It was a tough shoot yesterday...I finished third the last two years in this match, not that anyone remembers that, but last year’s Tom Jacobs’ second place and Jim Fowler’s first place is engrained in my mind. I know it if I would have had the patience and skill to turn two nines into X’s; first place would have been mine. Those cups Joe got for this match changed my mind about a third place plaque this year.
Walking down the line there were many champion shooters, shooter of the year, world record holders, national champions, state and regional champions. What intimidation these guys hold in their shooting skills and pass accomplishments. Enough to make a kid pee his pants. It is an honor to be on the line with them and a dream to be able to compete with a rifle I built and the ammo I loaded. I have more fun in the pits and getting to know shooters from around the country and hearing their interesting stories…I can’t remember their names, so much, but I won’t forget their faces and the pleasure of talking to them. Visiting with the Bart bullet guys, Big Piney boys, Kansas guys, and the support I get from my team from St Louis is something I cherished. I am blessed in this friendship. Bringing a new shooter into the sport and helping him develop by passing on my knowledge, giving equipment, and helping him recognized what he can do to improve is another joy.
How did I win first place this year??? Some luck and a prayer for the guy down the line who had 27 X,s to my 22 X’s after the 2nd string for a some relief…He was hammering us without any relief in sight. At the end of the second string I was able to watch Jerry Kloeppel finish his 2nd string for a perfect 200 score and a bunch of X’s. Jerry was doing more than chasing the spotter and I knew I had to step up my game and rely more on the mirage and flags more than chasing the spotters. Chasing the spotter is a lazy way to shoot this game and only works when there is no wind. Reading the mirage and flags correctly and having your rifle working in sync with them is something champions know. I had a 199 and 9 X’s the first string of 20, and 200 and 13 X’s the second. After lunch I did not want to shoot and wished our relay could have gone to the pits so I could relax before the task ahead of me. As Steve Wilson says, “You’re only one trigger pull from disaster†and with the likes of Don Raeburn, Jim Fowler, Tom Jacobs, and Mike and few guys names I forget, anything less than an X on this last string would be a disaster and will cost you a place on the podium.
I pulled myself together and went to work knowing the pressure was on. My sights were working perfectly in sync with the mirage and wind flags. I only held in the same spot three times for the last 20 shots, moving around the 10 and X ring on every shot and verifying the spotter showed what I read in the flags and mirage. I had patience to wait a few times for the flags to settle to something I could shoot in and I ended up with a 200 and 15 X’s. My first ten shoots had 9 X’s and my last only had 6 X’s as the pressure increased and trying to avoid disaster. I had some luck and on one shot that I called a nine and got a ten when I missed a wind let up. I squeaked a ten on my last shot as fought the pressure for a smooth trigger pull and gun handling became more critical. I dodged a bullet there. As I got up from my rifle I could only hope that my score would hold up to the champions down the line. I felt I did my best and was satisfied with my score against the pressure.
Please know I write this not in arrogance, but in appreciation of the moment, not aimed at the champion shooters, as they know very well what I am saying. This is for the guys in the middle of the pack and who wants to pick up a few more points and to say what worked for me besides some luck.
I don’t know what Don’s, Jim Fowler’s, Tom Jacob’s, or the other guy’s story is, but as luck would have it I was able to take the cup home. If we shot the match tomorrow I am sure I would not take first place.
Anyway a great match as always!!! I really enjoy the Thursday F-Class matches and look forward to seeing you all again.
Thanks to Joe, Brett, and Bobby, for running the match and Lenny, Mike and the crew for the work prepping the range…my hat is off to you folks!!!
Jeff Conover
Mr. Third place 2013 and 2014
