It started bitterly cold on June 8 at the Cable Bay Club, but it didn’t stop people from showing up. We had a great turnout, with shooters coming in from Marlborough, Motueka, and even John making the drive up from Reefton to join us.
A big thanks to Charles for his help the day before setting up the six stages, which led to a fun and slightly challenging day. I copped a bit of flak for one stage – three steel plates swinging fast, with limited time to see and hit them. The more names I get called, the better I know the stage was, at least from my point of view!
The numbers were higher than usual, and it was great to see a few faces we haven’t seen in a while. That’s one of the best parts about pistol shooting – no matter the style or your age, there’s always a place for you. Sure, we might slow down a bit, but the camaraderie and fun make up for any drop in competitive edge.
The stages required a fair bit of movement. Forward and backward across the ranges, and a lot of rounds were sent downrange. With that level of dynamic shooting, safety is always our top priority. Both competitors and range officers keep a close eye on gun handling, especially with the different shooting angles and movement involved. Just one mistake can end your match, whether it’s in the first 10 seconds or the last.
Break a rule, and you’re out, with your scores wiped. Harsh, but necessary to keep everyone safe.
Now, while movies make one-handed shooting look cool, it’s not how you shoot fast or accurately in real life. That said, we do shoot one-handed sometimes, usually not by choice, but because the course designer forces us to. For example, I used a half-full Coke bottle as a prop. The sloshing liquid made it tricky to use for support, adding another layer of challenge to think through and work around.
We were shooting in IPSC style, where speed plays a big role. You want to go as fast as you can, but not so fast your accuracy suffers. It’s a fine line, and it’s far too easy to step over it and watch things go downhill quickly.
Thanks again to everyone who came out, either to compete or just to watch. You all helped make it a great day.
