Manatee IBS Results and Future Ideas

[CaptainMal]

*** Go down to post 10. The results work posted there.
3-24-18 match results.pdf
SOY Points and attendance totals (2).pdf


The last IBS at Manatee for this season is over. Results are here for your study. This was the first time benchrest shooters in South Florida could get a chance to participate in IBS sanctioned competition. We had five matches that started in November. All counted for IBS points into the 2018 season.

For this last match our director, BT1, refused to shoot. He started a "Rookie of the Year" award and did not want to take points away from anyone who had a chance to win. That was in spite of the issue that he had near the most active 2018 points as anyone in the nation going in to this shoot. Steve chose to hold off and allow our shooters the whole pot of points.

The winner was Alex Linn, shown here being presented with his award by BT1.

Sg53s9PETZeMrEMGjfntsQ by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

The core group of Manatee shooters seemed to grow more skilled with each event. We did have the expectation of others from the East side of Florida and northern states arriving to participate. Unfortunately, literally none showed up for any of the five shoots. Only Jerry Ware, from Pennsylvania, visited to gain some IBS points and share in the fun.

From the National Anthem that starts each event, our small group of shooters was respectful and eager to participate.

THqJIUaoQpu1EAxMsTlCFg by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Range is nice but we need more participation to continue. With Chip Willing (yes he is) to actually run the shoots and do the commands, computer design and usage, computer recording, scoring, sourcing all the materials and IBS help, building and putting up targets and removing them... it's a whole lot of work. Our volunteers were basically all the shooters. The question we have is how can we attract those East Florida shooters and more from around the nation?

Steve has an idea of trying a couple weekend, two-day, shoots. Manatee has RV sites available. There are major motels in the area. We have all the needs a winter vacationer might want to arrive, shoot and enjoy the beauty of South Florida in the winter. Maybe a Florida championship around the Christmas holiday period or January would work?

If you have an opinion on ways to attract more shooters in the future, please respond with your ideas. Many would sure like to continue the option of a winter IBS opportunity that we started this year.

 

[dkhunt14]

I believe you just need to keep shooting. Advertise and try to get people there to see it. If you can have a gun for new shooters to try, it might help. Once they shoot once is usually all it takes to get hooked. Matt

 

[Wooten]

I agree with what Matt said, just keep shooting ! I believe the 2 match weekends, really help to draw a crowd. I live about 10 hours away, and would more than likely come down for a weekend, if I could shoot 2 matches. You are doing the right thing by putting it out there and getting the response from the shooters.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Captain mal patients is a virtue I think in due time you will get where you need to be for the club's futures.

 

[drumcorpschamp]

Larry,
Had a really good time shooting with you folks at the December match. I can only hope that we can spend next Xmas in Florida and if so....I'll be there!

Manatee runs a great match and they should be on your "list" of places to shoot. They have some fine shooters there, and like Larry said, they're getting better. No gimme's at Manatee!

Keep doing what you're doing. Word gets around.

That PA guy,
Jerry

 

[Alex Wheeler]

You guys are getting good number in my opinion. Low 20s right out of the gate is great. I think it takes some time to build a shooter base. Example is Williamsport, they get almost 100 shooters but they also have held matches for 50 years. My opinion on getting more shooters is to expose the sport to more people. Most people do not know what long range Br is, and they dont know matches are being held in their own back yard. A cork board in the club house that you can post results and more importantly, pictures, would expose more people to it.

 

[BT1]

I believe you just need to keep shooting. Advertise and try to get people there to see it. If you can have a gun for new shooters to try, it might help. Once they shoot once is usually all it takes to get hooked. Matt

2 or more of us are putting together loaner BR rifles, rests, bags loads, dies as loaners for several of the younger guys that helped during our short season. Most competitive rifles and accessories can run well over $5K. Needs to be said up front, many have upwards of $10K invested when all said and done. That is a big hit for a young guy to manage with a family. These same rifles could then be available to other new shooters as we progress. Long range bench competition is a very specialized type of competition and at best is maintaining it's core group. Some that invested that kind of cash assuming they would automatically shoot sub 2" 600 yard groups may have been disappointed.

I agree that we just need to keep on shooting and holding matches. For good things to happen, we need to keep trying.

Steve

 

[CaptainMal]

...and I'm one of those disappointed ones. No - make that dejected. Seems the more I shot, the worse I got. All the upgrading of reloading and shooting equipment, testing, new rifle build and more resulted in me shooting worse at the end than at the start of this five-month experience.

My results are one reason they make beer.

 

[One Shot One Thrill]

...and I'm one of those disappointed ones. No - make that dejected. Seems the more I shot, the worse I got. All the upgrading of reloading and shooting equipment, testing, new rifle build and more resulted in me shooting worse at the end than at the start of this five-month experience.

My results are one reason they make beer.

Come on up to Cool Acres and we will get you squared away and have a brew or 2.

 

[BT1]

Come on up to Cool Acres and we will get you squared away and have a brew or 2.

I will be up for your May 600 yard matches. Hope to get a few guys to come up also. Beer sounds like a proper incentive, ha, ha.

I could not open the documents that Larry posted, these should work.

 

[243BR]

+1 for a 2 match week end. We have family in the area, so lodging is not a real problem, but the 16 hour drive would be tuff for a single match.

 

[BT1]

+1 for a 2 match week end. We have family in the area, so lodging is not a real problem, but the 16 hour drive would be tuff for a single match.

Totally understand and now am working on at least 1 weekend match, maybe 2. Now looking like Dec. 22 and 23, 2018 for the first. It was our largest attended match last year.

Steve

 

[Comrade Terry]

Totally understand and now am working on at least 1 weekend match, maybe 2. Now looking like Dec. 22 and 23, 2018 for the first. It was our largest attended match last year.

Steve

I guess this will mean more than one relay, huh, Steve?!

Let me know what I can do to help.

 

[BT1]

I guess this will mean more than one relay, huh, Steve?!

Let me know what I can do to help.

That is the whole reason, ha, ha. Everyone helped out last season, but will need more for a 2 day event. You certainly will be on the list of volunteers. Careful what you wish for

Steve

 

[BartsBullets]

Totally understand and now am working on at least 1 weekend match, maybe 2. Now looking like Dec. 22 and 23, 2018 for the first. It was our largest attended match last year.

Steve

Please Don’t park it against a major Holiday! Theres no way most shooters can leave right before Christmas (or Thanksgiving)and drive down there to shoot. Make it early December, January or February.

Just a thought! Try to coordinate with the 600 yard match at Swainsbourgh so you both don’t step on each other for dates.

I really want to come down and support your match! But if it’s right up against Christmas I don’t see you getting a lot of out state shooters.

Bart

 

[CaptainMal]

Bart,

People vacation in Florida over Christmas. As soon as school lets out, parents with kids bail from that northern torture and come here for vacation. Snowbirds flock here for the winter also. Christmas time is a big tourist time here.

Now an individual that wants to be with family over that holiday time may not. In some ways that a good thing, one of which is we are really too crowded in Florida to take on more. There are times when I can't get into my own church because of the snowbird crowd. Our roads are a jammed mess each winter. It really does start around Christmas and just now is starting to slack off. The new Florida State Bird is the Construction Crane.

Appreciate the idea. That is something we consider yet our attendance was best over Christmas this past season. We are also limited to being able to use the range just the third and fourth weekend of each month for organized matches. Our shoots will be near the end of the month.

 

[BartsBullets]

Bart,

People vacation in Florida over Christmas. As soon as school lets out, parents with kids bail from that northern torture and come here for vacation. Snowbirds flock here for the winter also. Christmas time is a big tourist time here.

Now an individual that wants to be with family over that holiday time may not. In some ways that a good thing, one of which is we are really too crowded in Florida to take on more. There are times when I can't get into my own church because of the snowbird crowd. Our roads are a jammed mess each winter. It really does start around Christmas and just now is starting to slack off. The new Florida State Bird is the Construction Crane.

Appreciate the idea. That is something we consider yet our attendance was best over Christmas this past season. We are also limited to being able to use the range just the third and fourth weekend of each month for organized matches. Our shoots will be near the end of the month.

Mal,

Those snowbirds aren't vacationing there to SHOOT! If they are they will be there a week later. Schedule them when you can, but put it up against Christmas or Thanksgiving you're not going to get any of the crowd I run with to come shoot.

Bart

 

[CaptainMal]

Seemingly some shooters will come then to vacation. It's a two-way street.

We also hope to have shoots in November, January, February and March. Which months might be two-day weekend shoots is under discussion. Nothing has been set at this time. Might be January or both for the weekend shoot.

Thanks for the input. Opinions are what we want to hear. Appreciate and welcome responses.

 

[Kyle Schultz]

The hottest F-Class/Sling-shooter ticket in town is the Berger SWNs. It's an annual event that draws the best shooters from across the world. Perhaps that could be your template. Good luck!

 

[dmoran]

A February 2-Match weekend would be the most appealing to me.
It is a long ways to travel, but have a sister who winters in Florida, and the Speedweeks (February events).
Donovan