While eagerly awaiting scores today, I want to add my sincerest thanks for those who worked so hard to put on such a great match. This was my first “big†match, and everyone I met was warm, welcoming and bent over backwards to answer my questions and make my experience so enjoyable. This was such a great experience for me, I cannot wait to get back. I would encourage those, like I was, who are hesitant to go for fear of embarrassing yourself, fear-not, for you will meet some of the most genuine, inviting, helpful people you will ever meet. Certainly the Tompkins/Gallagher family treated me like a long lost relative, even though we just met.
While possessing super-human wind-reading skills and a clear competitive spirit on the line, everywhere I turned, I found people helping each other out, even if they would be competitors a few minutes later. My schedule only allowed me to stay for the Midrange through the 1000-yd practice, so I flew back early on Weds, but I wish I were there now, despite the rumored windy conditions.
I shot a 223 throughout the week and my only personal disappointment was that the pullers couldn’t find a bullet hole on target two times: once day 1 @ 500 and once on day 3 @ 600. A 188 is not as satisfying as a 198. Would have been nice for my overall score to have those 20 points back, but luckily only hurt my pride rather than costing me a match. Would be nice to know what happened, but I was provided a few good theories that seem plausible.
Getting a “pick-up†FTR team going, meeting more great people in the process (Lou, Gene and the Ireland family), were the highlight of the event for me. Doing well in that event was just the icing on the cake. I look forward to returning to AZ and hope to see familiar faces in Lodi, if not before. To those who worked their behinds off at Ben Avery to put together a World-Class, well-oiled Match, I thank you for the opportunity, the welcome and the fond memories,
Drew
