Monday Match #6 Results - February 3, 2014

The Monday Match Series dodged another bullet on February 3rd as the snow, rain and wind stayed away until after the match was concluded.  The alternate site worked out fine for the short Back UP Gun (BUG) Stage Designs.

A total of four stages were shot once.  Due to everyone's schedule and the somewhat chilly, blustery weather, the group decided to go with everyone's times "as shot" on the stages.  Since some participants had to leave early, it would have been unfair to let some reshoot a stage while not allowing others to do so as well.

John P. won the Pink Spurs in Monday match #6.  Al G. was the Most Accurate Shooter--The Muy MAS Man!

The first BUG Match was well received by the participants.  We will consider staging another BUG Match this season depending on ideas, input and comments from the participants. Since this was the first time we have ever staged a BUG Match, we can definitely see lots of areas to improve upon.

If we ever do an "unfamiliar pistol" stage again, the pistols will be assigned by random drawing.  We do not think the way Stage 4 was shot was fair for everyone.  At a bare minimum, participants should have been able to reshoot the stage to get a second chance to improve their score.

Anyway, it was an interesting "learning experience" and, if we ever do one again, the lessons we learned today will be very helpful.  Thank You all for bringing extra pistols and donating your ammo.

We did not take any photos today so there are none to post.  Thank You all for a great match.

Monday Match #5 Results

Al G. goes head-to-head with the barrel.

Monday Match #5 was a rousing success!  We enjoyed our biggest turnout ever for a Monday Match--11 shooters!  Thank YOU for making it so much Fun in every way.  Thanks also for your enthusiasm for shooting the same stage 3 times.  It was truly perfect January weather with warm temperature, no wind and cloudless blue skies.  The official high for January 20 in Rimrock will go into the log books as 69 degrees!

Congratulations to Drake M. for winning The Pink Spurs today.  Drake really applied himself to the Barrel Stage and his focus and attention to detail really paid off.  Drake dropped 11.2 seconds off his time between Shoot #2 and Shoot #3 of the Barrel Stage #2, logging an incredible adjusted time of 28.78 seconds.  Although Drake finished 6th on Stage #1, his blazing fast Best Time on Stage #2 propelled him into #1 as the Fastest Shooter today, edging out Gary W. by 97 one hundredths of a second.

Not only did Gary W. finish in the #2 Spot for Best Time today but Gary took the Muy MAS Man Award as well.  This is the first time in three seasons that Gary has finished first as Most Accurate Shooter with a mere 4 points down total.

The Most Improved Award in Accuracy goes to Brad W. for his amazing second place finish with a mere 5 points down.  Brad's Son, Joshua, gave Dad an expensive laser bore dry fire sight for Christmas.  Brad has been practicing dry firing ever since Christmas Morning and his improvement is totally awesome.  We are all very proud of you and hope you can attend at least one of the remaining five matches for this season.

This week, we had time to process some additional statistical information about today's match.  The first graphic shows the rankings for Adjusted Time and Points Down.

The second graphic shows the data for Stage #1.

The third graphic shows a variety of data for the three times we shot Stage #2.  As always, we icked your best adjusted time to use in the final adjusted time calculations.  Note that in fairness, we must also pick the Points Down associated with that Best Time of the three attempts.

We also averaged all three times and did a "Hi-Lo Spread" calculation, too.  Tony G. was simply amazing in shaving over 39 seconds from his worst to his best time on Stage #2.  Tony, that's incredible!

The data clearly shows Al. G. as the most consistent shooter on Stage #2.  The spread between his High and Low times was only a mere 2.41 seconds.  Way to go, Al!

In The Stage #2 graphic we alternated highlighting each shooter's Best Time in Yellow and Blue.  Obviously, by looking at the spread of the times, it was a very good idea for five out of 11 shooters to have a third attempt at the complex stage.  Practice clearly paid off for most of today's shooters.  Only two out of 11 shooters had their best time on the first attempt.

Thank You for the $54 in donations today.  That's puts us back into the black with a cash-on-hand balance of $46.

Monday Match #6 will be held February 3rd at a location to be determined.  The rancher will be putting 60 bulls into this area during the month of February.

Monday Match #6 will see the return of the "Pumping Lead on Old Route 66" Stage. This will be the 2nd of 3 appearances for the stage this season.  It will also appear for the final match of the season in April.

(Editor's Note: Every attempt is made to double and often triple check our math in tallying the score sheets.  Any mistakes are purely inadvertent.  Please let us know if you spot any math error(s) we might have made.

Thanks to Drake, Gary, Tom, Al, Tony, Michael, Turtle, Cyndy, Ben and Brad for making this match so awesome.  Have a Great Day & Happy Shooting!  jp


https://picasaweb.google.com/106237303842175829251/MondayMatch5?authuser=0&feat=directlink

If the above slide show won't load and, if the above link won't work, try the link below.

https://plus.google.com/photos/106237303842175829251/albums/5971117699744409553

Monday Match #4 Results - January 6, 2013

It was a great match!

The Montezuma Marksmen Monday Match #4 was one of The Best Ever.  First, the weather was perfect.  For early January, it's hard to imagine any possible better weather.  Second, the stages synergized well and The Shooters had a lively discussion about which of three stages they wished to reshoot.  Third, five out of eight shooters improved their stage score with the reshoot.  Fourth, The Match Director was pleased with all aspects of the event.  Fifth, The Proverbial Good Time was had by All and Smiles Shined across The Range.  It was a Good Day.

He who has been last (or near last) lately, finished first today.  It is proof positive that practice, persistent and patience pay off.  Gary W. walked away in first place after Monday Match #4 with an adjusted time of 111.71, over two seconds better than the second place participant.  Gary also recorded his personal best "fewest points down" in three seasons!

Gary was shooting an S&W M&P Pro 9mm pistol for the match.  He had only fired it once before today at an indoor range in Show Low for a total of 100 rounds.  WAY TO GO, Gary!

Al G. was The Muy MAS Man with the fewest points down of a mere 5 for the whole match.  Al has a laser like accuracy that's very instructive and educational to watch.  Al's mere 5 points down was half of the nest nearest finish--a three-way tie for second with 10 points down.

The Match Director FINALLY got around to actually taking some photos during the match!  Here is a slide show of the photos.  If the slideshow won't load on your computer, simply use this link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106237303842175829251/MondayMatch4?authuser=0&feat=directlink

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THANK YOU ALL for a Great Match Today!

Monday Match #3 Results December 18, 2013

Michael B. contemplates shooting "The Texas Good Old Boy."

The last match of Year 2013 was a rousing success.  Perfect late December greeted participants and observers.  Two scenario and two standards stages were set up.

Michael Boyle liked the Pink Spurs so much after winning them in the first Monday Match that he came roaring back from a 5th Place Finish in Monday match #2 to take top Shot Honors in Monday Match #3.  Congratulations, Michael, those pink spurs look great on you! Michael said he was going to be better today and he really meant it.

Not only did Michael have a blazing fast low time, he also notched the rare Daily Double, winning the Most Accurate Shooter position as well.  Michael's total adjusted time of 112.72 was over 10 seconds faster than the second place finisher, Al G.  Michael's 45 Points Down narrowly edged second most accurate shooter, Tom B. who recorded 49 points down.

Thanks to Cyndy W. and Bryan M. for observing three stages and participating in two.  We are looking forward to seeing you both again soon.

Everybody did great and we really appreciate everyone's happiness, enthusiasm and kind words.  Thank YOU all for making the Monday Matches so Safe and Totally FUN!  Many Happy Holiday Cheers!

The next Match us January 6th.

Here are the scores and total points down.

The Stage Results Page is kind of hard to read so I am including the link to the Google Drive file as well.  It's much easier to read on Google Drive. The link is below this graphic.

Here is the link to the Google Drive file:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtxPHiI5Jek3dGhUcEg3X3R6STh4c2dtbG0zVE5QUGc&usp=sharing

Monday Match #2 Scores

Gary W. shoots in the Single Hand Stage while Tom times and Al scores.

The results are in and Tom B. is the proud custodian of The Pink Spurs this week.  Tom quietly went about his business and was the run away winner of Monday Match #2.  Tom's total adjusted time was 106.14, over 9 seconds better than the second place finisher.  Awesome shooting, Tom!  You said you were going to do better this week and you meant it!  Way to GO!

Congratulations to Tony G. for being the Most Accurate Shooter (MAS) of the match.  Tony wins the Muy Mas award and your prize is in the mail, Tony.

The second Monday Match took place in calm air under mostly clear skies.  Seven shooters participated along with observers Drake M. and Ben T.  Three challenging stages included the ever perplexing "Numbers Game," "Single Hand Shooting Skills," and another stirring rendition of "The Courier."

The Single Hand Shoot Skills exercise was voted "Shooter's Choice" for a repeat shoot.  Four out of six shooters improved their score the second time around.

The various Stage results were all over the map.  Tom B. finished first in two Stages and Michael B. was first in the other.

There was only one Zero Points Down Stage shot during Monday Match #2.  Muy Mas Man Tony G. aced "The Courier" with awesome precision shooting.  Tom B. was most accurate in "The Numbers Game" and Al G. was tops in accuracy for the Single Hand Shooting Skills.

The Match Director polled participants at the end of the event as to whether "The Numbers Game" was too "mental."  The consensus appeared to encourage future such complicated "thinking" stages.  Likewise, the consensus did not consider this version of  "The Courier" to be too complicated.  The Match Director also received positive feedback on including one shooting skills stage in each upcoming match.

Thank You for your $30 in donations for Monday Match #2.  Donations totaled $20 for Monday Match #1.  We have spent $13.75 for replacement uprights for the targets, leaving a cash balance of $36.25.  We hope to place an order for target tape soon.  Hopefully, a fresh supply of target tape will arrive before year's end.

Many Thanks to Ben & Drake for attending and help out at Monday Match #2.  We hope you return for future matches and look forward to shooting with you.

Thanks to everyone for another great event.  Monday Match #3 will be held on December 16.

We are presenting the match scores in a different format.
The overall times and total points down  have a separate spreadsheet.
Below, you will find the data on the Stage Times and Points Down.
Adjusted times include procedural penalties but the numbers of PEs are not shown.
Note that in Stage #2 (Single Hand) we used the best time to add to the overall time.
The Points Down associated with your best time in Stage #2 were then added to your total.

Monday Match #1 - 11/18/13

Arizona Season Three opened with perfect weather, three stages and seven enthusiastic shooters.

Michael B. won The Pink Spurs for the first Monday Match.  Michael blew away the competition in both time and fewest Points Down.  He didn't just win, he won by a country mile!  Michael's lowest total time of 114.61 was over 8 seconds faster than the second place time.  Likewise, Michael's fewest Point Down of 23 was 22 points fewer than the next closest total. Congratulations, Michael, that was awesome shooting!

For the first time in recent memory, the standings in total adjusted time were also the same as the final standing Total Points Down.  Finishing first was Michael B.; 2nd, John P.; 3rd, Tony G.; 4th, Pat D.; 5th, Tom B. and 6th. Gary W.

John P. finished first in Stage #1 (Pumping Lead on Route 66); Michael Boyle was tops in Stage #2 (Stand & Deliver) and Tony G. was number one in Stage #3 (Shooting Skills Exercise #1).

Note that each shooter's fastest time in Stage #1 was used for the final calculations of both total time and Points Down.

We did forget a couple of things for this match: 1) The Pledge prior to the Match and 2) To take photos.  We won't make those mistakes again this season, you can bet on that!

Thank You all for a Great First Monday Match!  We will see you again on December 2nd.

Note that we also put the results into our Google Drive as a PDF that you should be able to download and print.  Try this link.  If it doesn't work, email me and I will send you the file.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9xPHiI5Jek3NDg5SWhsOW4xalE/edit?usp=sharing

February 2014 Monday Match Site

The normal Monday Match Site is unavailable during February so we have chosen an alternate site not far away.  The alternate site will be about 1.4 miles farther for Camp Verde and Rimrock participants, almost an identical distance for Cottonwood and Cornville participants and about 2.5 miles shorter for Sedona participants arriving via The Beaverhead Road.

The major advantage of the alternate site is an awesome backstop, probably the best backstop we have used in 3 seasons.  The backstop is almost immediately behind the Course of Fire area and rises at least 15 feet above grade level at the Course of Fire Area.  An additional advantage is that the dirt road to the site is in very good condition.

There are several disadvantages to the alternate site, including:

• Small Course of Fire Area will limit or preclude movement.
• The area is sloped so targets will need to be adjusted to remain level for the shooter's sight plane.
• Set up of complex stages will not be possible
• Parking is difficult but "doable."
• The site is only three-tenths of a mile from The Beaverhead Road.

Even though the alternate site is relatively close to The Beaverhead Road, participants and their vehicles will be fairly well screened by vegetation.  For example, we doubt that the gear truck will even be visible from The Beaverhead Road.

We spent several hours on January 26 inspecting various possible alternate sites.  All sites along Old 179 southwest of the USFS Beaverhead Day Use area were deemed unsuitable for various reasons.  Other sites inspected on the southwest flank of House Mountain were also deemed unsuitable for various reasons.

Although the alternate site is not optimal, it is suitable and safe.  We will adjust the Monday Match Stage Designs to conform with the Course of Fire constraints.

It should be noted the alternate site is ideally suited for a BUG Match so the only problematic Stage Design issues will be encountered in the second February Monday Match.  The BUG Match Stage Designs will be optimized for the favorable geometry of the backstop.

Hopefully, we will have time during the upcoming week for a little holistic low impact landscape management work at the site.

Captions are below each graphic and photo.

 The yellow push pin is the alternate site.  The left red dot is The Beaverhead Road intersection with 

The Cornville Road.  The right red dot is 1.1 miles from The Beaverhead Road intersection.  

The push pin is .3 mile from the turn off The Beaverhead Road.

The yellow push pin is the gear truck parking area.  The red rectangle is the Course of Fire area.  

The three green triangles will be the stage locations.  The irregular blue area is parking for participants.

The right red line is the top of the backstop.  The long line is the distance from the top of the backstop to 

The Beaverhead Road--precisely a half mile.  We will have the route into the site well marked for the Match.

The backstop rises sharply just to the left of the frame of view.  You will be impressed with the backstop.

 This is looking back in a Course of Fire area toward where the gear truck will be parked.

 This is looking across the three Course of Fire areas.

I couldn't get a good shot of the backstop looking from the firing line because

 the sun was right in my camera lens.  Suffice to say it is a Most Excellent backstop.