We were fascinated when we went to Norway to shoot the 2012 WFTF World's Matches. We enjoyed the people, the landscape, the seascape, the boat cruise, the north pole, and even getting close to the Russian Military Atomic Submarine base in Murmansk was interesting so, when the WFTF WM (WeltMeisterSchaften) was announced for Ebern, Germany, we were ecstatic and just waiting to go.
Anticipation became a reality when the official invitations came in the post:
Anticipation became a reality when the official invitations came in the post:
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Of course the more important papers were the rifle permits, which I will not post for obvious reasons. We, in the US are not used to the fact that anything resembling a firearm is viewed with more or less distrust in most all other countries. Just as a year before, SAS had given us the best price for the airfare once all the baggage fees and additional costs that airlines slap on you had been taken into account. Anyway, with the whole documents under hand (Passports, Tickets, Money, Invitations, Permits, Bookings, Maps, etc.) we started our trip at Newark.
We arrived into Berlin via Copenhagen without any hitch whatsoever, the authorities looked at the guns, the rifle permits, checked the serial numbers and we were on our merry way.
We spent a few days in Berlin with a friend that Veronika has known since her pre-school years. And I wanted to go back to Berlin because last time I was there, the Wall was still up and very much so.
After an extremely good weekend in Berlin, we took the overnight City Express to Karlsruhe, where we took delivery of a car and drove to Rastatt, where I had a business meeting with Mayer & Grammelspacher, the makers of Diana Airguns.
We spent a few days in Berlin with a friend that Veronika has known since her pre-school years. And I wanted to go back to Berlin because last time I was there, the Wall was still up and very much so.
After an extremely good weekend in Berlin, we took the overnight City Express to Karlsruhe, where we took delivery of a car and drove to Rastatt, where I had a business meeting with Mayer & Grammelspacher, the makers of Diana Airguns.
Where we had excellent meetings with the Engineering, Marketing and Sales Dept.
From Left to right: Herr Michael Mayer (4th Generation Owner), Herr Marcus Glück , Herr Maurice Reinagel , Herr Paul Kleinkopf and me. With the CCA WFTF D-54
After some initial discussions about the modifications made to the basic D54, we adjourned to the long distance testing range, which is located at the roof-rafters of the old factory, where Herr Reinagel posted some impressive groups.
This one at 25 meters:
And this one at 40 meters:
For reference, each square is 5 mm's, so the circles measure 20 mm's edge to edge. Truly FT material.
After some more discussions about the P-1000 and other ideas, we agreed to meet at Ebern and we were on our merry way, not without some heartache at leaving a place that is bound in so much airgunning history.
After some more discussions about the P-1000 and other ideas, we agreed to meet at Ebern and we were on our merry way, not without some heartache at leaving a place that is bound in so much airgunning history.
We spent some wonderful days in Rothenburg and Würzburg and after a very agreeable drive we arrived at Ebern.
Clearly the whole town was in FT mode!
We found this welcome tree in the central plaza of the town.
Clearly the whole town was in FT mode!
We found this welcome tree in the central plaza of the town.
We had our dinner (Pizza place was the only open place on a Wednesday night), and we went to bed.
Next morning we toured the town a little and met with the remainder of the team at the BDS range.
We used the time to warm up and to reconnoitre the surrounding areas.
A HUGE asset to the US Team were the two Americans that are living in Germany, Robert Brooks was wise and kind enough to get access to a private range where we could tinker with our guns.
Next morning we toured the town a little and met with the remainder of the team at the BDS range.
We used the time to warm up and to reconnoitre the surrounding areas.
A HUGE asset to the US Team were the two Americans that are living in Germany, Robert Brooks was wise and kind enough to get access to a private range where we could tinker with our guns.
Some of the Team members decided to join in the fun
On the inside, the shooting range is more like an old-school gentleman's Club:
Over the four very valuable hours we had at the private range, we managed to trajectory Veronika's gun, settle down mine and make sure that everything was where it was supposed to be. Robert had the chance to re-mount his scope and re-align his adjustable bases that had come loose.
We washed, changed and went to the big event of the evening, which was the welcome dinner!
The Town treated us as Royalty. they got out the Town Crier:
We washed, changed and went to the big event of the evening, which was the welcome dinner!
The Town treated us as Royalty. they got out the Town Crier:
Who welcomed "all those that came from near and far, looking for the elusive perfection of the well released shot" clearly the guy knew what he was talking about!
Here we have to say that traditionally, in the German speaking countries, the traditional Matches are ONE shot matches. They shoot at very ornately painted targets and the target itself is the award plaque. Closest shot to the center is the winner. ONE shot.
Then, in clear reference to the long standing hunting tradition of the Bavarian mountains, we were treated to a beautiful, short, concert of JagdHorns:
Here we have to say that traditionally, in the German speaking countries, the traditional Matches are ONE shot matches. They shoot at very ornately painted targets and the target itself is the award plaque. Closest shot to the center is the winner. ONE shot.
Then, in clear reference to the long standing hunting tradition of the Bavarian mountains, we were treated to a beautiful, short, concert of JagdHorns:
For those that are musically oriented, I will say that these horns have no valves and no slides. All notes are obtained by the musician's control of the lips. Truly impressive.
As the festivities wore on, food and beer started to come out, the teams started to assemble, it was shocking to see how many teams had selected to use red as their team color:
As the festivities wore on, food and beer started to come out, the teams started to assemble, it was shocking to see how many teams had selected to use red as their team color:
Spaniards, Russians, English, a LOT!
Even us! ROFL!:
Even us! ROFL!:
From Left:
Ron Carlson, Keith Knoblauch, Sonia Taylor, Alan Otsuka, Robert Brooks and John Estep
And even though we could not eat the food, we had a wonderful time!
Ron Carlson, Keith Knoblauch, Sonia Taylor, Alan Otsuka, Robert Brooks and John Estep
And even though we could not eat the food, we had a wonderful time!
But we had come to Germany to shoot! So we were off early and next day found us on the BDS Shooting Range, where we received the news that the spring-piston shooters would start on the Gold course.
To us, with the blissful ignorance of first timers, that told us nothing. When we got to the course we realized that it was the course with the most severly angled shots of the whole competition.
This is Roberto Caballero, from Spain, defending World Champion:
To us, with the blissful ignorance of first timers, that told us nothing. When we got to the course we realized that it was the course with the most severly angled shots of the whole competition.
This is Roberto Caballero, from Spain, defending World Champion:
After a whole 7 hours of shooting without intermission or recess. The long times being a necessity of the 4 man squadding used, we ended up exhausted, but still in good humour.
Good enough humour to pose for a picture:
Isn't it funny when so many people are taking pictures that sometimes you find better pictures of yourselves in some other tourist pictures?
Isn't it funny when so many people are taking pictures that sometimes you find better pictures of yourselves in some other tourist pictures?
From the first day I was squadded with Michael Woodhead (President of EFTA), Jörgen Klockner (Design Engineer for Walther), and George Harde (Canadian National Champion).
I have to say that it was a terribly fun squad to be in. We were serious, but not dead serious. We had fun and talked just enough being careful not to bother our squad mates.
Jörgen was shooting, ¿what else? a Walther LGV with a Schmidt & Bender 10-50X60 FT scope. The scope was to prove his undoing over the three day event.
Michael was shooting a tried and trustworthy rig with a Simmons scope that served him well.
George Harde was shooting a TX-200 with a sophisticated tune that gave him problems from the start. He was having 30-45 fps difference between shots and he could not account for strange misses. His Sightron scope though, proved very reliable and perfectly suited to the dark forest lanes.
One of the impressive aspects of such a high level event is that "things" happen to everyone. And still, all the good shooters manage to overcome the small difficulties.
After some struggling I managed to post a respectable 35/50 which placed me between 4th and 7th.
I have to say that it was a terribly fun squad to be in. We were serious, but not dead serious. We had fun and talked just enough being careful not to bother our squad mates.
Jörgen was shooting, ¿what else? a Walther LGV with a Schmidt & Bender 10-50X60 FT scope. The scope was to prove his undoing over the three day event.
Michael was shooting a tried and trustworthy rig with a Simmons scope that served him well.
George Harde was shooting a TX-200 with a sophisticated tune that gave him problems from the start. He was having 30-45 fps difference between shots and he could not account for strange misses. His Sightron scope though, proved very reliable and perfectly suited to the dark forest lanes.
One of the impressive aspects of such a high level event is that "things" happen to everyone. And still, all the good shooters manage to overcome the small difficulties.
After some struggling I managed to post a respectable 35/50 which placed me between 4th and 7th.
For the second day we were to shoot in the black course. Theoretically, the "easy" course of the match.
It was not for me.
MOST of the shots were slightly angled, but long. And the problem presented itself that there was no position from which I was stable to take a good shot.
I lost some golden opportunities to rack up points and I ended up with a still solid 35/50
It was not for me.
MOST of the shots were slightly angled, but long. And the problem presented itself that there was no position from which I was stable to take a good shot.
I lost some golden opportunities to rack up points and I ended up with a still solid 35/50
The third day was the most grueling of all.
We were all tired, shooting days had been long affairs with no way of developing a rhythm. Still, we were fired up by the idea that it was the decisive day.
And what a day it was!
The Team mates surged ahead and posted an excellent performance that catapulted the US Spring-Piston Team from 7th to 4th. John and Robert made a HUGE effort and Keith also posted a much better score, so we were able to end up in the 4th position as a Team.
We were all tired, shooting days had been long affairs with no way of developing a rhythm. Still, we were fired up by the idea that it was the decisive day.
And what a day it was!
The Team mates surged ahead and posted an excellent performance that catapulted the US Spring-Piston Team from 7th to 4th. John and Robert made a HUGE effort and Keith also posted a much better score, so we were able to end up in the 4th position as a Team.
As the competition was winding down I started receiving congratulations from a few well placed friends and so I started to realize that the seemingly poor performance of 31/50 for the third day had still placed me in the "Top Ten" .
I specifically appreciated the good will of the Steyr people, from left: Veronika, Myself, Karl Egger (CEO of Steyr Sport) and his son.
I specifically appreciated the good will of the Steyr people, from left: Veronika, Myself, Karl Egger (CEO of Steyr Sport) and his son.
We gathered the Spring-Piston team for the picture, from left: Robert Brooks, John Estep, Veronika Ruf, Keith Knoblauch and me.
After some coaxing, we gathered almost the whole team and went to the sight-in range to take a picture of all, from left : Alan Otsuka, Veronika Ruf, Ray Apelles, Greg Sauve, me, Donovan Taylor, Neil Youngreen, Harold Rushton, Keith Knoblauch, Peter Brooks, John Estep, Robert Brooks and Ron Carlson. Only Mark Catlin is missing.
After a relatively tense wait, the results were posted and I was very happy at having sustained the position of the early days. I placed 7th, but the difference between the 4th and the 7th was not that big:
Yes, there is a lot of work to do and a lot of things to learn and to perfect. Some gear to change and some techniques to be mastered, but we are now in the running.
Over the three day event we had the opportunity to meet and become friends with wonderful people. Excellent shooters that are not only good shooters, but good persons.
We met the Chilean friends whom, we hope, will come to the next NorthEast Regional Field Target Championships (NERFTC's) in East Bloomfield, NY; to take part in the America's Challenge FT Cup that will be disputed between Canada, Chile, US and Venezuela in 2014:
Over the three day event we had the opportunity to meet and become friends with wonderful people. Excellent shooters that are not only good shooters, but good persons.
We met the Chilean friends whom, we hope, will come to the next NorthEast Regional Field Target Championships (NERFTC's) in East Bloomfield, NY; to take part in the America's Challenge FT Cup that will be disputed between Canada, Chile, US and Venezuela in 2014:
And we also had the chance to joke and have fun with such great personalities as the President of the WFTF, Mr Andrew Idris Kays himself, who shot the courses without any ceremony and just like any other shooter:
Andy is visible and accessible all year round, he is attentive and generous with his time to a fault. He always has a smile and even when he gets mad, he finds a way to have fun.
And then, almost unexpectedly, came the end, the Town called in the Town Crier:
And then, almost unexpectedly, came the end, the Town called in the Town Crier:
And this time a more sedate Brass band:
Speeches were made, and the awards started to flow.
First the Veteran PCP shooters, where Greg and Mark did the 1-2:
First the Veteran PCP shooters, where Greg and Mark did the 1-2:
After a while, the springer Top Ten from left, top tier: Brian Samson (2nd) , Linas Burvys (Champ), Alexas Jaunas (3rd), from left bottom row: Andres Mikfelt (10th), Roberto Menichelli (9th), Istvan Fejes Toth (8th), me (7th), Meelis Kurvits (6th), Regina Burviene (5th), Roberto Caballero (4th).
A good picture of the "hardware" brought home by the team:
And a friendly and heartfelt farewell from Her Volker Blüm, wishing us good journeys home and hoping to meet us again at the next World's event.
Going to one of these events is a pleasure, a privilege and a huge burden. But the experience gained and the friendships formed are more than worth it. If you ever get a chance, go for it!
Un abrazo!
Héctor Medina
Un abrazo!
Héctor Medina
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