Ireland, a must visit. They kindness of the Irish alone is reason to visit and the word green just doesn't do justice (see above photo).
Typically Ireland is a wet place with over cast skies and showers and plenty of wind, however both years I have been here we have been blessed with sunny days and mild, by Irish standards, winds.
Briefly let me say, I have met a lot of kind and friendly people in the world of shooting but the Irish have always gone above and beyond. Tony to range officer and do everything guy took my family to his home town and showed us a castle ruin we never would have known was there (again see photo above). John O'Donogho always made sure we had all we needed, and John Paul Craven tried to teach us the complicated Irish history, however as he saw our eyes glazing over I think he was thinking a year wouldn't be long enough to give us understanding. Just fabulous people, and as I see it brothers in and out of the shooting community.
So, save a few pennies, take your wife on that vacation to the range she always dreamed of, to the Midlands National Shooting Centre of Blue Ball county Ofally.
Us shooting here helps them gain more freedoms in the form of abilities to reload etc. They have made Hugh strides in only a short time, with John Sigler starting the ball rolling with a well penned letter to the Irish government. So to say, vacation of a lifetime with the added benefit our helping our brothers in arms.
The Irish field a team at the Berger southwest Nationals and have been at the world at Raton and soon to be Canada. Please approach them and introduce yourself. They don't bite.
On to the shooting:
Day one, the 1200 yard clay pigeon and egg shoot. Holy #*^~ the mirage here is so thick just seeing them is a challenge! Nancy, Dwyane, John O'Donogho, and Madison (daughter) shot a pigeon and Nancy shot an egg, crazy stuff.
Day two, first day of Emerald Cup, winds moderate, under 12 mph but speed and direction change fast! And thick mirage like I have never seen. All of the Americans shot well as well as the shooters from Ireland, France, and Northern Ireland.
Day three, last day of individual shooting. Mostly head winds with quick pick ups and let offs. Remember, this is pair firing so no waiting for "your condition" to return. Today I held two left, my partner fired his shot, and my next hold was edge of black right! I shot mirage only, Pat Scully said the flags were honest. I never got Dwyane's opinion, both awesome shooters and maybe they will chime in on their methods.
Format was Palma.
Once again the usual awesome sponsors: Berger Bullets, Nightforce, Sierra, Bartline Barrels, and Nancy who donated two books.
Here are the results, I have two photos of Pat and Dwyane getting their medals that I will post if I can ever get my wife to email them to me!
Tomorrow is team match so I will post results as they come in.
