Much has been written and said about the 2014 FT Match at YAGC.
But perhaps most important of all is to make a FACTUAL assessment of what went on, what was a success, and which areas can be improved upon.
It is always hard to be completely objective, and the writer "pleads the Fifth" wherever it can be done so, but the writer also expresses his best intentions to make this post something fun and constructive from where other shooters, MD's, and other organizers can draw experience and ideas from.
Having said that let's get started:
The AAFTA 2013 National Matches at Somerville Texas were avidly anticipated and eagerly expected. The original "preparation match" of the ROTC was a good pointer at what the shooters could expect. Travelling had already been "scouted", but since in the meantime two airlines had merged, a few things needed to be changed last minute. Instead of AirTran we flew Southwest.
But perhaps most important of all is to make a FACTUAL assessment of what went on, what was a success, and which areas can be improved upon.
It is always hard to be completely objective, and the writer "pleads the Fifth" wherever it can be done so, but the writer also expresses his best intentions to make this post something fun and constructive from where other shooters, MD's, and other organizers can draw experience and ideas from.
Having said that let's get started:
The AAFTA 2013 National Matches at Somerville Texas were avidly anticipated and eagerly expected. The original "preparation match" of the ROTC was a good pointer at what the shooters could expect. Travelling had already been "scouted", but since in the meantime two airlines had merged, a few things needed to be changed last minute. Instead of AirTran we flew Southwest.
Every adventure starts with the packing, and this one was no different.
Having had the experience of going to three National Matches before and Two World Matches, we already knew how to pack light.
The drop bottoms of our wheeled duffle bags have been converted into rifle-carrying cases that have five hard sides and the side that is not hard is under the whole rest of the equipment that is stored in the upper/large compartment. Because Airguns, and specifically piston airguns, are separated by the TSA from PCP and firearms, we can get away with carrying only one piece of luggage.
Having had the experience of going to three National Matches before and Two World Matches, we already knew how to pack light.
The drop bottoms of our wheeled duffle bags have been converted into rifle-carrying cases that have five hard sides and the side that is not hard is under the whole rest of the equipment that is stored in the upper/large compartment. Because Airguns, and specifically piston airguns, are separated by the TSA from PCP and firearms, we can get away with carrying only one piece of luggage.
The top compartment holds bum-bag, shooting jacket, soft case, spare scope, some tools, etc. Side pockets hold , boots, toiletries, electronics, small clothing, etc.
We try to make our clothes double up as sightseeing clothes, jackets are light and we layer for all weather possibilities.
Overall, bags usually weigh at exactly 50# and they are handled like any other piece of luggage:
We try to make our clothes double up as sightseeing clothes, jackets are light and we layer for all weather possibilities.
Overall, bags usually weigh at exactly 50# and they are handled like any other piece of luggage:
This is how they come out of the baggage claim carrousel, just like any other bag. Even when some airports insist on putting big red labels that say: "FIREARM" on the outside! LOL!
No extra feee, no extra charge, just one simple bag. The Duffle bags do not exceed the 62" added length height and width, and therefore are not subject to "oversize" treatment $$$.
On our return from Germany, the Prague Airport tried to charge us an "inspection fee" for our bags, as if they were firearms. Upon written complaint to SAS, our fee was returned a few days ago.
No extra feee, no extra charge, just one simple bag. The Duffle bags do not exceed the 62" added length height and width, and therefore are not subject to "oversize" treatment $$$.
On our return from Germany, the Prague Airport tried to charge us an "inspection fee" for our bags, as if they were firearms. Upon written complaint to SAS, our fee was returned a few days ago.
So, whenever you fly for sporting purposes, make a point of asking via Email, if possible, if there are extra fees for transporting airguns, if there will be a special luggage charge or handling charge for the size of YOUR case, and ask what are the policies regarding sporting items/equipment BEFORE buying the ticket.
One important, little known, aspect is that riflescopes (even with mounts), can be carried in the carry-on case. Usually most airlines will allow you one carry-on piece and one personal item. Laptops and other electronics usually constitute the personal item, but in the carryon you can take just enough stuff to get over the first night in case your main luggage piece is sent to Alaska when you are landing in Arkansas
One important, little known, aspect is that riflescopes (even with mounts), can be carried in the carry-on case. Usually most airlines will allow you one carry-on piece and one personal item. Laptops and other electronics usually constitute the personal item, but in the carryon you can take just enough stuff to get over the first night in case your main luggage piece is sent to Alaska when you are landing in Arkansas
When we checked out of the hotel after the ROTC, we reserved the stay for the nationals. So, hotel reservation was taken care of well in advance. Flights and hotels are best reserved between 270 and 90 days in advance of your travel dates. in the case of group travel, the dates can be even earlier.
Car rental is usually best obtained through the multiple websites like Carrentals, Hotwire and others. In our specific case, we had already obtained a "meeting" rate from one of the major rental agencies. So we stuck with that.
It is always wise to take your GPS system well loaded with all the destination points and the maps of where you're going to drive. Be it Norway, Germany, or Texas, make sure that you have your GPS up to date and that it has stored maps and addresses/locations of the places you're going to.
In this way, once you hit the destination airport tarmac, you are already equipped with a place to spend the night, the conveyance to get you there from here and the knowledge base to get there in comfort.
Car rental is usually best obtained through the multiple websites like Carrentals, Hotwire and others. In our specific case, we had already obtained a "meeting" rate from one of the major rental agencies. So we stuck with that.
It is always wise to take your GPS system well loaded with all the destination points and the maps of where you're going to drive. Be it Norway, Germany, or Texas, make sure that you have your GPS up to date and that it has stored maps and addresses/locations of the places you're going to.
In this way, once you hit the destination airport tarmac, you are already equipped with a place to spend the night, the conveyance to get you there from here and the knowledge base to get there in comfort.
We always pay a visit to the local department store. We usually can get rooms with a fridge and a microwave, in Germany we lodged at a beautiful apartment with living room, kitchen, separate dormitory and 3/4 bathroom (no tub), so we are usually able to concoct a decent breakfast (eggs, waffles and milk) to last a full day of shooting. In Somerville, we had the pleasure of hosting Greg S for breakfast on Saturday because he needed some protein and we were making "poached" eggs w/ cheese. By Sunday, he was already prepared, LOL!
When we arrive to a location, we make it a point of driving to the range. It takes a few minutes and it saves an awful lot of stress in the first morning of the event. Since we had already been to YAGC, this time it was not needed and we managed to arrive Thursday night and by Friday we were at the sight-in range.
And here is where we had our first extremely agreeable surprise.
YAGC had provided for TWO sight-in ranges. While one was crowded, the other one was fairly empty and we could toy with our distances and settings to our heart´s content.
We shared the range with some of the Hunter crowd: Don, Scott and Alan IIRC, so we had a ton of fun.
Towards the end of the day, we had a severe problem with one of our guns, but we were able to make a good one of the two we had and with the Rifle MD's approval, we prepared to share the rifle.
YAGC had provided for TWO sight-in ranges. While one was crowded, the other one was fairly empty and we could toy with our distances and settings to our heart´s content.
We shared the range with some of the Hunter crowd: Don, Scott and Alan IIRC, so we had a ton of fun.
Towards the end of the day, we had a severe problem with one of our guns, but we were able to make a good one of the two we had and with the Rifle MD's approval, we prepared to share the rifle.
Early Saturday found us re-checking the trajectory and when time was up, we were at the shooter´s meeting.
Here we found our second very nice surprise. "The Handbook" had been included as part of the "goody bags" handed out to all shooters. Now there was NO excuse for not knowing the rules. Everyone had them in hand.
Meeting went smooth and there was no time lost in defining what was a kneeling or a standing position.
Shooters were advised to take their squad clipboards from the scoreboards and to take a timer, the timer was to be left at the lane, not carried from lane to lane, and the scored cards were to be left in their place at the scoreboards when the shooting was done. No need to hunt for the score gatherer! Brilliant!
Scoreboards had clearly marked hooks with the starting lane number, so there was no question as to the consistency of the procedure. I repeat: Brilliant!
Here we found our second very nice surprise. "The Handbook" had been included as part of the "goody bags" handed out to all shooters. Now there was NO excuse for not knowing the rules. Everyone had them in hand.
Meeting went smooth and there was no time lost in defining what was a kneeling or a standing position.
Shooters were advised to take their squad clipboards from the scoreboards and to take a timer, the timer was to be left at the lane, not carried from lane to lane, and the scored cards were to be left in their place at the scoreboards when the shooting was done. No need to hunt for the score gatherer! Brilliant!
Scoreboards had clearly marked hooks with the starting lane number, so there was no question as to the consistency of the procedure. I repeat: Brilliant!
We were enormously lucky to be squadded with Terry Almond.
Not only is he a good shooter, he has the traditionally British sense of humour and he lives very near where I spent a few years in England, so we had some common things to share.
He was shooting an action that belonged to Cliff Smith, but this time he had brought his stock, so that part was more familiar than last year's gun. Alas, the mounting of the scope did not prove to be as easy and Terry had some issues with his numbers and his trajectory. But to the lanes we went and we did the best we could.
Not only is he a good shooter, he has the traditionally British sense of humour and he lives very near where I spent a few years in England, so we had some common things to share.
He was shooting an action that belonged to Cliff Smith, but this time he had brought his stock, so that part was more familiar than last year's gun. Alas, the mounting of the scope did not prove to be as easy and Terry had some issues with his numbers and his trajectory. But to the lanes we went and we did the best we could.
When we reached the lanes we realized that the shooting range was ONE range. And that alternating lanes were designated by color so as to have TWO courses, one with the odd lanes and one with the even lanes. Cards were also colored. So there was no way anyone could mistake himself and shoot a lane that was not on his assigned course, and still the alternating lanes for the two courses over adjacent land and terrain, ensured that the climatic conditions were as even as could be made. Again, a very agreeable surprise! Simple, effective and efficient.
We shot our course and it was a blast! The elevated targets were more than challenging for medium magnification scopes, the pond shot (opening picture) posed the usual challenge of rangeing against a very reflecting surface. There were enough long shots and quite a few up close and personal reducers. Terry and I discussed the merits / demerits of reducers and, while we did not reach a conclusion, we did arrive to some finer points:
1.- Reducers allow MD's to test the shooters at all possible distances. The elimination of reducers conditions the MD's to almost exclusively long shots.
2.- Reducers have to be designed and placed wisely. A thick reducer (1/2" to 5/8" in thickness) is like shooting through a tube that is not aligned to the shooter or the pellet path. Not only is the shape of the KZ changed from circular to oval (something that happens even in thin reducers), the size is drastically affected when reducers of 1/2" diameter and 1/2" thickness are located at 30° of inclination. Perhaps the maths can be done elsewhere but Terry did comment that in their matches that style of reducers have to be inclined towards the shooter.
In these targets, those scopes with large magnifications (35X and above) had a clear advantage.
This is an important area of opportunity for improvement. Reducers are useful to MD's, but when located in elevated or steeply declined positions, they need to be made appropriately and / or oriented correctly. Not all targets work in non-horizontal positions, so the call falls on the MD what to do.
Still, the variety of targets, placements, ranges and conditions made for a VERY agreeable course, even if it was very challenging.
1.- Reducers allow MD's to test the shooters at all possible distances. The elimination of reducers conditions the MD's to almost exclusively long shots.
2.- Reducers have to be designed and placed wisely. A thick reducer (1/2" to 5/8" in thickness) is like shooting through a tube that is not aligned to the shooter or the pellet path. Not only is the shape of the KZ changed from circular to oval (something that happens even in thin reducers), the size is drastically affected when reducers of 1/2" diameter and 1/2" thickness are located at 30° of inclination. Perhaps the maths can be done elsewhere but Terry did comment that in their matches that style of reducers have to be inclined towards the shooter.
In these targets, those scopes with large magnifications (35X and above) had a clear advantage.
This is an important area of opportunity for improvement. Reducers are useful to MD's, but when located in elevated or steeply declined positions, they need to be made appropriately and / or oriented correctly. Not all targets work in non-horizontal positions, so the call falls on the MD what to do.
Still, the variety of targets, placements, ranges and conditions made for a VERY agreeable course, even if it was very challenging.
All along, we had been planning a surprise, with Scotty York's help, for Terry and Ray. We knew it was their birthday, but I made as if nothing was afoot. In fact, when Terry mentioned that it was his birthday, I immediately attributed his misses to that and told him not to tell anyone because birthdays were bad luck days. When I want I can keep a poker face, LOL! ;-)
After we had shot our course with less than stellar results for all of us, we headed back to the HQ, hung our clipboards in the correct hook positions and sat down to chat and eat.
By the time desert time came, we coordinated with Scotty, who had asked George Hamilton to keep the cake in his fridge and the cake was brought out. Thanks, Scotty and George!
After we had shot our course with less than stellar results for all of us, we headed back to the HQ, hung our clipboards in the correct hook positions and sat down to chat and eat.
By the time desert time came, we coordinated with Scotty, who had asked George Hamilton to keep the cake in his fridge and the cake was brought out. Thanks, Scotty and George!
We had two happy campers! No, I cannot disclose their ages.
Food was good, better than good, but one thing that worries me is that, perhaps, too much attention is paid to the food. Organizers are under enormous pressure to serve the best food possible when, in reality, we are going to shooting match, not an eating match! We, as shooters have this area of improvement to consider. If we demanded a little less on the food side, perhaps other things more substantive to the shoot itself could be better dealt with, as more resources could be available to deal with those other things.
The other areas where much is expected is in the raffle/door prize and the auction. Again, I think we are stressing the unimportant part to the detriment of the substantive part.
The other areas where much is expected is in the raffle/door prize and the auction. Again, I think we are stressing the unimportant part to the detriment of the substantive part.
As much as we waited, the scoreboards were not posted the same day. It could have been done as shooters came in, but it wasn't. A lot of shooters started looking into the clipboards to get a grasp as to how the scores stood. We went off and helped Terry re-sight and re-trajectory his system, when we returned, there were still no scoreboards posted.
Also on the score, Team scores in the end were finally posted with only 4 persons per team. As per AAFTA rules, teams must consist of five shooters.
And then, at the Shooters Meeting for Sunday, the boards were up and it was then evident that not all shooters within a Division/Class had been squadded in the same course, also no mention was made as to which, where, how or why points were awarded when targets were taken off.
To this date, I still do not know which target was taken off the white course, nor why, and where the target was located. I know about the blue course because I asked, but this is an interesting area of opportunity for improvement: Transparency and clear accounts are important in a match.
Also on the score, Team scores in the end were finally posted with only 4 persons per team. As per AAFTA rules, teams must consist of five shooters.
And then, at the Shooters Meeting for Sunday, the boards were up and it was then evident that not all shooters within a Division/Class had been squadded in the same course, also no mention was made as to which, where, how or why points were awarded when targets were taken off.
To this date, I still do not know which target was taken off the white course, nor why, and where the target was located. I know about the blue course because I asked, but this is an interesting area of opportunity for improvement: Transparency and clear accounts are important in a match.
Another area of improvement is the chronographing of ALL guns. It was joked about by Scotty himself that some shooters were running at 24 ft-lbs, but without a formal, intermediately located chrono with the corresponding officials and stamps/stickers to check ALL guns, the joke left in my mind a strange feeling. As Chaucer once made his Monk say: "Many a true word is spoken in jest".
Before I am remiss, I have to emphasize my sincere appreciation for Scotty York, the fact that he did NOT shoot to be attentive to all the match is a shining example of dedication. MD's have a ton of things to worry and think about and if they try to shoot, then one of those masters is going to be displeased.
As Sunday wore on and the decision was made to cancel the second day "leg", the raffle and auction took place and then the prize awards were given.
Here it is important to mention how closely Yegua Airgun Club worked with the local authorities, chamber of commerce and local establishments to make this event possible for all of us.
How the FT clubs are perceived in the communities where they operate can have a hugely positive impact if when an event such as this one with almost 90 registered shooters from three different countries meet in those communities with the corresponding boost to the local economy in hotel rooms, restaurant bills, purchases in local stores, etc. As the modern world advances and moves away from the former rural settings, it is important to convey to the local authorities and local economic planning bodies how important an event like this can be. The raffle of a few prizes using as tickets the receipts of local purchases was simple, effective and fully convincing. Another brilliant stroke!
Before I am remiss, I have to emphasize my sincere appreciation for Scotty York, the fact that he did NOT shoot to be attentive to all the match is a shining example of dedication. MD's have a ton of things to worry and think about and if they try to shoot, then one of those masters is going to be displeased.
As Sunday wore on and the decision was made to cancel the second day "leg", the raffle and auction took place and then the prize awards were given.
Here it is important to mention how closely Yegua Airgun Club worked with the local authorities, chamber of commerce and local establishments to make this event possible for all of us.
How the FT clubs are perceived in the communities where they operate can have a hugely positive impact if when an event such as this one with almost 90 registered shooters from three different countries meet in those communities with the corresponding boost to the local economy in hotel rooms, restaurant bills, purchases in local stores, etc. As the modern world advances and moves away from the former rural settings, it is important to convey to the local authorities and local economic planning bodies how important an event like this can be. The raffle of a few prizes using as tickets the receipts of local purchases was simple, effective and fully convincing. Another brilliant stroke!
Another important and very interesting aspect was the attendance of Rossi Monreale and his American Airgunner crew.
Sure it is not easy to shoot when the cameraman is almost in your face, but the more we, FT shooters, make the best possible effort to popularize our sport, the better off we will all be.
Sure it is not easy to shoot when the cameraman is almost in your face, but the more we, FT shooters, make the best possible effort to popularize our sport, the better off we will all be.
The shootoffs, were a very interesting aspect of this Match: Sudden death, shooting side by side, simultaneously within the time allotted, at IDENTICAL targets. GREAT idea! Seems simple, but Scotty, Leo, and Ron had the forethought to have the needed targets well painted, and in hand for the shootoffs. And I emphasize: FOUR IDENTICAL targets.
I will not comment further. The YAGC October Match will be a memorable event in many aspects. Some of them VERY positive, and these are the ones that need to be stated and re-hearsed. Those that present opportunity for improvement need to be addressed in a collegiate form so as to have better National Matches in the future.
I will not comment further. The YAGC October Match will be a memorable event in many aspects. Some of them VERY positive, and these are the ones that need to be stated and re-hearsed. Those that present opportunity for improvement need to be addressed in a collegiate form so as to have better National Matches in the future.
Congratulations to ALL the winners!
My many, many, thanks to all of YAGC's volunteers! And especially to two very important persons:
See you in the lanes!
HM
HM
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