January 30, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

 

18 Entries

 

     3 Ladies  in Ladies Class - Class won by Giti Anable score 38

            2nd Lady - Shirley Treat - score 19 

            3rd Lady - Carrie Morton score 18

 

     7 Entered in Open Class - Class won by Hal Hansen score 49

             2nd Open - Jay Schoonmaker score 48

             3rd Open - Chuck Nicodemus score 40

 

    11 Entered in Limited Class - Won by Chuck Treat - Score 44                                           2nd Limited David Lee - score 40

             3rd Limited Ken Bagley Sr. score 39

 

      Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and another Sunday afternoon Clays Match.  Temperatures were in the mid to lower 40s, a bit overcast, and as usual in January, the heaters all felt great.  

       Many thanks to our Match Staff, for another fine match.  Thanks specifically to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper and DJ, Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impressarios,  Chuck Treat & Darren Foreman, who brought us Pg 3 of The Great Equalizer Series Today.  Let's take a look at the arrays as the shooters saw them. .

 

ROUND 1

     Square arrays, with two stacked Standards, alternating with two stacked micros, with the pairings repeated and with a mirror image on the opposite side of the screen.  If you are entered in the Limited Class, shoot the Green Standards.  If entered in the Open Class,

shoot the orange micros.  No matter which class you are in, if successful in breaking all

of your primarys, go to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.

 

ROUND 2

      Now the first stacked pair in the alternating squares consists of 2 stacked orange micros which alternate with 2 stacked Green Standards, with the pairing repeated.  In the middle of the screen, awaiting the successful shooter lies the Black Micro In The Middle.

 

ROUND 3

     Now the square comprised of 4 Green Standards surround a diamond of 4 orange micros.  The Black Micro In The Middle awaits in the center of the screen.

 

ROUND 4

     The protected orange micros now surround and intersperse the 4 Green Standards

with the typical mirrow image on the opposite side of the screen.  The one constant, remaining in the center of the screen awaiting the successful shooter, is The Black Micro In The Middle.

 

ROUND 5

     Just follow the arrows. The directional arrows, comprised of 4 Green Standards

interspersed with 4 orange micros,  with a mirror image on the opposite side of the screen,  point toward the center of the screen where The Black Micro In The Middle awaits.

Let's see how the competition turned out today.

 

     In the Ladies Class, Giti Anable  won it with a score of 38

               2nd Lady, Shirley Treat placed 2nd with a score of 19 

               3rd Lady, Carrie Morton took 3rd place with a score of 18.

 

     In the Open Class, this reporter, Hal Hansen, won it with a score of 49.

               2nd Open was taken by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 48.

               3rd Open finisher was Chuck Nicodemus, shooting a score of 40.

 

     In the Limited Class, Chuck Treat won it with a score of 44, followed by

               2nd Limited David Lee with a score of 40

               3rd Limited was claimed by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 39. 

 

          Welcome to a new shooter today, Jody McNamer.  Jody did a great job today for his first attempt at Clays Shooting, turning in a score of 37.  Jody, if you apply yourself, you are going to find yourself in the winner's circle faster than you would ever imagine possible. Jody

had his wife and seven yr old son, already a shooter, with him in the cheering section, and they are cordially invited to bring a handgun next week and join in the fun.  It will be great to have yet another Husband/wife team in our entry field, complete with another Junior shooter.

Just wait till your son gets some experience Mr. & Mrs. McNamer, he will steam past you two and probably most, if not all, of the rest of the field in short order.

 

     OK folks, that's it for another match.  We'll see you right here next Sunday afternoon at

4:00PM, and we'll test our skills against Page 4.  The field is going and growing, and the challenges are building, and we're better shooters because of it.  Practice hard and remember your priorities:

 

1) SAFETY  2) ACCURACY and only when those fundamentals are 2nd nature does the third element, 3) SPEED become important.  Or, to put it another way:

 

          "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL."

 

Hal

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              

                                 

January 23, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

28 Guns Entered

 

     4 Ladies - Class won by Giti Anable with a score of 37

          2nd place Lady - Betty Blondin with a score of 22

          3rd place Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 21

 

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

                                    2nd Place Open - Chuck Treat with a score of 43

                                    3rd Place Open - Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 42

                                                 4th Place Open - Hal Hansen with a score of 41 (cause I wrote the report)

 

     10 Limited Guns - Class won by Alan Caron with a score of 45

                                    2nd Limited - David Lee with a score of 40

                                    3rd Limited - Jeff G. with a score of 39

                                               (Let's remember to write both our first and last name on the scoresheet please (request per: this reporter)

 

     Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to another Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match.  It was a very overcast Sunday afternoon, threatening rain and making good on the threat midway through our match.  The temperature at the start of the match was 48 degrees.  It got colder during the match and the heaters sure did feel good. 

 

     Thanks to our Match Staff for another great match, made even better by hosting the 2nd largest turnout for a clays match ever, at 24 Guns.  It might be noted that this is the 2nd Week in a row with the 2nd largest turnout, chasing the number for the largest turnout ever of 28.  This sort of turnout keeps the match staff jumping, but it sure is great for the intensity of the competition and for introducing new shooters, and the more experienced, to handgun competition, and to our club.

 

     Speaking of introducing new shooters to handgun competition, we wish to welcome a new Lady to our ranks.  Welcome to Betty Blondin, the wife of Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club's Competition Chairman, Mike Blondin.  It is noteworthy that Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club has now joined many other sports and events in America by becoming an accepted Family Affair.  Husbands are bringing their wives with them to share in the fun and challenge, and our sport is the better for it. We now have Four Husband/Wife teams shooting, and a wife of one other shooter on the sidelines cheerleading.  These folks deserve mention.

 

     Tim Anable and wife Giti

     Chuck Treat and wife Shirley

     Jeff Morton and wife Carrie

     Mike Blondin and wife Betty

     Leon Potter doing the shooting and wife Shirley doing the cheering

             

         Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, the Match Staff of our Clays Matches and the entire competitive field welcomes the Ladies, and Husband/Wife Teams.  Remember the axiom;

"THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER"

      Specific thanks 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, who brought us Page 2 of The Great Equalizer Series.  Let's take a look at what the shooters faced today.

 

Round 1

     Round 1 sees each side of the screen with 4 orange micros on the top row, and 4 Green Standards in a line on the bottom row.  If you are entered in the Open Class, you engage the

orange micros.  If entered in the Limited Class, your targets are the Green Standards.

In either case, if you are successful in breaking all of your primary clays, you go to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

     Now the 2nd clay from the left on the top row has become a Green Standard, while it's opposite number on the bottom row becomes an orange micro.  IF successful in breaking all of your primarys, head in to the middle and engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

     Now the two middle clays in the top row are Green Standards and the two middle clays on the bottom row are orange micros.  As always, if successful in breaking all of your primarys, the black micro in the middle awaits.

 

Round 4

     A slightly different look takes shape now.  Now all the orange micros and the Green Standards alternate on both the top and bottom row.  The black micro in the middle lies between the mixed clays on both rows, just waiting, leering and challenging the successful shooter, assuming he/she really is thus far successful.

 

Round 5

     x marks the spot. Two spots actually,  one on each side of the screen.  On the left side of the screen, running from the top left to bottom right are 4 Green Standards. Running from the top right to the bottom left are 4 orange micros.  On the right side of the screen, a mirror image of it's opposite number challenges the shooter.  In the middle of the screen, less confident now, is the black micro in the middle.  So, let's see how this rumble resolved today.

 

     In the Ladies Class, Giti Anable took top honors with a score of 37.  In 2nd Place in the Ladies Class was our first-timer Betty Blondin with a score of 22, followed closely by Carrie Morton in 3rd Place in the Ladies Class.  Good Shooting Ladies!!

 

     In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker turned in the high score for the match: 48.

Our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat took 2nd Open with a score of 43.  3rd Open

was claimed by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 42.  Chuck's & Ken's scores would normally look pretty good, if they hadn't been adjacent to Jay's today.  Jay put's on a hard act to follow. 

 

     In the Limited Class, Alan Caron won it with a score of 45.  Alan pulled off this win with a Single Action Ruger Blackhawk Revolver.  Alan's Single Action Army Revolver rested between strings in a buscadero western holster, with tiedown, handmade by Alan

himself.  Watching Alan shoot a string of fire places the viewer on the streets of Tombstone, AZ. during the 1800s, watching a shootout at High Noon.  One subconsciously looks over one's shoulder looking for Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday to make an appearance. 

     In 2nd Place in the Limited Class, David Lee took the honors with a score of 40.  Finishing up in 3rd Limited, Jeff G. shot a score of 39.  Jeff, my apologies for not getting your last name.  Shooters remember, this reporter doesn't know each of you personally, only having the privelege of your company on Sunday afternoons, so please put both your first and last name on the entry sheet.  Thank you. 

 

     OK folks, that's it for today's match.  We'll see you right here next Sunday afternoon at 4PM, Our entry list is getting larger as time goes on, so remember to listen to Doug on the Mic and be ready to take your place at the firing line when your number is called.  This many entrants in our Clays Matches puts a lot of pressure on our Scorekeeper and DJ, Doug McLean, which is good training for him. We all need to repay efficiency with efficiency during our Sunday Afternoon Matches.  We'll see you right here next week, and in the meantime always remember:

 

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

SHOOT SAFELY."

 

Hal

 

    

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

   

    

 

 

r

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January `7, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

16 Guns Entered - MATCH WON BY LOREN DESHON shooting his HK-P7

 

       2nd Place - Scott Scheitzach shooting a Glock

 

       3rd Place - George Flaherty shooting a Smith & Wesson 1911

 

        4th Place - Hal Hansen shooting his Glock

 

     Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and another of our twice monthly falling plate matches.  The weather for tonight's match dawned clear and cool, with temperatures in the upper 40s.  All 3 heaters

were on and roaring, everyone dressed for the cool temperatures and it was a great night for a platematch.

     16 Guns turned out for the competition and the camaraderie, and there was plenty of each to satisfy anyone.  Let's pick up the action as George Flaherty put this reporter, Hal Hansen, on the trailer, leaving only George, Scott Scheitzach and Loren DeShon competing for the win.  The duel between George and Hal was close with the poppers practically kissing on their way down.

Unfortunately for Hal, close only counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, neither of which was in evidence tonight.  Exit Hal.

     Of the 3 remaining shooters, Loren drew a duel with Scott.  Scott had only 2 numbers, while Loren had 9.  Loren has had a great night, and had every intention of keeping it going.  After the thunder ebbed and the dust settled, however, Scott had outrun Loren, leaving Scott with his 2 numbers, but dropping Loren to 8.  Loren then drew a duel with George, who had 3 numbers.  After the duel was over, Loren still had his 8 numbers, but George was down to 2.  Scott took up the challenge then, drawing a duel with George.  Scott was on a tear, and whittled George's numbers down to 1.  George, with 1 number left drew a duel with Loren, who had a fast accurate run, sufficient to put George on the trailer along with all the shooters except Scott & Loren.  It was now the Scott Scheitzach & Loren DeShon show, and the gallery gathered around to watch.  Loren DeShon has 8 numbers now, compared with Scott Scheitzach who had 2.  Scott & Loren duel again, and Scott kept his Fire!! Roaring with a winning effort, reducing Loren's

numbers to 7. And again they are ready.  Again they go for All Of'em, and again Scott crosses the line first, reducing Loren's numbers to 6.  How Long Can This Go On??!!  Again they are ready, and again they go for All Of'em.  AGAIN Scott outruns

Loren, who is now down to 5.  Loren is beginning to look a bit apprehensive, shifting his position while reloading his HK P7 9mm

Lemon Squeezer for another run.  Scott loads and preps his Glock, with visions of huge cash prizes, fast expensive prize automobiles, movie contracts and starlets on each arm, seeminly fit rewards for winning a Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Falling Plate Matches.  With these thoughts in mind, Scott approaches the firing line, ready to duel.  Loren is ready as well, and when the starter *Tone* sounds, they go for All Of'em yet again. The Thunder dissapates, the gallery looks at the plates and the poppers,  But WAIT!!  Loren's popper lies tight to the ground, and Loren has won this duel, retaining his 5 numbers while reducing 

Scott to just 1.  Now Scott is on the defensive as they prep for another duel.  The Line Marshall, Mathew Seagraves, has them loaded and ready, they are standing by, and we have *TONE*  In rapid succession, the plates on each side fall, the shooters turn their attentions to the poppers, engage and Fire!! When the Thunder ebbs, the dust settles and the gallery looks in, Lo and Behold,

it's Loren Deshon winning this duel, erasing Scott's last number, and taking the duel, and the Match.  Congratulations to Loren DeShon, tonight's Match Winner and owner of all the bragging rights for an entire WEEK!  2nd Place in tonight's match goes to Scott Scheitzach, 3rd Place to George Flaherty and bringing up the rear, in fourth place, mentioned only because he's writing this match report is Hal Hansen.  

     Thanks to everyone for showing up and competing tonight.  It was a smooth, well-run, efficient and most importantly SAFE!! match.  Thanks in abundance go to our Match Director, Mike Blondin for bringing a match that was so much fun and so competitive.  Thanks also to our Scorekeeper and DJ, shuffler and dealer of the duels, excellent shooter and general all-around good guy George Flaherty.  And Last, but by no means least, is our Stage manager, Head Line Marshall & Roustabout Mathew Seagraves.  With this crew running the show it's no wonder the Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club

Falling Plate Match is going and growing so well.  On February 7th, 2011, at 6PM we'll meet right here and challenge our skills yet again.  Practice a lot and hone your skills.  You will need them all. We'll see you then, and always remember:

 

                            "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL."  

    

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 16, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

 

20 Guns Entered

 

      4 Ladies Contested the Women's Division - class won by Giti Anable with a score of 32

         2nd Place Lady - Lydia Caron with a score of 29

         3rd Place Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 19

         4th Place Lady - Shirley Treat

 

     13 Guns Entered in the Open Class - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 45

          2nd Open won by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 44

          3rd Open won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 43

 

      7 Guns Entered in the Limited Class - Class won by Alan Caron with a Match High Score of 47

          2nd Limited won by Tim Anable with a score of 33

          3rd Limited won by Chuck Treat with a score of 32

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to another Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match.  It's a typical January afternoon here in the Pacific Northwest, temperatures in the lower 50s, way overcast, and a light drizzling rain as the match progressed.  It makes one think longingly for the days of summers past, and take heart in the coming of spring and summer next up on the calendar.  The heaters were on and roaring today, the range is dry and well lit inside, so summer can just take it's sweet time getting here.

 

     We had a great turnout of 20 Guns today, with 4 Ladies sharing in the competition.  Welcome to Lydia Caron, daughter of Alan Caron.  Lydia is new to shooting clays, and presented today with a Ruger Single Six in keeping with the family tradition of Single Action Revolvers.  Lydia started her Clays shooting career today with a 2nd Place finish in the Ladies Class, shooting a very respectable score indeed of 29.  As often happens to new competitors, and more well-experienced competitors than any of us want to admit, one lapse of attention during a string of fire dropped her out of contention with our Ladies Class Winner, Giti Anable.  Well done Lydia, and welcome to our sport. 

     We were priveleged to have several new shooters enter our match today.  Welcome to Limited Class entry Bernie Peterson, Open Class entries Bryce Bartelme and Dylan Peterson.  as well as our new Ladies Class competitor Lydia.  Uh, Bernie, your son Dylan beat you today 37 to 21. Better practice a lot Dad, those youthful eyes and reflexes will get ya.

    

     We started another Great Equalizer Series today, with Page 1.  Our Arrays Impressarios

Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman were on the job and kept the match challenging as usual.

Thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus for another Safe, well run and efficient match and a big Thank You also to our Scorekeeper and DJ Doug McLean.  With 20 guns entered, believe it, Doug had his hands full. Let's take a look at Page 1 from the shooters perspective.

 

Round 1

     4 orange micros form the top row on each side of the screen.  The bottom row is comprised of 4 Green Standards.  If the competitor is entered in the Open Class, engage the

orange micros.  If entered in the Limited Class, engage the Green Standards. In either case,

if the shooter is successful in breaking ALL of their primary clays, then go to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 2

     Round 2 is a repeat of Round 1.  This gives the clays shooter a false sense of accomplishment and security and sets them up for an attention-getting

 

Round 3

     The top row still starts our with 3 orange micros, but the last orange micro and the last

Green Standard on the bottom row have changed places.  Now the need for strategy becomes apparent, as the shooter needs to plan the fastest route through the arrays.  Now some upping and downing is necessary before engaging, if thus far successful, the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 4

     Again round 4 replicates Round 3.  This lulls the shooter into a feeling of complacency and a feeling that this is easy.  What could happen?  Then suddenly they are looking at

 

Round 5

     The first and last clays of each row are now switched from the top to the bottom row, and vice versa.  Start a racetract route that ends up closest to the black micro in the middle.

Let's take a look at who did what today.

 

     In the Ladies Class, Giti Anable continued her winning ways by turning in a score of 32.

In 2nd Place in the Ladies Class, our new competitive Lady, Lydia Caron, shot a score of 29.  Rounding out the top 3 ladies today was Carrie Morton. shooting a score of 19. 

 

     In the Open Class, we had one of the closest finishes in recent memory.  This reporter,

Hal Hansen won it by a hairsbredth with a score of 45.  2nd Open was taken by Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 44.  3rd Open was claimed by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 43.

 

     In the Limited Class, Allen Caron turned in the high score for the match with 47. In 2nd Place in the Limited Class today, Tim Anable shot a score of 33. Rounding out the Limited Class winners today was Chuck Treat, who shot a score of 32.  Congratulations to all of our successful competitors today, both for their skill, and most especially for their Safe Gun Handling.

 

     OK Folks, that's the match for today.  Don't forget the Plate Match right here at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, Monday January 17, 2011 at 6:00PM.  Next Sunday, January 23, 2011

at 4PM we'll meet right here again and see who the hot guns are next week.  In the meantime, practice a lot and practice properly, and always remember:

 

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

 

Hal  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

January 9, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

 

3 Ladies Class     Class won by Giti Anable with a score of 29

              2nd Place Lady, Carrie Morton - Score 26

              3rd Place Lady, Shirley Treat Score 13

 

_______  Open Class   Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 47

               2nd Place Open Ken Bagley Sr.  score 44

               3rd Place Open Hal Hansen - score 39

 

_______ Limited Class - Class won by Steve Tinner with a score of 40

              2nd Place Limited - Tim Anable Score 39

              3rd Place Limited - Chuck Treat Score 37

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome to another Clays match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  Having completed the series of 6 Great Equalizer Matches again last week, this week is another series-ending HELTER SKELTER match.  The arrays the competitors see is limited only by their imagination, color of the appropriate clays and a limit of 4 colored clays and the black micro in the middle.  On one factor you can depend, it will be different each time you come to the line, and if you blink, it will change yet again. 

     Thanks to our Match Staff for another great series, and for putting on such a great match each week.  Thanks go to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, our DJ and ScoreKeeper Doug Mclean and to our Arrays Impressarios Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman.  The year is getting off to a great start, with overcast skies but no rain, no snow and very cool temperatures, today hovering in the mid (to lower) 30s.  To offset the very cool temperatures, we have 3 very hot heaters, and they were all out and Roaring today.

     Since the arrays change with the mood of those changing and replenishing the supply of clays on the screen after each string of fire, a set description of the arrays would be problematic, not to mention inaccurate.  So let's skip right ahead to the results of today's match.

     In the Ladies Class, Giti Anable took the honors with a score of 29.  She was followed by our

2nd Place Lady, Carrie Morton who shot a score of 26.  Rounding out the Ladies Class victors today was

Shirley Treat shooting a score of 13.

 

     In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker won it with a score of 47.  2nd Open was won by Ken Bagley Sr.  with a score of  44.  3rd Open was claimed by Hal Hansen with a score of 39.

 

     The limited Class went to Steve Tinner who shot a score of 40.  2nd Limited was won by

Tim Anable, who shot a score of 39.  Rounding out the field of winners today was our 3rd Place

Limited Class finisher Chuck Treat,  who shot a score of 37.

 

     Now, we have a problem.  The Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus has asked me to make an announcement, right here and now.

Today we had the 3rd highest attendance at our Clays Matches in living memory, at 22 Guns.  The pairings were all established and set up in advance by our Scorekeeper, Doug McLean.  It seems that about half way through the match, 2 entrants just walked out

No notification to anyone.  Not only was valuable time wasted calling the (now) absent parties to the line to shoot, but the pairings were totally confused and needed to be redone before the match could continue.  We've never had this happen during a clays match before, and we hope never to have it happen again.  With temperatures hovering just barely above freezing, even with the heaters going it was still cold. For people standing around waiting for the match to continue it only got worse.  As long as everything moves smoothly, the cold isn't a problem, but with the remaining field standing around staring at each other while Doug feverishly tried to make the pairings work, the low temperatures were telling. 

     Our field of shooters varies, but the general trend is for more and more shooters coming out to enjoy the matches, hence bigger fields of entrants.  This is great, as more competitors make the match more varied and more challenging.  SO!,,  In the future, if anyone signs up to shoot the pistol matches at GHSC, and then leaves without a darn good reason and without notifying the Match Director and/or the Scorekeeper,  they will be banned from future matches.  So shall it be written, So shall it be done.

     OK folks, that's it for another Clays Match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  It was run smoothly and most importantly Safely,

and next week, barring surprises by our Arrays Impessarios, we'll start over with Pg 1 of The Great Equalizer Series.  Practice a lot, practice properly, and remember your priorities:  1st - Firearms Safety  2nd - Accuracy and only when those priorities have become second nature, concentrate on 3rd - Speed.  We'll see you all next week, and in the meantime always remember:

 

                            "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL."

 

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 3, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

18 Guns Entered       Match Winner:  EJ Corich

      2nd Place:  Lee Lewis

        3rd Place:  George Flaherty

         4th Place:  Hal Hansen

 

  1 Lady:  Stephanie Stevens     We grow our women tough in Gig Harbor

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to another Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match.  The weather was COLD tonight, the thermometer hovering at 34 degrees at gametime, perfect weather for a plate match.  Apparently the brisk weather pleased our plate shooters, as we had a large, enthusiastic crowd turn out for the match.  18 Guns competed for the match win tonight, and between all 3 Heaters and the intensity of the competition, the temperatures were very manageable indeed. 

     Thanks go to our match staff for putting on such a neat match.  Our Match Director, Mike Blondin, ran the show.  George Flaherty did an excellent job running the scoreboard & the microphone while shuffling and dealing the duels, and shot his S&W 1911

well enough to finish 2nd in the competition.  Several of our shooters took turns runnng the firing line, and they all saw to it that the

match was run smoothly and efficiently.  Moreover, and most importantly, our Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match was run SAFELY!!

   We were pleased to have several new plate shooters in our presence tonight.  EJ Corich, from KRRC came by long enough to win the match tonight.  A couple of veteran shooters from Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club attended;  welcome to Greg Asche & Thor Palm, and welcome to our new plate shooters Roland  Huggins and Buck Buchanan.  We hope all of you gentlemen had a good time tonight, and that you will make the plate matches on the 1st & 3rd Mondays at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club a regular feature of your calendar.  We had one lone Lady bundle up and come out to shoot tonight.  Welcome back Stephanie Stevens.  It begins to look like handgun competition agrees with you.  M'Lady, you have but scratched the surface.  Welcome back.

     We started out our match tonight with a field of 18.  After EJ Corich put this reporter on the trailer, the number was reduced to 3;

EJ Corich, Lee Lewis and George Flaherty.  In a fast & accurate duel, Lee Lewis put our 3rd Place finisher, George Flaherty,

on the trailer.  In this crowd, George, 3rd Place ain't so bad.  Now we have but TWO.  Lee Lewis has 4 numbers, and EJ Corich has 1.  The challenge for the first duel of the finals was All Of'em, Strong Hand Only.  Folks, this duel was so close that one could hear the clink as the two poppers passed each other on their way to the ground.  Once on the ground though, EJs popper was on the ground.  That one was close, but EJ won it by a hair. Now EJ still has his 1 number, and Lee has but 3. 

     Once again Lee & EJ are locked and loaded, we have tone, and once again they go at it Strong Hand only.  Once again, it's close, but once again, EJ Corich drops his popper immediately below Lee's, and now EJ still has his 1, but Lee is down to 2.

Lee & EJ are ready for the 3rd duel of the finals, and this one is still for All Of'em, but now it's to be conducted weak hand only.

Apparently EJ is ambidextrous, because it didn't seem to matter to him which hand he used.  EJs popper hit the dirt first, and now Lee is even with EJ at 1 number each.  EJ & Lee are loaded and ready, we have *TONE* and Lee and EJ go for All of'em once again, Freestyle, complete with 2 hands and whatever feet are necessary.  How many hands and feet they use seems to make no difference tonight.  EJ Corich drops his popper first, tight to the dirt, with Lee's popper on top, and EJ Corich takes the duel and wins

the first Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match of 2011.  Well done EJ Corich.  Well done Lee Lewis for your 2nd place finish, and to George Flaherty for your 3rd.

     OK Folks, the inaugural Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match of 2011 is now history.  In two weeks, on January 17, 2011 is Martin Luther King's Birthday, a National Holiday.  If history is a teacher, we will not have a plate match that night, but stay tuned for further announcements on that date.  Remember the Clays Matches each Sunday at 4PM.  In the meantime, practice a lot, practice properly, and we'll see you right back here for Falling Plate Matches all year long on the First & Third Mondays of each month except for National Holidays celebrated on Mondays.  As you practice, remember your priorities:  1) Safety 2) Accuracy and 3) Speed!  The axiom is true:

 

                                 "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL"

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

 

16 Guns Entered

 

 

 

2 Entered in Ladies Class - Class won by Carrie Morton with a score of 28

               2nd Lady Stephanie Stevens with a score of 24

               

8 Entered in Open Class - Class won by Jay Schoonmaker with a score of 47

               2nd Open - Hal Hansen with a score of 43

               3rd Open - Ken Bagley Sr. with a score of 40

 

8 Entered in Limited Class - Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 40

               2nd Limited - Tim Kopp with a score of 36

               3rd Limited - Jeff Morton with a score of 35

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome to the inaugural 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match.  It's January in the Pacific Northwest, and the temperature reflects that fact.  The match was held in temperatures in the lower 30s, and the heaters were on and roaring!  16 Shooters braved the bracing temperatures to come out and play with their handguns, 8 in

the Open Class and 8 in the Limited Class. 

     Thanks to our match Staff for this first Clays Match of 2011.  Thanks to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, Thanks to our

DJ and scorekeeper, Doug McLean and thanks to our new Arrays Impressarios, Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman for bringing us Page 6 of The Great Equalizer Series.  Let's take a look at what the entrants in today's Clays Match saw.

 

Round 1

     The top row starts out with 2 Green Standards followed by 2 orange micros.  The bottom row starts out with 2 orange micros

followed by 2 Green Standards.  Those are your primarys.  If entered in the Open Class, engage the orange micros.  If entered in the Limited Class, engage the Green Standards. In either case, if successful in engaging and breaking all of your primarys, move to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.  It will have a big white dot in the middle to help it stand out and challenge the shooter.

 

Round 2

     The top row remains the same, but the bottom row now alternates between orange micros and Green Standards, beginning with an orange micro.  IF you are successful in breaking all of your primarys, then engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 3

     Now the Clays Targets on both the top row and the bottom row alternate between orange micros and Green Standards.

The top row starts with a Green Standard and the bottom row starts with an orange micro.  As always, the black micro in the middle just waits for the successful Clays competitor. 

 

Round 4

     The top row now still alternates between Green Standards and orange micros, but now starts with a Green Standard.  The bottom row now has the clays paired by color, with the first two being orange micros and the 2nd two being Green Standards.

IF the shooter is successful in breaking all of their primarys, then they go to the center of the screen and engage the black micro in the middle.

 

Round 5

Now all the clays are huddled together by color.  On the outsides of each screen, 2 on the top row and 2 on the bottom row are 4 orange micros.  On the inside of the screen are 4 Green Standards, 2 on the top row and 2 on the bottom.  In the middle of the screen, waiting for the thus-far successful shooter is the black micro in the middle.  Lets see how the competitors did today.

 

      In the Ladies Class, Carrie Morton and Stephanie Stevens vied for the win, with Carrie Morton emerging with the high score of 28.  Stephanie Stevens came in close behind with a score of 24.    

 

 In the Open Class, Jay Schoonmaker finished with a safe margin of 4, shooting a score of 47.  This reporter, Hal Hansen, finished with a score of 43.  Ken Bagley Sr., returning after an extended hiatus, finished 3rd, with a score of 40.  

 

     In the Limited Class, Chuck Treat won it all with a score of 40.  Tim Kopp, also returning after too long away, fnished  2nd with a score of 36.  Finishing 3rd in the Limited Class was Jeff Morton.  Uh, Jeff, your wife Carrie Won Her Class.  I guess you are the one cleaning firearms tonight, Jeff.

 

     And that's the way we started 2011 at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.  We had 16 shooters today, with temps in the mid to lower 30s, and it's just going to get bigger and better from here.   Come on out and join us on Sunday Afternoons at 4PM.  It doesn't matter very much what manner of handgun you shoot, we have a class for it.  Whether your handgun is your daily Carry Gun, or strictly an Open Class Competition Gun, or one you use for BOTH,  there is a class for it at the Clays Matches.

    

     Consider this an invitation also to come out on Monday Evenings at 6PM, right here at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club for our

Twice Monthly Plate Matches.  On the First Monday as well as the 3rd Monday of each month, except for Mondays that fall on National Holidays, right here at the Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Rifle/Pistol Range, we have falling plate matches that are just as much fun, and just as educational and skillbuilding as the Clays Matches.  Talk to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, or just about anybody else at the Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Matches and they will steer you in the right direction.  So now your path is clear.  Practice a lot, and come on out with your handgun and compete with us.  During your practice sessions, keep your priorities clear.  First Priority is FIREARM SAFETY!!  2nd Priority is:  ACCURACY!!!! Only when those priorities are 2nd Nature does one begin to concentrate on SPEED!!!!!!  Always remember and adhere to the competitive shooter's axiom:

 

                           "SPEED IS FINE, BUT ACCURACY IS FINAL"

 

Hal