FT Match 01-14-24

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c00500dvldtc.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>DeSoto Airgunners</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DeSoto Airgunners"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>  </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>     </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>  </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="03dd2c00dvldtc.png"> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Match Results"><U>Back To Match </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Match Results"><U>Results Index</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> FT Match 01-14-24</div> <bR> <div> DeSoto Airgunners first match of the 2024 season brought 16 competitors to the Field-Target lanes.   A few hadn't been to the DeSoto Club in awhile.  (SnowBirds?)  It’s always satisfying to see a couple new faces join in.    Not that long ago Bill K.  and  Steve H., both experienced firearm shooters, were only ‘observers’ of a FT Match.   I'm delighted to see them competing on the lanes today, having fun and scoring well.</div> <bR> <div> Conditions were not bad during match prep and course set-up.  Cool and dry with light  overcast.   Increasing winds brought the threat of showers by mid morning.   You could easily feel the temperature drop as a weather front moved in with some stiff gusts.  A couple shooters dropped out when the threat of rain turned to real precipitation.  No one enjoys having their precision equipment exposed to the wet.</div> <bR> <div> Hearty Thanks to the early arriving volunteers.  We soon had sight-in targets positioned and 24 freshly painted (thanks Scott) field targets  set-out.  Carl brought us new Lane Markers he configured with string guides to help keep the reset cords from getting tangled.  Much appreciated.</div> <bR> <div> Top Gun recognition goes to Gene C. who shot an impressive score of  46 points.   Today’s 48 shot match had an engaging mix of target difficulties spread over  8 lanes with lanes 5 and 7 being designated kneeling and standing positions.  Gary was the only shooter to clean both forced position lanes today.  He also provided photos and caption comments shown below.</div> <bR> <div> There were an unusual number of D.N.F.’s .    Lindsay did not finish; his spring rifle malfunctioned after only 3 lanes.  Other D.N.F. scores were a result of the steadily increasing rain – rain that was not supposed to arrive till after dark.  Oh Well.  It’s just a club match anyway. No prizes or awards were at stake.</div> <bR> <div> With many hands helping (some holding on to umbrellas) we were able to knock down the course, store our tools and toys in record time.  </div> <bR> <div> The next DeSoto Airgunners event will be our annual Golf Scored Field Target  Match.  It’s a fun game where risk – reward options and more can quickly change your score –  evoking  smiles and frowns as you play through the links  lanes.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8c00a960.jpg" border=0 width="522" height="406" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photo and Caption by Gary P.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Field Target Legends,   left to right…..</div> <div> Dick Otten,   Ron Zeman,  and  Cliff Smith  </div> <div> These gentlemen are long time field target shooters (since early 90’s) and have many podium finishes between them.  Dick is the owner of Rhino Field Targets and has recently started manufacturing them again after a hiatus.  Hats off to the Legends who are still at it with more than one of them North of the 80 year old mark.    Photo and Captions by Gary P. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8c1ef900.jpg" border=0 width="495" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photo and Caption by Gary P</div> <bR> <div> Scott   Chip  and  Dennis do a YEOMAN'S*  Job with the DeSoto Airgunners</div> <bR> <div> *As defined by Merriam Webster:  Doing very good, hard, and valuable work  especially to support a cause, to help a team, etc.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>