Re: Official 2012 Sniper's Hide Cup
What a fantastic venue! I have never before shot a match that was all field-course stages, and now having completed one I understand what makes the shooters out west so good at the skill of spotting, ranging and engaging multiple targets under strict time constraints. I started day one well outside of my comfort zone, but improved each day. By the end of the match I could quickly accomplish all the tasks, get my hits, and forget about the time clock... all too late for it to do me much good on the score sheet, but any match that encourages that kind of geometric skill progression is a great match.
Due to what could only have been a mistake I got squadded with the ‘big boys’, and they were truly a pleasure to watch and to learn from: Thank you Rob, Tony, Wade, Scott, George, Francis, and Pat for letting me observe what was for me a master class in the art of riflery. I came to this match thinking that I was a good shooter. I left with the impression that in your company I am at best mediocre and have so much more to learn.
Thank you, Jim, for the shooting sticks. Thank you Mr. Unknown guy for use of your binos. Thanks to Tony for the laughs, and for volunteering to go first when you saw that I was having a problem. Thanks to Chris, for your consistent displays of sportsmanship despite the odds being against you. Thank you, Kraig, for the benefit of the doubt. And above all thank you to Pat, Scott and George for saving my ass and ranging targets for me that would not register on my laser.
Zak, Ray and Frank: I have shot at world (class) events, and the match itself was as professional, as well thought-out and as well-run as any of them. The ROs did an excellent job (especially the ones who were shanghai'd). Two very minor points of criticism: First, I wish it would have been emphasized in advance what to expect (ie: an all field course match), meaning that one would need binos, a reliable long distance laser and shooting sticks and/or tripod. Second, I would have enjoyed a bit more variety in the stages: Like at an IPSC nationals, a mixture of field courses like the ones we shot, plus ‘standards’ like a challenging cold bore and a few KYL and positional drills, then a few ‘quick and dirty’ stages with emphasis on gun handling and fitness like an obstacle course with some challenging snap engagements from 60-400 yards.
What I love, about where this sport is right now, is that there are creative people all over the country pushing the limits of what is possible at an organized event and striving, each in their own way, to develop this sport and to challenge each shooter to improve regardless of his skill level. When we look back on these years we will probably say that it was a golden age in the development of this kind of shooting.
That said, I am still waiting for the Sniper’s Hide Cup that is to be a field event, shot in teams of two, that requires us to nav, ruck, and shoot, all day, from warning order through briefing to mission completion, with a debrief and the production of a work product by the teams.... Well, it was just a thought.
PS - And thanks to the proprietors of the White Wolf for letting me drown my sorrows in a fine malt beverage called Murphy’s stout, on draft for a paltry sum.
I was ready to throw out the pistol and said so, but we had a bunch of positive pistol feedback.
