Alabama State Field Target Championship Match

The Tennessee Valley Airgun Club in Huntsville hosted the Alabama State Field Target Championship Match on November 11, 2006. The match director was Brad Troyer and the match was held on the property provided by Donnie Ross. The match was an iron-man of Field Target competition in that there was 90 shots with two lanes of off hand and one lane of kneeling shots. Brad did an outstanding job, as usual, of setting up a challenging, yet extremely fun course. We were also treated to a feast of Dreamland BBQ after the match. What an awesome way to spend a Saturday!

The day started with some of the least desirable weather imaginable.  It was overcast, with drizzling ran across the Tennessee Valley.  The forecast was predicted to change by 11:00 AM so, most of us arrived early and huddled under a tent at the sight in range for an hour or so.  Sure enough by 10:30 AM the drizzle slowed and everyone hit the sight in range for a few shots. 

I have been trying to get my TX200 MK II set up for Field Target so, I decided to give it a try at this match.  This was the second match that I have shot the TX and I was pretty happy with the way things were looking when I sighted in.  As it turned out, the Piston Class was loaded with competition.  We ended up with eleven Piston Shooters, five PCP shooters and one hunter class shooter.  I think most of the names on the score board speak for themselves when looking at the competition.  There were some serious heavy weight shooters in both major classes of this match!  That made for a very interesting line up…

With the rain past, we got started right away.  I was teamed up with Robert Crocker and we got going on lane eight.  I was off to a very good start after cleaning my first lane.  I found it to be of moderate difficulty since the last of three targets was set at about 50 or so yards.  The wind was picking up and temperature was dropping as the low pressure weather moved out and a high pressure system moved in.  After I shot lane nine and again cleaned it with my trusty old TX, I was feeling pretty good.  Well, that was until I got to lane ten.  My perfect score was shot pretty quick on that lane and I can at least partially attribute it to a change in wind direction since we had rounded a curve in the course and were shooting in the opposite direction from where we started.  It took a bit, but I recovered and started to shoot decent again.  I found that shooting a 12 ft. lb. gun in wind was a real challenge.  A lot of the docile shooting characteristics are quickly negated by a gusting wind…

Robert and I had a great time shooting together.  I always enjoy getting together and listening to other shooters.  I especially like to learn from guys that have been shooting this sport for a number of years like Robert.  I try to watch and learn what I can and Saturday was no exception.  Robert shot really well with his Daystate CR-X.  He ended the match with 80 out of 90 and took the second place PCP prize.  I am sure that I picked up a thing or two from shooting with him that I will try out later at another match.

As we arrived at the kneeling lane,  I was a little concerned with my kneeling ability.  I had busted my confidence in Ms. with a poor score on their kneeling lane.  However, I relaxed and concentrated on my shots and did pretty well there with five or six out of six.  I really don’t remember which as I was just happy not to end with 50% or so.  After a couple more lanes, we finally arrived at our first off hand lane.  There was no surprises.  The targets were very moderate and were set at reasonable distances.  However, I blew it with only three of six shots.  Oh well, I guess I know what I need to work on as I blew the second off hand lane even worse than the first.

My last two lanes were set up in a field and the wind was extreme by that point of the day.  I had a reasonable score for a Piston Shooter at that point of the match.  However, that score went down hill quick on those last two windy lanes as I finished with a 61 for 4th place in the Piston Division.

After the match was over, we all went over to the Ross home to gobble down some of those fantastic Dreamland Ribs!  Boy, it was a great end to a fun day of shooting.  The scores were tallied up and the winners ended up with some really great scores considering the wind.  Robert Ray won the PCP Division with an 82 out of 90.  Robert Crocker was a close second with 80 of 90 and David Slade ended third with 75 of 90 PCP.  The Piston Division was won by Rod Bradley with a 78 out of 90.  Brad Troyer was second with 70 of 90 and Ken Hughes was third Piston Division with 66 out of 90 shots.  I also can’t help but mention that Rod Bradley smoked us in the Piston Division shooting a .22 Cal Whiscomb!  Great job Rod!

I can’t say enough about how much fun that I have had this year shooting Field Target in Huntsville, Alabama.  Brad Troyer has done a great job setting up the matches and Donnie Ross has provided us with one of the most beautiful places on earth to shoot.  The Alabama State Championship match was no exception.  The organizers pulled off a great match even with the adverse weather that moved through just minutes before the match.  Thanks again to Brad and Donnie for a great year of Field Target.  My family and I have enjoyed every minute of it!

May God Bless you all and we will see you again at a match somewhere next year!

Sincerely,

Harold Rushton