Three Relays

by John White
August, 2023

Late summer is here, folks are trying to stay cool and out of the heat. We failed. 11 shooters 4 observers braved the heat and stagnant air in what may be the hottest shoot we have ever done. We failed to stay cool badly. Heat index 103. Hot, sunny no breeze, smiles, grins, water, thank yous, when is the next one? We started the August beat-the-heat shoot with the shooters registration, set up and sign in at 8:30am and the course of fire description and safety brief before shooting began before 9:00am. And it was warm! It was mid 80’s at the time and getting hotter.

We were blessed to have a first time builder, first rifle, first shot, first everything display her just completed built rifle. A beautiful rifle who had the other builders complementing her on her fine effort. Congratulations Robbie on joining the rifle building community. Are you taking orders for future builds now?

We had our two shooting categories, off-hand and “supported”, or bench, to compete in classifications for fairness. We shot three relays this month, 2 with 10 shots each, patch and roundball, any caliber in these two shooting classifications off hand and supported for score. The third relay was a surprise team match with number of shots determined by how good your teammates shoot!

First Relay for individual score:
10 shots at 50 yards, by popular demand or is it just demand? It was the NMLRA three-bull-target – one for practice, with five shots each for the remaining two targets for score.

Second Relay for individual score:
10 shots at 25 yards. The NMLRA six-bull-target, with the practice bull, with two shots each for the remaining five targets for score.

Third Relay team score:
Surprise team competition. Number of shots based on how good your team shoots. Surprise course of fire as well with coffee filter flour balls, balloons and a couple of small pumpkins. Grrrrrr, pumpkins did not explode causing hit confusion. Everyone picked a number out of a hat, evens vs odds. Bench and off hand combined and that part seemed to work!

Both of the first two relays were added together for placement within the appropriate shooting category off hand or supported (bench-rest, shooting sticks etc.) as always. The team relay was for team prizes and excluded from the scoring of the first two relays. So it was 94 degrees, no breeze and sunny. Heat index over 103 in the Talking Rock desert heat. Have I mentioned that?

Our Shoot Results Were:
Off hand
1st – Brad Thomas
2nd – Jim Gravely
3rd – Bobby Witherington

Bench
1st – Mike Lamb
2nd – Tim Coleman
3rd – Steve B.

Because of the confusion on the pumpkins failing to fall or explode like it was thought they should, everyone won and took home a prize. No we are not talking the fellowship and friendship prize, that is every shoot but everyone took home a custom made TRBPS coffee cup.

We had a hot muggy day with cap snaps but no bang, couple of dry-balls and a couple unique double loads. But everyone as always stepped up to help with tools, hands, advice and even do it for the shooter. It is one of the things we are all about at TRBPS. We all were tired, hot, drained at the end but all agreed, when is the next one? Out shooting our smoke poles is always a good day. We stayed hydrated and folks took breaks as needed.

Our shoot and awards were finished, range clean up done, gone like no one was ever there at 12:30pm. We had our after shoot debrief at the Talking Rock train station to share stories and ideas for the future. Very nice, quiet and friendly place. Support a local family building their dream. Did I mention they had air conditioning?

So we look forward to everyone coming and shooting with us Saturday, September 23rd at 8:30am with check in, 9:00am safety brief and shoot on a hopefully cooler day. If you have any questions please holler as I am sure we all have ’em. Be on the lookout for our shoot announcement and description in the next week or so.

Till next month be safe and healthy.

John White
President, TRBPS