April 18, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Plate Match Report

17 Guns Entered   -   Match Winner, Loren DeShon

 

     2nd Place - Hal Hansen

 

     3rd Place - Thor Palm

 

     Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club, and another Monday evening Plate match.  The weather at the start of the match was typical springtime; light overcast skies, bright, with the temperature at 50degrees.

Knowing it would cool off soon, all the heaters were on and life was good.  Of course, shortly after the match started, a light rain began falling, but it only lasted a few minutes. 

 

     Many thanks to our Match Staff for another fine match.  Mike Blondin, our Match Director, presented another fine and fun match.  George Flaherty ran the scoreboard, the microphone, and shuffled and dealt the duels.  Thanks George.  Couldn't do it without you,   If you ever get bored shuffling and dealing the duels at GHSC, bet you can become a dealer at a casino, with those flying fingers.   Mathew Seagraves, along with help from several others, Mike and George included, had the stage set up and running, on time and ready to rock.  Thanks guys, you all put on a fine match.

 

     17 Guns entered the fray tonight, and by the end of the preliminaries, and the Sudden Death Finale, it came down to 3 Guns;

Loren DeShon, Hal Hansen, and Thor Palm.  Thor was the next one to mount the trailer, leaving Loren with a boardful of numbers, and  Hal with 2.  The results were fairly predictable, and followed the paradigm set out in past matches.  Hal was gone in Two, but kept the duels close.  There is hope for mere mortals, even yet. 

 

     OK Folks, that's it for this week.  We'll see you next Month, on May 2, 2011 at 6:00PM.  In the meantime, you know the drill.

Let's give Loren & George a better challenge this summer.  Until then, remember the axiom:

 

 

"THE RACE IS NOT ALWAYS TO THE FASTEST, BUT THAT'S THE WAY TO BET."

 

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

April 17, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

 

18 Guns Entered

 

     2 Ladies  -  Class won by Carrie Morton with a score of 20

              2nd Lady - Krystal Wasson with a score of 19

 

     No Juniors today

 

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

         2nd Open won by Darren Foreman with a score of 46

         3rd Open won by Chuck Nicodemus with a score of 36

 

   13 Limited Guns - Class won by Chuck Treat with a score of 43

         2nd Limited won by John Iverson with a score of 40

         3rd Limited won by Tim Anable with a score of 39

 

       Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to another Clays Match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club.   For most

or the day today, the weather was fine, with blue skies and more than just a little sun.  As the match approached, the sky clouded up and it started raining.  Fortunately, as the match wore on, the skies dried out and it got a lot brighter.  Temperatures started out at 52 degrees and by the end of the match the temperature was still 50 degrees.  The heaters were all on, and the weather was the least of the shooter's worrys today.  It should be noted that the wet start to our match can be laid directly at the feet of Jay Schoonmaker.  Jay was heard to tell a fellow shooter that he had washed his car earlier in the day, so of course it rained.  Jay, next time you want to wash your car, do it on Wednesday so Mother Nature can have her tantrum and the weather will still be ok for the weekend.

 

     Thanks to our Match Staff for another great match today.  Thanks to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper and DJ, Doug Mclean, and to our Arrays Impressarios, Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman for producing another great match.

Our Arrays Impressarios, Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman brough us Page 5 of The Great Equalizer Series today.  This target array set will hereafter be known as Lines and Shadows in honor of the straight lines of clays, both micros and Standards

that gradually worked their way from top to bottom and bottom to top.  Round 1 started with 4 orange micros on the top row, and

4 Green Standards on the bottom row.  In each of the following 4 rounds one of each of the clays changed from the top row to the bottom row and vice-versa, until for Round 5 the top row had 4 Green Standards, while the bottom row had 4 orange micros.

In each and every case of course, if the Limited Class shooters and the Open Class shooters all hit their primary targets, they go to the center of the screen and engage The Black Micro In The Middle.  Let's see how we did today.

 

     In the Ladies Class, Carrie Morton took the win in a very close duel with Krystal Wasson, 20 to 19.  It doesn't get much closer than that. No Junior Class shooters were in attendance today, so let's go to the Open Class.

 

     5 Guns entered the Open Class today, and Jay Schoonmaker took the win with a match high score of 48.  2nd Open was taken by Darren Foreman with a score of 46.  3rd Open today was won by Chuck Nicodemus with a score of 36.

 

     13 Guns were entered in the Limited Class, with the class win going to our Arrays Impressario, Chuck Treat, shooting a score of 43.  John Iverson took 2nd Limited with a score of 40, followed very closely indeed by Tim Anable with a score of 39.

Congratulations to all of our competitors for a fast, accurate, and most especially SAFE match.  Now, an announcement!!

 

Next Sunday, April 24, 2011 is Easter Sunday.  No Clays match!!  Our clays matches will resume as usual the following Sunday, May 1, 2011 - MAYDAY - at 4:00PM.  Use you time wisely.  Pracice a lot, practice properly, and always remember the axiom:

 

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

Hal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 10, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

Max Entry for the match - 20 Guns

 

     3 Ladies - Class won by Crystal Wasson with a score of 26

             2nd Lady - Jackie Frank with a score of 25

             3rd Lady - Betty Blondin with a score of 18

 

     2 Juniors - Class won by Jacob Iverson with a score of 39

             2nd Junior - Kirk Foreman with a score of 30

 

    10 Open Guns - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 46

         Tie for 2nd Open between Jay Schoonmaker and Darren Foreman with scores of 45

         3rd Open - Chuck Treat with a score of 44

 

     10 Limited Guns - Class won by John Iverson with a score of 43

          2nd Limited won by Jacob Iverson with a score of 39         

          Tie for 3rd Limited between Tim Anable and Gifford Silver with scores of 39

 

      Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to Sunday afternoon's weekly clays match review.  We had a pretty nice day for the match today, at least for this time of year.  The temperature at gametime was a moderate 52 degrees, and some sprinkles were in the area, keeping the dust settled.  Clothing for the match competitors ranged from T-Shirts to warm jackets, but with the heaters on and roaring, cool temperatures were not a problem. 

 

     We had a maximum number of entries for today's match, 20, with the entries split evenly between Open and Limited, with 10 each.  Of the 20 competitors, we had 3 Ladies, 2 of whom were new clays shooters.  Welcome to Krystal Wasson & Jackie Frank.  These ladies hit the ground running, placing 1st & 2nd respectively in the Ladies Class.  Betty Blondin, a clays match veteran took third in the Ladies Class today, and the scores were close, very close indeed.  Not a bad start ladies, we hope you had a great time and will return each and every Sunday afternoon at 4:00PM.  Several other ladies didn't make the match today, and when all the Ladies that shoot clays at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club get together, we will have a great class in which to compete.

 

     We had two Juniors in attendance today, Jacob Iverson & Kirk Foreman, who finished 1st & 2nd respectively.  Juniors, you are going to have to recruit some more shooters, if your class is going to keep up with the Ladies.  When Brian Tinner rejoins the ranks of the clays shooters, that will make 3, and that's a good start.

 

     Since we're on the subject of match results already, we still have the Open and Limited Classes to review.  In the Open Class,

the results were once again separated by very, very little.  This reporter, Hal Hansen, won the Open Class by one point, with a score of 46  The three class winners were each separated by one point, making the spread but 3 points for the top 4 finishers.  It doesn't get any closer than that.   A tie happened for 2nd Open, between Jay Schoonmaker and Darren Foreman, both with scores of 45.

Chuck Treat took 3rd Open, with a score of 44.  WOW!!

 

     In the Limited Class, John Iverson took the win with a score of 43.  Son, Jacob Iverson took 2nd Limited with a score of 39,

which was also good enough to win the Junior Class as well.  John & Jacob are making the Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club's Clays

Matches their family business. We had a tie for 3rd Limited between Tim Anable and another new clays competitor, Gifford Silver,  both with scores of 35.  It's great having new blood in our matches, and even better with the new shooters being very skilled and competitive.  Welcome and congratulations on a competitive and SAFE match. 

 

     Thanks and congratulations as well to our match staff, for presenting such a competitive, SAFE and fun match.  These thanks go to our Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper and DJ, Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impressarios Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman.  Gentlemen, the match was great, smooth and well run as usual, and we competitors appreciate it.  Thank you. 

 

     Our Arrays Impressarios, Chuck and Darren, presented Page 4 of The Great Equalizer Series today.  Next week it'll be Page 5 as we approach the end of another series.  They don't get any easier as time goes on, so practice a lot, study and practice your priorities for efficient shooting:  1st - Safety  2nd - Accuracy and not until those prerequisits are firmly in hand does the shooter become concerned with SPEED!!  The axioms;  You can't miss fast enough to win comes only right after A SAFE MATCH IS A FUN MATCH.  Practice a lot, practice properly, and always remember the shooters Creed:

 

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

 

Hal

 

    

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 3, 2011 Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Clays Match Report

22 Guns Entered

 

     3 Ladies  -  Class won by Gitti Anable with a score of 36

           2nd Place Lady - Carrie Morton with a score of 33

           3rd Place Lady - Maureen Randles with a score of 9

 

     3 Juniors  -  Class won by Jacob Iverson with a score of 35

           2nd Place Junior - Brian Tinner with a score of 32

           3rd Place Junior - Kirk Foreman with a score of 14

 

    11 Open Guns  -  Class won by Darren Foreman with a score of 47

            3 Way Tie for 2nd Place Open  between Jay Schoonmaker, Chuck Treat and Tim Kopp with scores of 46

            3rd Place Open - David Lee with a score of 39

 

    11 Limited Guns - Class won by Hal Hansen with a score of 39 + 3

            2nd Place Limited - Tm Ridenour with a score of 39 + 2

            3rd Place Limited - John Iverson with a score of 39 + 1

 

     Good afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen, and welcome back to Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club and the first Clays Match of April 2011.  It's Spring in the Pacific Northwest, which means we can expect warm rain instead of cold rain.  Today we got pretty lucky, only getting a few drops dripped on us when we went out to change targets.  The heavy cumulus clouds just couldn't hold it all, and a few drops leaked out.  Still, with the heaters all fired up, it was warm and dry inside, and that' where the shooters spent most of their time. 

     22 Shooters turned out for the match today, which prompted our long-suffering Match Director to make a couple of decisions that will effect the matches in the future.  This reporter has been asked to pass them along, so here they are, And Remember, You

Heard Them Here First!!

     1)  In the future there will be a cutoff of entries at 24.  The matches are increasingly popular, and so everyone can have a match that features shooting and not standing, there is the need to limit entries.  So, on Sunday afternoon, come early and sign up for the clays match.  Assure yourself of a good slot.

     2) Blame this one on Tim Kopp's Frankenstein Ruger 10/22, with it's rifle barrel and pistol grip.  From now on, there will be a limit to the length of the barrel on pistols, the limit being 16".  Barrels longer than 16" get into the area of pistols becoming rifles, which have too short of barrels, and the BATFE takes an interest in those.  Our Clays Match is designed for handguns, and for pure handguns it will remain.  Tim, I understand it will remain ok for you to use your Frankenstein gun to practice and play, that will remain between you and the BATFE.  For the clays matches however, Frankenstein is now banned. 

     3) This next notification is just for the record, in case of future "discussions".  If a potential clays match competitor decides to enter

a Taurus "Judge", it must be loaded with either .45 Long Colt ammunition, or .410 slugs.  No buckshot loads are allowed on any range at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Clubs, and that policy is certainly in effect at the Rifle/Pistol range.  Just for the record. 

     The Match Director, Chuck Nicodemus, doesn't want to discriminate against any shooter or equipment, but feels these rules are necessary for a level playing field and to reduce conflict with any authorities that have some extra time on their hands.  So Shall It Be Written, So Shall It Be Done!!  Now it's back to the match.

 

     And a great match it was today.  22 Entries, 11 each in the Open Class and the Limited Class, with the entries including

3 Ladies and 3 Juniors.  Many thanks to our Match Staff for organizing and presenting such a fine match with so many diverse

demographics.  Thanks to our Match Director Chuck Nicodemus, our Scorekeeper and DJ Doug McLean, and our Arrays Impressarios Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman.  Chuck Treat and Darren Foreman brought us Page 3 of The Great Equalizer Series today.  So, let's take a look at the arrays from the shooter's perspective. 

 

Round 1

     Today's arrays took on the shape of boxes and squares.  Round 1 presented 4 orange micros boxing in 4 Green Standards.

If entered in the Limited Class, the Green Standards are your targets.  If entered in the Open Class, it's the orange micros. 

In either case, if the shooter is successful in breaking all their primaries, go to the center of the screen and engage The Black Micro In The Middle. 

 

Round 2

     Now, on the top row, 2 orange micros bracket 2 Green Standards.  On the bottom row, Green Standards and orange micros

alternate, with a Green Standard leading the procession.  If all of the primaries get broken, The Black Micro In The Middle awaits.

 

Round 3

     This time, both the top and bottom rows alternate between Green Standards  and orange micros, with  Green Standards

on the outer borders.  As always, The Black Micro In The Middle awaits the successful shooter, in the center of the screen.

 

Round 4

     The top row has morphed to the outside clays being Green Standards, and the two clays on the inside being orange micros.

The bottom rows alternate between Green Standards and orange micros, again with Green Standards leading the way.  The Black Micro In The Middle rests in the middle of the screen, not looking particularly nervous.  It looks sort of arrogant, doesn't it.

 

Round 5

     Now the Green Standards bracket the orange micros, both on the top and bottom rows.  The Black Micro In The Middle

awaits the attentions of the successful shooter, heralding in the results of the contest so far.

 

     The results are that we have some winners, and some shooters still contending for the honors.  In the Ladies Class, Gitti Anable

has once again won her class with a score of 36, shooting her Ruger GP100.  2nd Place Lady today was Carrie Morton, shooting a score of 33 with her Glock 19.  Our 3rd Place Lady today is a brand new Clays Shooter, Maureen Randles, known forever after as "MO"  Randles.  MO came to our sport as a guest of the Anables, Gitti & Tim, and borrowed one of Tim's Ruger .22s.  Be careful MO, after one or two clays matches you can still walk away.  After 3 Clays Matches, you will find yourself addicted. You have been warned.  Having said that, as you can see, this sport is fun, and you are most welcome to it.  Welcome, Mo.

 

     In the Junior Class, 3 young men competed, and did so very well.  Winning the class was Jacob Iverson, with a score of 35.

2nd Junior placement went to Brian Tinner, who shot a score of 32.  3rd Junior today was Kirk Foreman with a score of 14.

It should be noted that a variety of ordnance was used in this class.  The class winner, Jacob, shot a Ruger 345 in .45ACP.

Brian shot a Ruger Mk III while Kirk shot a Springfield XDM.  Young men, you all did well, and you did it safely.  Congratulations!

 

     In the Open Class, Darren Foreman shot a score of 47, today's high score, to win the class.  We have a three-way tie for 2nd Open, between Tim Kopp and his Frankenstein Gun, Jay Schoonmaker, shooting his Ruger Mk III, and Chuck Treat his Ruger Mk III.  Tim, Jay & Chuck have all tied at 46.  3rd Open was claimed by David Lee, shooting a Hammerli .22, bred and born of past Olympic competition.  Well done, Open Class Shooters.

 

     In the Lmited Class, we concluded regulation play with a three way tie between John Iverson, Tim Renenour & Hal Hansen,

all with scores of 39.  You know what that means.  SHOOTOFF!!  Target racks back to 44', and the arrarys consisting of 4 black micros and an orange micro in the middle.  Our announcer and DJ, Doug Mclean calls the action.  Shooters to the Line, lead 5 rounds.  Shooters Ready?  Fire!!  Now, at this point it must be said that the black micros are hard enough to see at 30FT.  At 44'

they virtually disappear.  The orange micro in the middle is visible enough, if one can earn the right to engage it.  The string of fire is commenced, the shooters all taking more than the usual amount of time to get their sight pictures and squeeze their triggers smoothly.  When the thunder ebbs, and the gallery looks waaayyyyyyy downrange, a cheer goes up, and we have a winner.

This reporter, Hal Hansen, shooting his Kimber 1911, has actually hit 3 black micros.  Tim Ridenour has hit 2 and John Iverson has hit 1.  Hal Hansen takes the Limited Class today.

 

     OK, Folks.  That's the action for today.  Don't forget our Plate Match tomorrow, Monday April 4, 2011 right here at 6:00PM.

Bring some of this exotic Limited Class ordnance out and see how you do against steel falling plates.  $5.00 per entry, you can enter twice and double your fun.  The match will be over by 8:30, which will allow you to get a good jump on Tuesday.  Check with anybody to get steered toward the plate matches.  Come on out and enjoy the evening.  We'll see you all right here next Sunday at 4:00PM for another clays match, so practice a lot.  We love a good challenge.  Until then remember our axiom:

 

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

 

Hal

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reminder of Plate Match at Gig Harbor Sportsmans Club Monday April 4, 2011 at 6:00PM

PLATE SHOOTERS, DON'T FORGET

 

     MONDAY EVENING AT 6:00PM, APRIL 4, 2011, THERE IS A PLATE MATCH AT GIG HARBOR SPORTSMANS CLUB. 

 

     THE MATCH STARTS AT 6:00PM AND IS OVER BY 8:30PM.  COME ONE, COME ALL.

 

$5.00 PER ENTRY, WITH A LIMIT OF 2 ENTRIES.  WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

 

Hal