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Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:46 am
by atomicbrh
All I did was copy and paste from the current rule book in my previous reply. I did not compose any part of the rule book or any updates to it. We as do many other competitors have the personal policy of not starting the slightest controversy at a match or at night while visiting with other silhouette people because it raises the heart rate and blood pressure increasing the wobble size and also could throw off mental focus. Julie and I are also not going to say anything at the match because most people who run the matches are volunteers and are trying to focus on the task at hand. We want to be part of a pleasant, calm event so that we and our fellow competitors can shoot our absolute best. We do not want to complain to volunteers in any way when they are giving up their personal time for us to shoot but the last 30 minutes of range commands disturbed us greatly. Because the worst behavior was at the very end of the three day match, it was over and there was no point in us saying anything to you. The behavior incrementally increased from the beginning of the first ready command on the first day to the last cease fire on the last day. Now is the time to discuss all these things not on the Nationals firing line while the match is in progress. Thanks for letting us know it will be the same guy in 2020. No hard feelings. We still consider you and Glenn friends. To those who were not there, we only shot the Smallbore matches with the scopes in 2018. Bobby Huddleston

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:01 pm
by Taps
Okay, if you want to start quoting the rule book, try reading it all, especially this bit:

18.7 Reporting at Firing Point- Competitors must report at their assigned firing point IMMEDIATELY , ( my emphasis ), when the relay is called by the range officer. The proper rifle and ammunition for that particular match must be ready and in a safe firing condition. Time will not be allowed for firearm repairs, sight blacking, sight adjustments or search for missing equipment after a relay has been called to the line.

During the 2018 small-bore matches, the match was held up numerous times by competitors who, when called to the line, decided that was time to wander over to the rack, pick up their rifle and start adjusting their scopes. A couple of individuals in particular did this every time they were called to the line. I also don't enjoy having a muzzle pointed at me while these "adjustments" are being made. It wears thin pretty darn quick.
Rather than singling the culprits out, a general warning was given to all. If you believe that the tone got worse at the end of three days of competition, maybe that's because that after three days of repeating the same warnings, people should be working with the match not against it.

During the matches, I can only recall a couple of competitors mentioning that they needed a bit more time to get from the ram line down to the chicken line despite my announcing numerous times that you only had to let me know as you passed by the tower that you required it. I kept a close eye on the movement of folks from the rams to chickens. Most people co-operated and began moving as soon as they finished at rams. However, there were some who sat around "visiting" and only began moving after the targets were reset and the next relay was called. Were you amongst them I wonder? My friend in the wheelchair seemed to be able to get there on time.
The only complaints about the timing of relays during the match were from competitors about the target crew and that I should hurry them up!
All of the comments that I personally received post match, and there were plenty, were very positive about the timing and tempo of the matches.
When you have National Champions telling you that it was the best run match they'd ever competed in, I figure I must be getting it right.

The only match that was affected by the weather in the afternoon was the first small bore match that was running late due to competitors disregarding rule 18.7 above. It would do ALL competitors good to read AND be familiar with ALL of section 18, Competitors' Duties and Responsibilities.

No, I'm not afraid of the rain, but boy don't people complain when they have to shoot in it!
If you reckon you can do better, put your hand up, job's all yours. You'll find it's a bit like herding cats.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:02 pm
by No1_49er
Thanks for your clarification, Dan.

Perhaps you should have also included this sentence from 18.6 - It is not the duty of officials to page competitors in order to get them on the firing line :!!

I would also acknowledge that volunteered positions are often thankless tasks but it is, except for a few, greatly appreciated that somebody gives time to a National Championship after travelling something like 13,000 km, the prime purpose of which is to compete at the other range down the road at "his" chosen discipline, using that same Rule Book :-bd ^:)^ :YMAPPLAUSE:

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 5:28 am
by atomicbrh
There was no one in a wheelchair competing or observing at the 2018 Smallbore/Smallbore Hunter Nationals. Multiple videos all up and down the firing line were made during the match to document this. No wheelchairs are seen in the photos and videos from that match. We were there and after 35 years in healthcare working with spinal chord injury patients, I am alert to notice the struggles that wheelchair bound people suffer through in an outdoor environment. Now Taps, this is an honest question. I am not trolling you. The first time an individual pointed a rifle at you, Why did you not just pause the match briefly, ban that person from the range, make them pack up and leave, then continue the match? Pointing a rifle even with a safety flag in the chamber at the tower caller just one time is unacceptable.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 5:32 am
by cedestech
Daniel is thinking CLA.... but to be fair, he is correct. Dude (can't remember his name for the life of me) never missed a relay or was even rushed for a relay. No power chair, wheeled himself AND his equipment up and down that rocky ass line AND shot.... fine fellow.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:49 am
by No1_49er
Glen Kapitzke might be the name that eludes your memory?
Yes, he was there in 2018. Shooting Lever Action.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:53 am
by cedestech
No1_49er wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:49 am Glen Kapitzke might be the name that eludes your memory?
Yes, he was there in 2018. Shooting Lever Action.
Yes, Teresa remembered his name last night... I couldn't pull it out of my head this AM. She is much better at that then I am... :mrgreen:

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 2:23 pm
by Taps
Yes, Glen is who I was referring to. Yes, I was thinking of the CLAS event, where the line is about 3 times as long as the small-bore range, ( if not more ), which is the point I was trying to make. If you went to the trouble of reviewing photos and video, you obviously have a bee in your bonnet over this.
Having family members in wheelchairs and with spinal cord injuries, I too am well aware of the difficulties they face.

It would be very hard to prove that a muzzle was pointed at me, trust me it was, it would be a case of one persons word against another.
As a whole, I have noticed that you lot are very blase' when it comes to muzzle awareness. Again, a general warning to all competitors was announced.
If you were personally so upset about my line calls, I can't imagine what your reaction would have been to me kicking a shooter out of the competition.
Like most problems on the line, unless someone personally sees an incident, their perception of events that take place can create more problems than the original infringement. Baseless rumours quickly get out of hand and the match gets held up with arguments and bickering which can upset ALL competitors.
The main offender was spoken to and warned, privately, and it ceased happening. ( "I didn't realise I was doing that" was the line of defence ).

For a topic that was supposed to be an announcement about the dates for the next Nationals, this has gone well off track.
If you wish to argue your point further, please PM me with your phone number, a convenient time to call and we can discuss this at length if you'd like.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 5:34 pm
by atomicbrh
Taps, we believe you when you say somebody pointed a rifle at you while you were in the tower. No match caller is going to make something like that up. Nobody with a brain would care if you have to pause the whole match, come down out of the tower, confer with Jeanne, confer with a jury, etc. to correct muzzles being pointed at you. You may not realize it but we have talked face to face. We know it is a thankless job and that is one reason my family will never cause controversy or interruption while actually at the match. This off-season time is a better time for discussion of these things.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:09 pm
by Another Dang 9
Range safety/protocols are something you bring up immediately. Not months later when no one can do anything about it.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 7:26 pm
by No1_49er
Another Dang 9 wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:09 pm Range safety/protocols are something you bring up immediately. Not months later when no one can do anything about it.
C'mon guys, let it go.
Taps did answer adequately and the matter does not need endless regurgitation. The matter was dealt with, at the time.

Taps wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2019 2:23 pm If you went to the trouble of reviewing photos and video, you obviously have a bee in your bonnet over this.

Again, a general warning to all competitors was announced.

If you were personally so upset about my line calls, I can't imagine what your reaction would have been to me kicking a shooter out of the competition.

The main offender was spoken to and warned, privately, and it ceased happening. ( "I didn't realise I was doing that" was the line of defence ).

For a topic that was supposed to be an announcement about the dates for the next Nationals, this has gone well off track.
If you wish to argue your point further, please PM me with your phone number, a convenient time to call and we can discuss this at length if you'd like.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:47 pm
by sdwooster
If I was In the tower and had remind people the same thing over and over I would get pissed off as well. I was getting mad myself just listening to it. When we are the center shooting we have to go by there rules. The might not be what we are accustom too, be we have to go by them. And the tower guy has to go by them as well. Sure the match was going at a good pace, but would rather be done before the rains hit. So hopefully next year people will be able to follow the commands, and will know what is expected for us to do. I personally think Jeanie and crew did a great job, a lot smoother than previous years.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:47 am
by JohnHenry
This is the third or fourth year Daniel has traveled from Australia to call the silhouette matches at Whittington. I think every year he gets better, and this year, 2019, the matches ran more smoothly than I can ever remember. Having run large matches in the past myself, I know the problems when you have a large number of competitors. Daniel has done the best job he can. Nobody's perfect. Let's call a halt to this criticism.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 4:47 pm
by Another Dang 9
For the record I was NOT criticizing the match range officers or any of the volunteers.

Re: 2020 National Championship Dates

Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 8:06 am
by lijeboy
Please see original post for updated schedule.