Aug 28, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

A18 Guns Entered

 

     2 Ladies - Class won by Shawn Anderson with a score of 33

          2nd Lady - Stephanie Stevens with a score of 15

 

      3 Juniors  --  Class won by Mary Stevens with a score of 38 + 4

           2nd Junior - Kirk Foreman with a score of 38 + 3

           3rd Junior - Brian Tinner with a score of 27

 

      8 Open Guns - Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 43

           2nd Open - Richard Sovlam with a score of 38

           3rd Open - Thor Palm with a score of 37

 

     10 Limited Guns - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 43

            2nd Limited - Steve Tinner with a score of 40

            3rd Limited - George Stevens with a score of 39

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and the last Clays Match of August 2011.  The sky was a bright

blue, the sun was really quite warm, and the competition was hot!!  Many thanks to our match staff for bringing us today's match, in which 18 Guns participated.

Thanks specifically to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper and DJ Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impressarios Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman.  Today's match was Page 2 Round 4 of The Great Equalizer Series.  The catch of course was that after Round 3 of today's match, the black micro in the middle was replaced by a solid, bright white, but mostly black bottle cap.  In the interests of time, the arrays were the same all day.

No matter, while the arrays stayed the same, the fundamentals, techniques, accuracy requirements stayed the same as well.  The speed requirement changed a bit depending on one's opponent, but these days the standard is high, and it's getting higher.  Let's see who took the medallions today.

 

     In the ladies Class, a newcomer Shawn Anderson shot a score of 33 to take the win.  This young lady may be new to our clays matches, but she isn't new to shooting.  She is going to be a challenge to us all very shortly.  2nd Place Lady today is Stephanie Stevens who shot a score of 15. 

 

     In the Junior Class, Mary Stevens tied with Kirk Foreman during regulation play with a score of 38.  Folks, we're going to have a Shootoff!!

The screen stayed at 10yds, and the screen was arrayed with 2 straight lines of black micros, with a bright white, but mostly black, bottlecap joining the line in the middle.  Our Scorekeeper & DJ Doug McLean calls the action.  Shooters to the line, load 5 rounds.  Having confirmed that Mary & Kirk are ready, the next command is FIRE!!!  .22 caliber Thunder Rolls, then silence returns to the range.  The gallery peers downrange and sees that Mary has broken all of her black micros, leaving only the all white, but mostly black bottle cap in the middle untouched.  Kirk by contrast has broken only 3 black micros, so Mary Stevens is today's Junior Class Winner!!  Kirk Foreman is 2nd and Brian Tinner is today's 3rd Place Junior.

 

     In the Open Class, Chuck Treat took the win with a score of 43.  Richard Sovlam took 2nd Open with a score of 38 and Thor Palm took 3rd Open with a score of 37.

 

     In the limited Class, Jay Schoonmaker continued his winning ways with a score of 43.  A Note to Jay from this reporter:  "Bring your Open Gun next week.  I got a brand new roll of duct tape, with you in mind!!  2nd Place Limited went to Steve Tinner, shooting a score of 40, while George Stevens trailed by 1 into 3rd Limited with a score of 39. 

 

     That's it for today, Folks.  Next Sunday at 4PM we'll start September off with a bang!! Actually a loud series of Bangs!!!  Come on out and join in the fun!!

Practice a lot, and while doing so remember your fundamentals, remember your technique, and above all, remember to Shoot Safely!!  See you next Sunday,

and in the meantime always remember:

 

"SPEED MAY BE FUN FOR AWHILE, BUT ACCURACY IS FOREVER!!"  "TO SHOOT WELL IS SUBLIME, TO DO IT SAFELY IS MAGNIFICENT!!!"

 

Hal

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              

         

Aug 21, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

8 Guns Entered

 

   2 Juniors - Class won by Mary Stevens with a score of 33

        2nd Junior - Kirk Foreman with a score of 27

 

   4 Open Guns - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 46

      2nd Open - Darren Foreman with a score of 42

      3rd Open -  Mary Stevens with a score of 33

 

   4 Limited Guns - Class won by George Stevens with a score of 44

      2nd Limited - Chuck Treat with a score of 41

      3rd Limited - David Lee with a score of 40

 

      Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  It's just plain hot! outside today.  The sky is a clear blue, not a cloud to contrast the color, and the temperature is in the low 80s.  For citizens of Western Washington, that's hot!!  The entry list reflected the summer weather today with only 8 entrants; 4 in Open and 4 in Limited,  who grudgingly left their air conditioners to come out in the summer sunshine.  It appeared that the shooter's fundamentals were taking a summer siesta today as well, as the scores were generally a bit lower than normal. 

     First, as always and with equal enthusiasm we wish to thank our Match Staff.  Many thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper and DJ Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impesarios Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman.  The arrays today were all Round 1, Page 1 of The Great Equalizer Series.  The repetition was designed to give the shooters a false sense of security, therefore making the shooters relax and let their attention to detail go a bit lax.

Apparently the stategy worked, because the scores were down a bit today.  Let's see who paid the best attention.

 

     In the Junior Class, Mary Stevens took the victory with a score of 33.  Kirk Foreman was the only other Junior, and he turned in a score of 27.

 

     In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker took the victory with a score of 46.  Darren Foreman followed with a score of 42.  Mary Stevens took 3rd Open with her Junior Class winning score of 33.

 

     In the Limited Class, George Stevens won it with a score of 44.  Chuck Treat took 2nd Limited with a score of 41 and David Lee took the 3rd Limited Spot with a score of 40. 

 

     That's it for today folks.  Next Sunday at 4:00PM we'll meet right back here again and if the regular shooters will pull themselves away from their ACs and their BBQs long enough to shoot clays, our field of entries will regain most of it's original size.  Practice a lot, practice properly, and always remember:

 

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

 

                                SHOOT SAFELY!!!!"

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

August 14, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

12 Guns Entered

 

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

          2nd Open - Hal Hansen with a score of 47

          3rd Open - Chuck Treat with a score of 45

 

      7 limited Guns - Class won by Steve Tinner with a score of 38

         2nd Limited - David Lee with a score of 34

         3rd Limited - Tim Anable with a score of 32

 

     Good evening, Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, and this week's edition of the Clays Match.  As has become a trend lately, this match was a bit different.  There are probably several monikers that could be used to identify this week's match;  V is for victory.... but out of 12

competitors, only 2 did the winning.  Another title for the match might be V is for Vibrant.  All the clay targets in the match were a bright Red, with maybe a hint of bright orange.  The clays were of every size; micros, midis, standards, micros with red center dots, shiny black micros in the middle through the first 3 rounds after which really bright red, but mostly black, bottle caps festooned the screens in the middle.  All the arrays were in the shape of a large V, starting from the outside of the screens with bright red Standards, followed by bright red midis, followed by bright red micros, followed with shiny black micros with red centers, followed by black micros in the middle for the first three rounds, and concluding in the last two rounds with bright red, but mostly black bottle caps.

The colors were Vibrant to be sure, but I think I'll name this match:  V is for Victim. 

     If a competitor starts out with the Red Standard on the outside and then, proceding inward, engages the red midi, in short order one finds him or herself  sweeping the muzzle over "easy" targets, then suddenly having to jam on the brakes and carefully engage the micros, and immediately thereafter, the tiny bright red but mostly black bottle caps.  One becomes the victim of one's overconfidence.  Hence the name,  V is for victim. 

     If there is one attribute for which credit should be showered on our match staff, it is creativity.  For this trait we owe our match staff a real vote of Thanks!!

Thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, Thanks to our Scorekeeper and DJ Doug Mclean, and thanks to our Arrays Impressarios Chuck Treat and, although absent today, Darren Foreman.  The Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Staff keep the matches varied, competitive, challenging, and most importantly, SAFE!!  THANKS, Match Staff, one and all.

     Only one Lady, Giti Anable, and one Junior, Brian Tinner, showed up for the match today, so no Ladys or Juniors Classes.  In the Open Class, 5 guns competed, and Jay Schoonmaker won it with a score of 48.  This reporter, Hal Hansen, took 2nd Open with a score of 47 and our Arrays Impressario Chuck Treat took 3rd Open with a score of 45.  Imagine getting scores of 47 & 45, and losing.  When shooting against Jay Schoonmaker, a Clays Match Competitor better not miss much, NOT MUCH AT ALL!!

 

     In the Limited Class, Steve Tinner showed the way with a score of 38.  2nd Limited was claimed by David Lee with a score of 34.  Tim Anable took 3rd Limited with a score of 32.  Congratulations to all our shooters, in both our classes, for a fun, competitive and especially, a SAFE match.  We'll meet right back here next Sunday a 4PM for the next edition of our clays match, so shoot a lot, shoot properly, and shoot safely!!  Until next week, remember the mantra of the Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Matches:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

       

 

    

August 7, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

16 Guns Entered

 

     3 Ladies - Class won by Marla Crouch with a score of 26

         2nd Place Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 21

         3rd Place Lady - Alexis Crouch with a score of 11

 

      2 Juniors - Class won by Mary Stevens with a personal best score of 40

         2nd Place Junior - Christy Iverson with a score of 15

 

      9 Open Guns - Class won by George Stevens with a score of 43 + 5

         2nd Place Open - Darren Foreman with a score of 43 + 3

         3rd place Open - Hal Hanse with a score of 42

 

      7 Limited Guns - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with the high score for the match of 45

         2nd Place Limited - John Iverson with a score of 44

         3rd Place Limited - Chuck Treat with a score of 37

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club  and a beautiful summer afternoon for a Clays Match.  The sky was clear and blue, the temperature was in the mid-seventies, and 16 clays shooters came out to enjoy the match, in all it's splendor.  Many thanks as usual to our Match Staff, including our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper & DJ Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impressarios Chuck Treat & Darren Foreman.  Our match today featured fiery red--orange primary clays, with black micros in the middle for 3 rounds and variously colored bottle caps in the middle for 2 rounds.  The one constant for the bottle caps was that no matter what color they were, they had a shoot N See dot in the middle, for increased visibility, of course....

 

      Today's match was Helter-Skelter right from the start, with the only limitations in the arrays the presentation of 4 standards, 4 micros, and either a black micro in the middle or a variously colored, but mostly black bottle cap, in the middle.  At the end of 5 rounds, we have some winners.  Let's see who they are......

 

     In the Ladies Class, Marla Crouch took the honors with a score of 26.  Carrie Morton followed closely with a score of 21, and

Alexis Crouch made her clays match debut with a score of 11.  Welcome to our clays matches, Alexis.  Perservere M'Lady and your scores will rise as have Dee's and Marla's.

 

     In the Junior Class, Mary Stevens set a personal best score of 40 today.  Mary's scores have risen steadily as her involvement in the clays matches has continued, and will undoubtedly continue to climb from here.  Well Done Mary!!  2nd Place Junior today was Christy Iverson with a score of 15.  Christy, welcome to our clays matches, and a fine debut you made today.  The Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Matches are becoming a real family outing for several of our families, and we are sure pleased that so many families are shooting together.  

 

     In the Open Class, George Stevens & Darren Foreman tied for the high score with 43.  This reporter, Hal Hansen, trailed by 1 with a score of 42.  A tie score in the clays matches means only one thing, SHOOTOFF!!!!  George & Darren see the target screens

stay at 10yds, and 4 black micros form a line with a brightly colored, but mostly black bottle cap in the middle.  Our Scorekeeper and DJ Doug McLean makes the call.  "Shooters to the line, load 5 rounds.  Ready..... Fire!!  George & Darren engage their targets, .22 caliber thunder rolls, quiet returns to the range, the gallery looks at the screens, and a cheer breaks out for George Stevens who has broken ALL 5 of his targets, while Darren Foreman has broken but 3.  George Stevens has won today's Open Class with a score of 43 + 5.  Darren Foreman takes 2nd Open with a score of 43 + 3, and Hal Hansen takes 3rd Open with a score of 42.

 

     In the Limited Class, Jay Schoonmaker turned in today's high score with a Limited Class winning score of 45.  John Iverson took 2nd Limited with a score of 44.  3rd Limited today went to Chuck Treat with a score of 37.  It should be noted happily right here today that John Iverson's son Jacob is recovering well from his eye injury.  Jacob still has another laser procedure to go through, but all indications are that his vision in the injured eye will return fully.  You are in our prayers, Jacob.  From all of us here at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, GET WELL SOON!!!!!

 

     OK Folks, that's it for today's clays match.  Next Sunday, right here at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, we'll do it again.  Until then, practice a lot and concentrate on fundamentals.  Always remember:

 

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

 

Hal

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

July 31, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

14 Guns Entered  

 

     3 Guns Entered In The Ladies Class - Class won by Gitti Anable with a score of 38

           2nd Place Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 35

           3rd Place Lady - Mary Stevens with a score of 34

 

     No Junior Shooters entered in today's match

 

     6 Guns Entered in the Open Class - Class won by George Stevens with a score of 45

            2nd Place Open - Chuck Treat with a score of 42

            3rd Place Open - Rick Soulam with a score of 39

 

     8 Guns Entered in the Limited Class - Class won by Tim Anable with a score of 42 + 4

             2nd Place Limited - Steve Tinner with a score of 42 + 2

             3rd Place Limited - Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 41

 

     Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club on this very last day of July 2011.  It was a beautiful summer day with a temperature of 70 degrees and a very light breeze blowing at the start of the match.  By the end of today's match, the breeze had stilled, and it started to feel somewhat hot.  It's the middle of the summer in Washington's Pacific Northwest. 

     14 Guns came out to enjoy the fine weather today, and our Match Staff presented another fine match, to match the fine day.  Many thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, thanks to our DJ & Scorekeeper Doug Mclean, and thanks to our Arrays Impressarios Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman for presenting the arrays for today's match.  And on the subject of the arrays, there is a change of format starting today.  Be advised, no longer will The Great Equalizer Series continue it's standard rotation.  From now on, Round 1 will always present as usual from the rotation of The Great Equalizer Series, but from then until the end of each match will be the variety of Helter Skelter.  It is felt that with the growing number of Clays match competitors, it was necessary and desirable to allow the match to move along a bit faster if a set array wasn't required. In addition to that happy fact, The Great Equalizer Series has been around for long enough, and the variety and spontaneity of Helter Skelter  keeps everyone on their toes. 

    

Of course, some things just never change.  At the whim of the Arrays Impressarios, the bright red, but mostly black bottle caps will find their way to the center of the screen, just to keep things challenging.  So, after 5 Rounds of Helter Skelter, let's see how everyone did.

 

     In the Ladies Class, Gitti Anable took the honors with a score of 38.  Close behind was Carrie Morton who turned in a score of 35.  Only 1 target behind, at 34, Mary Stevens took the 3rd Place finish.

 

     In the Open Class,  George Stevens won it with a score of 45.  2nd Open went to Chuck Treat with a score of 42.   A brand new Clays Match Competitor,

Rick Soulam made his presence known to all today with a 3rd Place score of 39.  A hearty welcome to new Clays Match Competitor Rick Soulam. 

 

     The Limited Class required a shootoff today between Tim Anable and Steve Tinner, both with scores of 42.  3rd Limited went to Jay Schoonmaker

who shot a score of 41.  For our shootoff, the screens stayed at 10 yds, but the arrays consisted of 4 black micros on each side of the screen and a bright red,

but mostly black bottle cap right in the middle.  Our Scorekeeper and DJ Doug Mclean makes the call.  "Shooters to the line, load 5 rounds.  Shooters ready?  FIRE!!!  Tim and Steve engage the clays, Thunder Rolls, clay targets explode, and quiet returns to the range.  As the gallery looks out at the screens a cheer goes up for Tim Anable who has broken 4 black micros while Steve Tinner has broken but 2.  Today's Open Class Victory goes to Tim Anable with a score of 42 + 4.  2nd Place goes to Steve Tinner with a score of 42 + 2 and 3rd Limited goes to Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 41.

 

     That's it for today's match folks.  It was a beautiful day and we hope it will be beautiful again next Sunday when we play this game again.  Practice a lot and we'll see you on the firing line right here at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club at 4PM next Sunday, when it will be August 7th, 2011.  Until then, remember the mantra:

 

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

 

Hal