2010 Utopia Match

[CPorter]

June 26th the Duke family held their 5th annual shooting match and BBQ at their ranch in Utopia, Texas. Rain was in the forecast and the day started with moisture laden clouds in the sky. 24 competitors drew lots for benches and position in one of the four relays for each round. The overcast conditions kept the temperatures down and the winds mild for the start of the match.

The first round saw 10 shooters shooting perfect scores and several others just one clay down. As the second round started the clouds started to clear off boiling off the dew and kicking up a breeze. All the shooters struggled dropping at least one clay during the round with Mike Clover and Sam Duke rising to the top just one midi down from a clean board. Third round conditions continued to deteriorate a little with temperatures rising stirring up the mirage and winds swirling down range. Sam Duke dropped just one midi during the round placing him in first 50 points ahead of Terry Pohl.

After the 3rd round shooters took a break for lunch with the Dukes supplying Texas style BBQ & all the fixins they cooked themselves. Sam Duke encouraged everyone to eat a big lunch so they could get nice and sleepy giving him an advantage in the following rounds. All encouragement the shooters needed was the enticing aroma emanating from down below. The menu included succulent chicken breasts, spicy sausage, and delectable smoked brisket with sides of beans, potato salad, and banana pudding.

During the 4th round with temperatures steadying around 96 degrees Mike Clover fights off the sleepiness from a full stomach, figures out the conditions, and shoots perfect rocketing him from 4th place to first 10 points ahead of Terry Pohl with Sam Duke and Tim Beasley tied in third place. In the 5th round Mike Clover defends his lead clearing the board finishing with a 890 out of 1000. Terry Pohl maintains his pace dropping one midi and finishing with a 850. Sam Duke fights off a yawn and drops two clays beating out Tim Beasley for third with an 800.



14 of the 24 shooters used the 6.5-284 or a variant and 7 of those were in the top 10. Little Creek Rifles smithed 5 out of the top 10. Stiller actions were preferred by most of those reporting

Name, PLACE, Cal, Bullet, Powder, primer, Action, stock, stocker, Barrel, Barreled by MIKE CLOVER, 1, 6.5 - 284, SMK 142, 4831-SC, Fed, SS Viper, MasterClass, Duke, Krieger, Duke TERRY POHL, 2, 6 Dasher, Berger 105 SAM DUKE, 3, 6.5 - 284, SS Viper, Self, Self, Krieger, Duke TIM BEASLEY, 4, 6.5 - 284, 139 Lapua, 4831-SC, CCI-BR4, Panda F-Class, Robertson, Brux, Duke JOE DUKE 5, 6.5 - 284 SMK 142 4831-sc CCI SS Viper self self Krieger Duke DAVID POHL 6 6.5 - 284 Shehane Berger 140 VLD SCOTT DEAL 7 6.5 - 284 Super Lapua 139 Re17 Wolf LRM Stiller Python Precision Rifles Krieger TAD EMERT 8 6.5 - 284 Berger 140 Krieger Duke DENNIS REED 9 6 Dasher Berger 105 Re 15 Fed 210M SS Viper Robertson Bartlein Stick JOHNNY POHL 10 300 Win Mag Berger 185 Remington Krieger TOM SCHMIDTKE 11 6.5 - 284 SMK 142 4831-sc CCI SS Viper Robertson Stick JUSTIN COCKCROFT 12 6.5 - 284 SMK 142 4831-sc fed 210 m Nesika McM MBR Brux Duke CHRISTY WOODS 13 6.5 - 284 SMK 142 4831-sc Fed 215 SS Viper McM MBR Stick Krieger Stick Don "STICK" STARKS 14 6.5 x 47L Robertson Stick GARY DICKSON 15 6 Dasher Berger 105 Re15 cci 450 CARL PORTER 16 243 Win NBT 80 hBN coated IMR-3031 Fed 215 Rem 700 Rem VLS Rem Lilja Texas Brigade Armoury JASON LEAVELLE 17 6.5 - 284 SS Viper Laminated blank Sam Duke Krieger Duke BOBBIE APPELT 18 6 Dasher SMK 107 DAVID PUGH 19 6.5 x 47L Stick ROBERT BUELTEL 20 6.5 - 284 SMK 142 H 4350 FED GM215 Remington H-S Precision Self Pac Nor Self MIKE COCKCROFT 21 243 Win A/I Berger 115vld RL 22 Fed 210M Kelby F-Class ST-1000 Roscoe Bartlein Roscoe RODNEY HILL 22 6.5 - 284 SMK 142 4831-sc CCI BR2 SS Viper Duke Sam Duke Krieger Duke ROBERT SMITH 23 JIM STASSWENDER 24 6.5 - 284 SMK 142 4831-sc CCI BR2 Rem 40X Rem 40X Self Pac Nor Bueltel

 

[mikecockcroft]

As always the Duke clan put on a great match. Theres a reason why you have to enter this match a year in advance!!!
Heres a photo of the winner Mike Clover (in the center) staying calm and collected during the match and getting his just rewards at the end.
Mike C

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