Match Results 12-11-16
2016 Bench Rest Season Finale.
Our 2016 Air Rifle Bench Rest Finale was held on Sunday December 11th with a strong turn-out of 14 veteran shooters arriving from every corner of the State.
This was the year DeSoto Airgunners got “serious” about air rifle bench rest shooting. For a couple seasons we hosted informal BR shoots. We started to attract a few sportsmen who seriously loved and lived for the sport of precision air rifle bench rest competitions. Some enthusiasts made a trek of over 200 miles (each way) to shoot. Others came from Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, and the Jacksonville areas to share the fun and help us slide down the Bench Rest learning curve. Their encouragement and guidance helped DeSoto Airgunners gain the experience and knowledge to become a sanctioned club within the USARB (United States Air Rifle Bench Rest) organization.
On the local level, a few of the Field Target regulars ( Jack and Colin and Ron) volunteered their time, some currency, sweat equity, and lots of enthusiasm to gain support on the Board of Directors of our hosting venue ( DeSoto Gun Club). Special Thanks go out to Terry M, President, Ron H. Senior Range Safety Officer and the other Board members for their support and assistance with scheduling and use of the venue.
To all the event participants, competitors, the match directors, safety marshals, the target scorers, the moaners and groaners, the cheerful rivals, the folks who took photos, those who helped with course setup and take down and your friendly website worker, ( I'm sure there are some folks I've omitted); Please take a bow and HEARTY THANKS.
THE SEASON FINALE
The Match followed USARB guidelines. Target distance was 25 meters. Each shooter shot 3 target cards, for a total of 75 scored shots. Nearly all competitors shot Heavy Varmint. Since the Club has only 8 top notch concrete bench stations for this match, we completed the event in two relays. A pair of veteran shooters ( Paul S. and Frank M.) each shot a second relay specifically in the Light Varmint division.
Match conditions were favorable and challenging. Low humidity with clear to occasional bright overcast sky kept the temps between the low 60's in the AM to about 80 degrees by early afternoon. There was a definite wind to contend with. Generally blowing around 10 MPH, there were frequent gusts of over 22 MPH recorded between 11:00AM and 1:00 PM. Those windflags were having a busy day with some pronounced shifts and swirls too.
Windicators & Flags Blowing
Personally, I enjoy having some breeze to contend with. I think of the wind as an " equalizer ". The breeze doesn't care if your equipment cost $5,000. or $500. The same wind that blows for me blows for you too. Eventually every accomplished shooter will learn to contend with it. ( At least that's the encouragement I've been given.)
EQUIPMENT MATRIX
SHOOTER
|
RIFLE
|
SCOPE
|
PELLET
|
NOTES
|
Division
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Doug Abbott
|
Hammerli FT
|
Konus 8.5 - 32
|
JSB 8.4
|
.177 < 12 ft. lb.
|
HV
|
Bill Beaman
|
BSA R-10
|
Leapers 8 - 32
|
AA 10.3
|
.177
|
HV
|
Otis Davis
|
AA EV-2
|
Sightron 10-50
|
AA 8.4
|
.177 <12 ft lb.
|
HV
|
Ken Hicks
|
BM 500
|
Weaver T36
|
JSB 13.4
|
.177
|
HV
|
Dennis Kirk
|
Marauder
|
Centerpoint 4-16
|
JSB
|
.22
|
HV
|
Lindsey Matthews
|
AA TX200
|
Bushnell 6-24
|
AA 8.4
|
< 12 ft lb. Springer
|
HV
|
Frank Mendola
|
Thomas (LV)
|
March ED 35
|
JSB 8.4
|
177 < 12 ft.lb.
|
LV
|
Frank Mendola
|
Thomas (HV)
|
March ED 35
|
JSB 13.4
|
.177
|
HV
|
Colin Pilkington
|
Marauder
|
Hawke 8 - 32
|
AA 10.3
|
.177
|
HV
|
Jack Rainey
|
AA 200 TA
|
Hawke 8 -32
|
JSB 8.4
|
.177 >12 ft. lb
|
LV
|
Bill Shade
|
USFT
|
Sightron III 10-50
|
JSB 10.3
|
.177
|
HV
|
Cliff Smith
|
TM-1000
|
BSA 10 - 50
|
AA 8.4
|
.177 < 12 ft.lb.
|
HV
|
Paul Stakun
|
HM 1000 (LV)
|
Mueller 8 - 32
|
AA 8.4
|
.177
|
LV
|
Paul Stakun
|
TM 1000 (HV)
|
Mueller 8-32
|
JSB 13.4
|
.177
|
HV
|
Donovan Taylor
|
ISP Airstream
|
Leupold BR 36
|
JSB 8.4
|
177
|
HV
|
Ron Zeman
|
Steyr LG100HP
|
NightForce 36 FT
|
JSB Hvy
|
.177
|
HV
|
RELAY 1
SHOOTER
|
Division
|
Card 1
|
Card 2
|
Card 3
|
Total Score
|
X s
|
Notes
|
KEN HICKS
|
H V
|
245 (5X)
|
248 (8X)
|
244 (7X)
|
736
|
20
|
Top Gun Award
|
Paul Stakun
|
H V
|
241 (2X)
|
242 (2X)
|
242 (5X)
|
725
|
9
|
|
Frank Mendola
|
H V
|
241 (7X)
|
229 (2X)
|
242 (5X)
|
712
|
14
|
|
Donovan Taylor
|
H V
|
230 (0X)
|
234 (0X)
|
238 (2X)
|
702
|
2
|
|
Bill Shade
|
H V
|
230 (1 X)
|
227 (0X)
|
222 (3X)
|
679
|
4
|
|
Dennis Kirk
|
H V
|
218 (3X)
|
231 (2X)
|
214 (1X)
|
663
|
6
|
|
Otis Davis
|
H V
|
220 (1X)
|
225 (0X)
|
215 (0X)
|
660
|
1
|
|
Bill Beaman
|
H V
|
227 (2X)
|
218 (0X)
|
211 (0X)
|
656
|
2
|
|
RELAY 2
SHOOTER
|
Division
|
Card 1
|
Card 2
|
Card 3
|
Total Score
|
X s
|
Notes
|
Frank MENDOLA
|
L V
|
242 (6X)
|
240 (0X)
|
241 (6X)
|
723
|
12
|
First Place
|
Paul Stakun
|
L V
|
228 (1X)
|
238 (3X)
|
236 (3X)
|
702
|
7
|
LV
|
Ron Zeman
|
H V
|
230 (2X)
|
239 (2X)
|
226 (2X)
|
695
|
6
|
|
Cliff Smith
|
H V
|
229 (2X)
|
228 (1X)
|
224 (1X)
|
681
|
4
|
|
Colin Pilkington
|
H V
|
219 (0 X)
|
227 (1X)
|
225 (4X)
|
671
|
5
|
|
Jack Rainey
|
L V
|
224 (2X)
|
217 (0X)
|
227 (0X)
|
668
|
2
|
LV
|
Lindsey Matthews
|
H V
|
188 (0X)
|
209 (1X)
|
218 (0X)
|
615
|
1
|
|
Doug Abbott
|
H V
|
192 (0X)
|
198 (1X)
|
202 (0X)
|
592
|
1
|
|
Scoring these Bench Rest Events can be a thankless task. I can appreciate the competitive drive (even when the " trophy" is just a silkscreened coffee mug). There is occasional controversy on what appears to be the width of a gnats eyelash. So Be It. The results are IN. For the competitors that shot 2 relays ( Paul and Frank ), I took an average of their scores . Paul S. averaged 713.5 points and Frank M. averaged 717.5 points. It's by a narrow margin Frank took "First". Ken Hicks was on fire. While he shot only one relay ( HV) his score was the highest both in points and Bulls . Ken was awarded TOP GUN.
Ken Hicks (left) accepts his TOP GUN Award Frank Mendola (left) raises his FIRST PLACE Award
from event organizer Ron Z .
|