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The Minutemen League 2014-2015 season

11/21/2015

 
Three years ago, when Dave Lee from BCSA suggested to Greg Shirhall a regional league to foster travelling between venues, the idea was rolled and kicked around for some time until the three founders (Ray Apelles, Greg Shirhall and myself) settled on a format.

Way back then, we started with 6 Clubs and the rules stated that you needed 4 scores in different venues to make up your League Score.

Quickly, more Clubs added themselves and this season we closed with 11 ACTIVE Clubs, that is considering the 2 completely new Clubs that were born, as well as the Club that went dormant.

More and more people started appearing at the shoots, attendance is up everywhere and so is the number of new shooters.

In a sense, it is very satisfying to see the sport grow, and for purely selfish reasons, to see it grow in the spring and limited power classes.

However, that has had a cost. After the first, VERY active year, one of our pillars declared that he had lost the fun along the way of the whole exercise. The other declared himself a little "burnt".
And to top it all, registration in the League started to drop.
Registration, mind you, NOT attendance to the shoots.

Add to that that the kickoff of this FT year (Dec-Nov for us) was very "rocky" indeed and it was a tough year for me as well. The main reflection of that was how poorly I performed in Lithuania, and my poor judgement of clothing at the Nationals.

Upon reflection of the past, I see that perhaps the three founders got carried away with the concept of a League of Champions. And I own upon myself that responsibility.
Having only Champion prizes was probably not the best idea I've ever had.
Persistence paid for some shooters. The winners, though some have repeated, were not always the same; showing that Patience and Perseverance are good virtues.
BUT, as in Massad Ayoob's book on self defense, there was "No second place winner".
With reduced registration and increased classes/trophies, it has become clear that the League is not sustainable in the long run as it is.

And so, the League will disappear for the time being from the scores/trophies scene.
It will still be available to MD's for the coordination of dates of matches and the promotion and internal discussion we have always had. But the scores and the statuettes, will be gone for the moment.
They may reappear in the future, perhaps we should go to less expensive trophies and award 1st through 3rd, maybe we just need to issue certificates of the yearly scores, maybe we should do other stuff.
​I REALLY do not know. If anyone does, please let me know in the comments area at the end of this blog's entry.

But as bittersweet as life is, there is no bitter without the sweet and I have to say that I have enjoyed immensely these three years as Secretary to the League, I have met people from all over the place that I can now call "friend". And to see new shooters bloom into powerful competitors that can clearly answer: "there is nothing wrong with the gun, it's me that needs practice" makes me regain the faith in the human race.

And so, without further ado, I have the pleasure and the privilege to present to you the League's Champions for this season we are now closing, starting with the Match Directors that make FT possible:
Picture
The Match Directors that were present at the Closing, from left (in front): Ray Apelles, Hans Apelles, Larry Bowne, Rich Bassettt, Joel Gupta, Jim Wilcox. Missing from the picture: Bill Day, Paolo Amedeo, Jan Vandenberg, Thomas Wade, Thomas Holland, Matthew Sawyer, John Eroh, Todd Banks, Pat Shirhall and Greg Shirhall
Our greatest appreciation to all MD's.
Picture
In PCP Open Class: Rich Bassett
Picture
In WFTF PCP.- Nathan Thomas
Picture
In Unlimited.- Hans Apelles
Picture
In Hunter Piston.- Eric Brewer
Picture
In Pistol/Hunter.- Craig Evans
Picture
In Open Piston.- Larry Bowne
Picture
And in WFTF Piston, me, LOL! Shaking hands with myself.
We missed Bill Day that won the Hunter PCP class, we'll give him his mantlepiece statuette when we see him. Hopefully at the Mid Winter shoot (EFTCC), or at BlueBalls (MRFT), or at the Winter Safari (HHRGC). We'll see.

Again, thanks to all that participated along these years and thanks to the Clubs that made this possible by hosting the matches.
​
Final and endless thanks go to the Match Directors.

See you all sometime soon!







Héctor Medina

Thanks to my wife, Veronika, for the pictures!
Picture
Jan Vandenberg
11/21/2015 13:17:05

Thank you, Hector, and all the other Minute(wo)men, for all you do, and for a lovely season!

-Jan

Bill Day
11/22/2015 11:23:19

Hector, Thanks for your organization and leadership over our minute man league and very sorry to learn of the burn outs although understandable. Maybe a $25 donation from each member club could of allowed more places for awards. I'm sure the minuteman games did boost attendance that increased revenue for our clubs.
Thanks also to Greg and Ray for making it happen and for Dave Lee for his masterminding of the league.


Comments are closed.

    Hector Medina

    2012 US National WFTF Spring Piston Champion
    2012 WFTF Spring Piston Grand Prix Winner
    2013 World's WFTF Spring Piston 7th place
    2014 Texas State WFTF Piston Champion
    2014 World's WFTF Spring Piston 5th place.
    2015 Maine State Champion WFTF Piston
    2015 Massachusetts State Champion WFTF Piston
    2015 New York State Champion WFTF Piston
    2015 US National WFTF Piston 2nd Place
    2016 Canadian WFTF Piston Champion
    2016 Pyramyd Air Cup WFTF Piston 1st Place
    2017 US Nationals Open Piston 3rd Place
    2018 WFTC's Member of Team USA Champion Springers
    2018 WFTC's 4th place Veteran Springer
    2020 Puerto Rico GP Piston First Place
    2020 NC State Championships 1st Place Piston
    2022 Maryland State Champion WFTF 
    2022 WFTC's Italy Member of TEAM USA 2nd place Springers
    2022 WFTC's Italy
    2nd Place Veteran Springers
    2023 WFTC's South Africa Member TEAM USA 1st place Springers
    2023 WFTC's South Africa
    2nd Place Veteran Springers

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