2013 World Championship Team Selected
It’s that time again. Worlds are once again just over a year and a half away. In the past 4 years, much has changed in the F-T/R game. Most noticeably, the participation has skyrocketed. We have come from 19 shooters in 2007 to over 60 at the 2011 Nationals in Lodi. The level of competition has risen as well. There was only around a 3% spread in scores for the top 30 places this year. That’s tighter than it has ever been since I started keeping statistics on it. The top 15 spots had only a 2% score spread.
Around this time in 2008, I was naming a Team for the 2009 World Championships in Bisley, England. Due to the restrictions on F-T/R as a class, at the time, the Team I ended up taking to England was only half the size that the 2013 Team will be. For the 2013 F-Class World Championships, we will be fielding an 8 person National Team (with 2 alternates), as well as a 4 person Rutland Cup Team (with 1 alternate).
With the dramatic increase in both the participation and the level of competition, selecting this group was especially difficult. There were many qualified applicants to choose from. My selection criteria have not changed over the years. All of the 40+ applicant’s qualifications were dumped into a matrix to get sorted. As I have stated, the initial sort was done by looking at the best data I have that compares all of the shooters side by side, ie. Nationals scores. More weight was given to those times when I could compare shooter vs. shooter on the same relay, when they were facing the *exact* same conditions. From there, there were modifiers for International Team experience, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum! 50 million calculations later, a ranking was developed.
The Team:
The sharp eyed will notice that I may seem to be a couple of shooters short. I am reserving a couple of spots to be named after Nationals 2012 in Raton, in case I have people that are absolutely on fire this year, and would be good additions to the Team.
As with past Teams, this one will be used for the next 4 years for International Competitions of every description. These events include (but are not limited to) F-Class World Championships in Raton, 2013; The South African International Matches in Bloemfontein, 2013; The Stars & Stripes Challenge 2013, Creedmoor Cup, USA vs. Europe, and others.
Also, as with past Teams, The financial challenges (especially for the travel) will be considerable. I am *absolutely* committed to taking the very best Team I can field, regardless of finances. To this end, we have some outstanding sponsors who are helping take some of the burden off the individual. Many thanks to them for their support.
It’s that time again. Worlds are once again just over a year and a half away. In the past 4 years, much has changed in the F-T/R game. Most noticeably, the participation has skyrocketed. We have come from 19 shooters in 2007 to over 60 at the 2011 Nationals in Lodi. The level of competition has risen as well. There was only around a 3% spread in scores for the top 30 places this year. That’s tighter than it has ever been since I started keeping statistics on it. The top 15 spots had only a 2% score spread.
Around this time in 2008, I was naming a Team for the 2009 World Championships in Bisley, England. Due to the restrictions on F-T/R as a class, at the time, the Team I ended up taking to England was only half the size that the 2013 Team will be. For the 2013 F-Class World Championships, we will be fielding an 8 person National Team (with 2 alternates), as well as a 4 person Rutland Cup Team (with 1 alternate).
With the dramatic increase in both the participation and the level of competition, selecting this group was especially difficult. There were many qualified applicants to choose from. My selection criteria have not changed over the years. All of the 40+ applicant’s qualifications were dumped into a matrix to get sorted. As I have stated, the initial sort was done by looking at the best data I have that compares all of the shooters side by side, ie. Nationals scores. More weight was given to those times when I could compare shooter vs. shooter on the same relay, when they were facing the *exact* same conditions. From there, there were modifiers for International Team experience, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum! 50 million calculations later, a ranking was developed.
The Team:
- Captain: Darrell Buell
- Vice Captain: Mike Miller
- Head Coach: Mid Tompkins
- Coach: Steve Cunico
- Adjutant: Kathy Buell
- Jeff Rorer
- John Hayhurst
- John Chilton
- Chris Ozolins
- John Weil
- Dale Carpenter
- Derek Rodgers
- Philip Kelley
- Warren Dean
- Brad Sauve
- Paul Phillips
- Monte Milanuk
- Lane Buxton
- Sierra Scott
The sharp eyed will notice that I may seem to be a couple of shooters short. I am reserving a couple of spots to be named after Nationals 2012 in Raton, in case I have people that are absolutely on fire this year, and would be good additions to the Team.
As with past Teams, this one will be used for the next 4 years for International Competitions of every description. These events include (but are not limited to) F-Class World Championships in Raton, 2013; The South African International Matches in Bloemfontein, 2013; The Stars & Stripes Challenge 2013, Creedmoor Cup, USA vs. Europe, and others.
Also, as with past Teams, The financial challenges (especially for the travel) will be considerable. I am *absolutely* committed to taking the very best Team I can field, regardless of finances. To this end, we have some outstanding sponsors who are helping take some of the burden off the individual. Many thanks to them for their support.
- Berger Bullets
- Nightforce Optics
- Surgeon Rifles
- Hodgdon Powder
- Lapua
- Kowa
- Redding Reloading
