Sunshine Classic Match Cancelation!!!!!!!!!

[cwdgun]

I went to our monthly board to info them about the turn out for this year. The board at the Gateway Rifle & Pistol Club decided that it is time to cancel the match. I have had a very small turn out for entries this year and I think most of it is due to the ecomony or for various reasons. It has been alot for fun and enjoyable times but I guess all good things must come to an end. For those that sent their entries in I will return your check/money asap. I want to tell everyone THANKS for all the support and see everyone around.
TAKE CARE GOOD LUCK.

[duckgumbo]

I personally want to thank Chuck for all his work and untiring effort in making this match so much fun each year. I was looking forward to heading down to Jacksonville and just chilling with everyone.

If I understand Chuck, the small amount of pre-match entries two weeks before the match was the reason for cancellation. Regardless of the reason, thanks Chuck for all your efforts.

[BlauBear]

Hopefully, you'll re-institute this classic and I'll be able to attend!

[Ralph]

Sorry to hear this Chuck. We were looking forward to coming again this year.

[duckgumbo]

I talked to Chuck this morning and he has mixed feelings regarding having to cancel the match.

He has informed me to let everyone know that the sponsor donations to the Sunshine Classic will be delivered to Winnsboro for the Southern Nationals. We will door prize every sponsor item per Chuck's instructions. He has informed the sponsors that Gateway Rifle & Pistol Club chose to cancel the match due to the economic crisis effecting this match. The programs were printed and mailed and Chuck will inform the sponsors of this.

Winnsboro Gun Club wants to thank Chuck for his generous offer that will definitely enhance our match this year.

[malinois]

Dam...I was so looking forward to this match since it will probably be the only big match I could attend this year, leo jobs are so unforgiving when it comes to time off....I can only say I am greatly disappointed....Hope they run it again in the future.

[powding]

Chuck,
Very sorry to hear this. I'll miss seeing you and quaffing a few beers together. I really hope you will try it again next year. Maybe do a survey a couple of months ahead of time to see how many would commit. I tell you right here and now I'll come!!.

Never,never, never,never,never give up!
ron

p.s. Does this set you free to come to the N.C. Championship on May 16 &17?

[Innocent]

Chuck,
I can assure you that at least three of us from CFL will miss bieng there.

Mary

[pink22]

Chuck,
I'm sure gonna miss coming to the Classic. It was always the start to the Silhouette Shooting Season,and a chance to see friends after a long winter. I hope that this is only a set back and that next year will be different. Thanks for some wonderful memories.
My first Sunshine Classic was in 1999 and I remember it like it was yesterday.
A certain individual placed "something" on the muzzle of my gun...much to my surprize!
Anyone remember that!! Anyway, this would have been my 11th classic...Thanks for the memories
Pink22

[ShooterP14]

Well, sh*t!

[Gator]

The board at the Gateway Rifle & Pistol Club decided that it is time to cancel the match. I have had a very small turn out for entries this year and I think most of it is due to the ecomony or for various reasons. .

Bummer

Hopefully you are correct Chuck. It is a shame to loose a long time tradition in the shooting games. You and your gang can be very proud and satisfied with all the entertainment and enjoyment the Sunshine Classic has afforded for/to hundreds of shooters as well as spectators and family over the past 20+ years.

Thanks Chuck for what you do.

Ed "Gator" Jones

[Bob259]

I went to our monthly board to info them about the turn out for this year............. The board at the Gateway Rifle & Pistol Club decided that it is time to cancel the match......

Sorry to hear this... It's a sad day when the board of any shooting club decides to cancel a long standing match.

Maybe it's time for a new Board of shooters and those who want to promote the shooting sports!

[duckgumbo]

In defense of Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club, I will post the following remarks.

The Sunshine Classic has been a staple of the silhouette community for 21 years and was one of (if not the first) benchmark for a successful match. Winnsboro Gun Club robbed them of several great ideas that enhanced our match.

Every match must have a budget and adhere to it to avoid financial loses to the club. The Southern Nationals is critical to Winnsboro Gun Club and our community as we have less than 50 members of the club and this is a financial boost for our area through tourism. Gateway has so many members that they have 3 - 5 full-time employees and do not need the income (if any) from the Sunshine Classic. Also, there is no community support as even 100 competitors and guests is just a pimple on an elephant's butt compared to the big events that Jacksonville and Florida hosts.

If I understood Chuck correctly, the Board of the club wanted to know how many competitors were pre-registered to decide whether or not to proceed with the match. Chuck had received less than 15 entries two weeks before what has traditionally been a large match. At best, Chuck may have gotten 10 entries at the beginning of the match. This decision was simply a financial decision by the club to cut their loses early. I do not blame the club's directors as they are doing what is in the best financial interest for the longevity of this club.

Everyone is cutting expenses in whatever way they can. I have seen this as a handful of our long-time sponsors are cutting donations and chose not to donate to anyone this year.

It is unfortunate that the economic climate has caused this to happen, but I hope that Chuck and maybe Dennis will see fit to resurrect this event one day when things get better.

[Bob259]

Understand Ducky.... all clubs are having tough time just keeping memberships up, it just saddens me to see us slow dwindle away. In fact our club couldn't find anyone to run the weekly silhouette matches at our club this year so there will be none. The one thing these matches do is get our sport out in view and may be win over some folks who want to take all our firearms away. We live right ouside Binghamton and as a result of that tragic senseless shooting a few weeks ago it has all the politicians and antigunners demanding stricter laws and as far as outright banning firearms. We in the competitive sports know this is short sighted, but it is gaining traction because of all this senseless shootings.

As for matches, everyone is worried about their jobs, and the bills for sure and travel and entry fees are a luxury that is hard to justify right now. While we do live in the tax capital of the US (New York) it has gotten totally crazy. The village east from us is proposing a 21.7% property tax increase, the one across from us just did a reassessment and my friends property value went up 700% and one person in the paper said their property tax bill went up $3,000 a year. The politicians think it's a bottomless pit... but I hate to tell them they have bleed it dry.

Lets all hope the economy turns and we stop losing jobs.

[Dee]

Sorry to hear about this situation. I really enjoyed this match last year as my 1st time attending a regional sized match. The economics of this year unfortunetely prevented me from trying to attend again this May. Glad I was able to make it to at least one of the Sunshine Classic's and hope that in the future you might be able to revive the match again.

Regards to everyone involved and I hope no one is out anything from setting up travel plans early on to attend.



Dee