A-4

[Harmon]

that "you go girl" stuff was funny.

watching jarrett shoot was amazing as well.

on stage 6, the first string, me and jarrett were real close.

jarret shot it in 1.82 with 4 alpha, 2 charlie

I shot it in 1.79 with 4 alpha, two charlie..

i forgot to get off the gas on the weakhand shooting and ended up with three mikes...Todd shot it perfect!

[bayoupirate]

Sorry that I missed the pool event. Like Todd Rod said, shot too late.

Next Year we'll have to make it supper at the Horseshoe Casino Buffet.

Our Group was able to get a private section.

Okay. Let's get this out in the open, and feel free to contact me by any method you choose all of my information is posted here.

Matt, I agree that shooting very challenging stages is fun. I love it!

What I can't understand is why you would create situations that are virtually impossible for some shooters.

The Gate - YES!! I one hopped over it THREE Time. That's right Three. Once for practice. Two for my first run, and a third for a reshoot. I'm glad I didn't have to do it a 4th, i'm not sure I had it in me. It was our last stage.

I do think that the "Wings" or Fencing could have been half of the length that they were. Anyone physically able enough to hop over or climb over the gate will, and they'll do that faster than going around the shortened fence.

Stage #2 - Flying Plate Rack and 180 Trap. "A portion of the target" One of the shooters in our squad stands less than 5'. I'm not sure if anyone considered shorter shooters, but I'm not sure that he had any portion of the targets available down there. From my perspective, a 2" slice of an 8" plate at 15 yards is not hard or challenging, it's oppression of lower class shooters. I think that 1/2 of the plate showing would have been reasonable, most lower class shooters would actually eat up the clock to clear the stage instead of not even trying. That's what happened. After seeing a few limited and production guys burn the rest of thier mag trying to pick up the plates, shooters just got what they could on the open plates and let the remaining ones go as mikes.

Stage #7 - Hard Covered Trolleys - 1/2 of the a zone of the head?

Look I realize that last year the trolleys were not engaged by many shooters because their was no penalty as they were disappearing targets, but that wasn't the shooters fault. The trolleys were so badly timed it forced shooters to stand flat-footed and wait on them to shoot. You know we don't like to wait on anything.

No one appreciated having to reset movers all match that no one would engage, so the "portion of the zone" rule was exercized to it's maximum to force shooter to engage them.

Let me try that again. Someone made a mistake last year. In an attempt to resolve that mistake, they created challenges that gave an advantage to tall open gun shooters.

I have NO issues with the speed of the movers of the distances of the targets.

I strongly suggest some possible changes to Area 4 Championship.

Request Course designs be submitted to a Design Team from all Sections and/or Clubs. 250 heads are always better than 5 or 6.

Ask Sections to take responsiblilty for a stage. Designing (Pending approval/Tweeking by Design Team) R.O.ing it and bringing the props and setting up.

I had a great time, THanks to all of the wonderful R.O.'s who put out so much sweat for us. Thanks for keeping the water coolers topped off and the porta-pottys smelling nice. I realize that it's a lot of work. THANK YOU!

P.S. It was a pleasure shooting with all of the guys on Squad #25.

[shred]

Absolutely the staff was great.. of course you dissuaded Alison from ever wanting to RO a major match, but that wasn't y'all, it was the heat and long days, so far as she tells me

As perspective on the difficulty of the mover shots-- shooters in the bottom-16 Open didn't really like the paper sliders, but hit them ok with a little effort. They had much, much less luck with the moving and hiding plates.

[Lee Dimaculangan]

Awesome match - awesome stages - awesome staff - awesome prize table

This has got to be the best area 4 I've shot... Not to mention it didn't rain a single drop =] - it was humid... but i'll take that on any day over swimming to next shooting box

i personally liked the 50 yard standards, hahah just kidding

anywho - congrats to all the winners, and to a well-run match

[bayoupirate]

I have to add a side story here.

Our squad had just finished shooting Stage 2 and we were sitting under the cover and waiting for stage 3. We were having the "flying plate rack" discussion.

Shooter X: "I got only one."

Shooter Y: "Yea, I got two."

Shooter Z: "Well that two more than me."

Up steps a shooter who had overheard us and he says.

Mystery Shooter: "I got all four. That thing's not hard, all you have to do is line up your dot on the first plate as it becomes visible and shoot each one as it appears."

To which I reply: "It might be that easy with a dot-scope, but we're all shooting iron sights."

Mystery Shooter: "No it's the same, I did the same thing with my limited gun"

I'm not going to speculate on the factual nature of Mr. Mystery Shooters statments. But I did want to say, Thanks for the support and encouagement. Maybe one day we'll be able to shooting a match with you elite shooters.

[old shooter]

While I didn't exactly shoot the match as good as planned....

I was at the pool (with drink in hand) from around 7:45 until about 8:30. I did talk to azone41, but left thinking that I must have misunderstood the location or time.

Mike

who had a great time

[carinab]

As perspective on the difficulty of the mover shots-- shooters in the bottom-16 Open didn't really like the paper sliders, but hit them ok with a little effort.  They had much, much less luck with the moving and hiding plates.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I shot the moving plates but only hit two (too much lead on one, too little on the other that got away). I shot it first. ReneeT shot it after me and after seeing my factor (and doing some math with another shooter) gamed the stage. She burned down the field course, took the paper after the door, and just ripped four at the plates planning not to get hits (but taking them if it happened). Her factor would have tied mine were it not for an errant no shoot. So there still was a way to game the stage....

As for shorter shooters, Athena and Lisa managed okay (although they did stand on the box ). I am not sure you can design a stage that is fair to EVERYONE's height. Ports make taller people squat but they get an advantage on the partial steel. Shorter shooters don't have to squat but may not get as much of the plate visible. I have to agree though that more of the plates visible versus 1.5" would have leveled things up for not only the newer shooters but for the iron sights...That or put them at 10 yards instead of 15....But I still thought it was a really cool, fun stage to shoot.

[Wakal]

Talking about "bottom 16" shooters and how some stages were unfair: One person on our squad ended up 90/104 in Open. However, that person managed to hit two of the sliding plates in motion and then picked the other two up with one shot each over the hard cover. Good thing that person was very tall...all of 5'6"...

IMO (and to misquote someone else in this thread who said the same thing first), there is too much "spray and pray" in the sport. 50 yard standards, three back to back el Prez varients, sliding 8" plates, and the "1/2 head hard cover" movers...all forced at least a small return to accuracy.

Mmm...accuracy...

Maybe we need a sport motto that mentions accuracy, possibly with something about speed and maybe power...

I had a very good time at the match. Shooting with Todd Jarrett, some guy named "Mink" or "Weasel" (who?), and the rest of the crazed ruffians on Squad 27 during the all-day-Friday hosefest was the most fun I've had at a pure pistol match in years. I was prepared not to like some of the stages, but found that I was wrong and the match balanced out nicely. Of course, I wish that I hadn't earned myself any of my four mikes (sigh), but that was my problem

Alex

[BradC]

Man, what a great match. I thought it was the most difficult match I've personally ever shot and that made it all the more fun.

I definitely feel the need for an open gun now. I bet that was a REALLY fun match with a dot!

Grats to Harmon for wearing TJ out on part of the standards.

Grats to Lee for grabbing Area4 Champion! Like Max before him, he snagged it the last year he'll be eligible for a while. Nice shooting Lee!

Can't wait for the next one!

BradC

[Al Capizzo]

BradC, weren't you 1st A in L-10? I left you off my congrats list on pg. 3, but nice shooting!

I know what you mean about wanting to shoot an Open gun now. The match was challenging, but certainly not an impossible match with iron sights.

But I'll bet it was more fun with a dot!

Next year, I think.

Al

[Harmon]

ill echo mink and say this match was not very 10 round friendly...that didnt make it a bad match, i just had nearly as many ejected mags as i did brass.

Brad, good job on kicking my butt. ill see you in tyler, but there will be more than 10 rounds in my mags

Al, i can see an open gun in you near future....possibly coming from your(now unemployed) co-worker!

too bad its a super though...9mm would be sweet.

[XRe]

A big challenge to any match designer - but certainly at an area or national level - is balancing the challenge of the match between the top Open GMs and the bottom iron sight Ds. If you design a match that will *really* test the top guys in Open, it's going to get hairy for the guys on the bottom. A good test for the guys on the bottom becomes a sloppy hosefest for the guys on top.

I like the thought of 50 yard standards, personally - and I'd tend to agree with Alex that a lot of the stages I see seem to lack much emphasis on Accuracy. The problem with things like partial plates at 15 yards is that it tends to become very frustrating for the guys on the low-D side of the spectrum. A 1.5 or 2" target at 15 yards may simply be beyond their ability.

Sounds like it was a fun match Congrats to everyone on their successes.

Sniper - we *NEED* the uniform story :)

[Stumpnav]

Talk about hot! I grew up on the Gulf coast and was used to the humidity. Thanks to the Air Force, I've been living in bone dry climates for the last 10 years. LA felt like a suana. Not too bad really, just chug water all day.

The kicker happened when I walked into my house Sunday evening. The AC had gone out and the temp was about 90. To top it off, I took the day off today and the dang AC repairman hasn't shown up yet. If I have to wait until tomorrow for the AC to get fixed...........

Thanks to my fellow Squad 16ers...it was a blast.

AW

[ipscron2000]

Can any one tell me where I can find the results to A4? I checked the USPSA page under Major Match results, no dice.

RJ

[MstngLX50]

I think the scores should come up here, Area 4, I don't think they've had time yet.

Had a great time, came in 2nd C, not as well as I'd hoped overall, but not as bad as I'd feared either.

I'd also like to thank the match staff, it was damn hot out there and you guys made it a fun match.

Regards,

Alan Elam

[Genghis]

I shot at A4, and as a new guy I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. I started shooting USPSA in February, so this was my sixth match. Competing was a last minute decision, because my main gun (P14.45) broke and the replacement (Glock 35) didn't get here until Thursday. So Thursday night I got to buy a bunch of Glock stuff, buy ammo, zero the gun, and get packed.

The stages were tough compared to what we've shot locally, although we did shoot about a third of the ones at A4. I'd never seen No-Shoot traps, sliding plates, or sliding target stands with No-Shoots. I'd shot at a 5-pointed star, but the 4, 3, and Hammer were new. So there were some stages where I totally blew it, but I was competitive on some. HUGE thanks to the upper class shooters in Squad 24 who were helping me out all weekend, including Harold Norris, Max Gilfillan, Ed Shadbolt, David Barker, Mike Caylor, Jr., Mike Caylor, Sr., and David Skinner. I would have learned a lot less, and had a much harder match, without their help.

And the RO's were very fair and understanding. Could not have asked more.

[hopalong]

Scores are up !!!! on the uspsa website.

Hop

Genghis,

Welcome to the Forums, USPSA and congrats on making it through one of the hardest matches I have shot Period !!!!

[Sharyn]

Probably the most exciting thing of the whole match was when Sniper was vividly describing her nurse uniform during the awards.

Aw crap... Sheldon, I think you were vividly imagining more than I was saying.

And to the guys who shot stage 7 ahead of us ladies, I apologize on behalf of us all for any distraction we caused you (did someone say booty slap?)....!!!

Oh, now that was funny!!!

"you go girl!"

Priceless. Thanks for the idea, Lee D.

Sniper, I got more for your list!

My list?!?!? I'm innocent... as usual. <grin>

What a great match! I had sooo much fun! The ROs were great and very friendly. The stages were challenging and the props/designs were fun... 'cept when I got the toe of my shoe caught on the gate ("c'mon foot!!!") I experienced a lot of things I'd never experienced before... like shooting while running backwards (more like attempting to run backwards) and all that moving steel. I got my butt kicked but am happy with shooting an average of 93% available stage points (does that include penalties?) I'm not sure what slowed me down so much, but I'm thinking the heat and inexperience are contributing factors.

shred, since you commented so much... ... Maybe Johnny will start producing some shorts.

Congrats to everyone! That was an awesome match!

[Genghis]

Hopalong - thanks for the welcome.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn I got a plaque for finishing 2nd in D-Limited. Now that the results are up, I see the reason - the number of D class Limited shooters (2). Reading those scores, with all the penalties for Mike's, is humbling.

[G+16]

GREAT MATCH!!!!, thanks to all R.O.'S for surviving the heat!!O.K. the econolodge SUCKED!!!, rooms (yea mostly walls) was kinda, well they sucked.

they should have gived us a discount for being woke up in the middle of the night by the trains rolling, almost knocked me out of bed, watching bomber's land is neat once or twice, after this no more econlodge. match was great would have been nice if my gun would have ran right, as the guys in squad one could tell ya it did'nt, sorry about holding everyone up and can anyone tell me why we had a one and half hour hold up on stage 4,5,6 ? Humid, no but I think i saw a fish swim by!! great match, great r.o.'s, and I could'nt ask for a better bunch of guys than squad #1!! to spend the weekend with!!, one parting question where is Thibodaux,La. at??

[Lee Dimaculangan]

Man, what a great match.  I thought it was the most difficult match I've personally ever shot and that made it all the more fun.

I definitely feel the need for an open gun now.  I bet that was a REALLY fun match with a dot!

Grats to Harmon for wearing TJ out on part of the standards.

Grats to Lee for grabbing Area4 Champion!  Like Max before him, he snagged it the last year he'll be eligible for a while.  Nice shooting Lee!

Can't wait for the next one!

BradC

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Brad! I enjoyed the match man, it was awesome. Ofcourse everyone had their ups and down - I had plenty of downs thats for sure , overall i was content with my performance, but as always plenty of room for improvement. congratulations to you as well on your class win =]- seems like everytime i see you, you're winning your class and goin up! By the way I never got to ask how your kid was doin - how old now? 2?

big round of applause to the RO's - awesome job, you guys have some crazy endurance w/ the sun and heat!

Sharyn!! hahaha yeah that was great - you ladies are awesome!

congrats to matt and sam for takin home the W in production and revolver

[toddrod]

G+16,

Thibodaux, LA is approx. 60 miles south west of New Orleans, LA.

[tomneal]

Area 4 results have been posted on the USPSA web site

members area

Major Matches

[DJPoLo]

...and can anyone tell me why we had a one and half hour hold up on stage 4,5,6 ?

Boy, by the time we (squad 22) shot The Stooges on Saturday morning, those R.O.'s had their game down! That was the most efficiently run set of stages I have ever seen. You should have seen us trying like crazy just to get everyone filmed by the three camera setup on that. We were sweating trying to keep up with the R.O.'s.

We finished early on those stages.

-Chet

[BDH]

can anyone tell me why we had a one and half hour hold up on stage 4,5,6 ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sure, the simple answer is three stages... six strings... 54 rounds... all running in the same timeslot as a normal stage. Other stuff that slowed us down was not enough staff, so the RO's on the timer had to juggle the timer and three separate scoresheets, score targets, write scores down, and get them signed (plus we never got a break and finally wolfed down some chow on the stage)... Also, since we were running three copies of each stage, every target change was 27 targets... Coaching shooters about what the next string was (let's face it, this was somewhat confusing).... and shooters having to load mags on the line....

Now that I think about it, I am amazed that we finished early on Saturday...

BDH - Area 4 Stage 4, 5, 6 CRO