a cracked plate, so for the last part of the match everyone was dividing their attentions between the remaining 4

plates on the one rack, and intentionally not shooting at the corresponding center plate on the other rack.  So, the duels generally involved runs of 4+1.  The first run of the finals between George & Loren was no exception.  Our Line Marshall, Mathew Seagraves makes the call:  "Shooters, Load and Make Ready!"  "Shooters Ready?"  "Stand By!!"  At the *TONE*

Loren and George go for it, and the Thunder Rolls.  Loren runs his 4 plates and his popper in order, while  George leaves one, 

Duel and Match to Loren DeShon, 2nd Place to George Flaherty, 3rd Place to Mathew Seagraves, and because I write the match reports, 4th place to Hal Hansen. 

     OK Folks, that's it for another Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match.  We'll meet right here in two weeks, on April 18, 2011 at 6:00pm.  We were happy to have two new shooters with us tonight;  David Barker & Shawn Backus.  Hope you had a good time gents, and that you'll make our bi-weekly event a regular one on your calendar.  Come by here Sunday afternoons at 4:00pm

and give our Clays Matches a try as well.  Try it, you'll like it :)  For all of us, we know the challenges of this event.  Practice a lot, and let's give the hot guns a challenge.  Practice Gun Safety First, Concentrate on accuracy next, and when those skills are firmly in your grasp, then, and only then, go for Speed.  Always remember the words of the pros.  Know and practice your priorities.

They are laid out in the axiom we should all take to heart:

 

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

 

Hal