"Turboken77"I shot last year had a blast i went with a friend and now all i hear is that fx and aoa fixed the classes so fx could win ! Did fx / aoa hand out 9 guns to shooters at extreme? Or any guns? And one more question is the sportsmen class graded on a "curve" and not the same as pro class? Thanks for your time see you in oct all signed up
In this response, I am NOT speaking for AoA, Daystate, of FX airguns. They are a sponsors of this forum - yes. But, they did not contact me re: this post, and we have never had any discussion re: the concerns you mentioned. My response is my own understanding of the events, as someone who was there all day, every day. Please read it as one man's interpretation of the events - not as a declaration of TRUTH. It's just the way I saw it - based on many conversations.
Sportsman class is graded/scored the same as pro class. They simply separate the two classes to help keep a competitive spirit to the competition. The pro class is for shooters who are involved in the industry, or who have placed in the top three of the Sportsman's class in the past. Anyone can enter the pro class. Only "non-industry" shooters can enter into the sportsman class.
As for AoA handing out FX and Daystate guns to shooters....that is a benign story that go turned ugly. First off, I don't think it was nine. But, even if it was, that isn't the point. The shooters who were given guns to shoot were from overseas. Giles Barry (and others) traveled from the UK to cover the events at EBR. They did so with the prior agreement that they would be able to use a gun when they got here. They were not given special guns or special ammo. They just wanted to compete, but did not own any "FAC" guns, so they borrowed some from guys in the states. Two years ago, I loaned my Bobcat .30 to two such travelers. And, my first year at EBR, two shooters loaned me their guns for two events, and one guy even spotted me a coat to wear when he saw I was freezing.
Shooters are always loaning each other gear. There are several events, and few people have the gear to compete in every event. I do not own a pistol or a big-bore gun. Yet, I will gladly enter those competitions if someone is nice enough to spot me their gun. And, I have already agreed to loan my MK4 to two shooters who would like to enter the field target competition, but lack a "low-powered" rifle.
AoA was just trying to do a good thing. And, that good thing quickly turned into a story of them trying to stack the deck.
That said, AoA and Daystate did give one gun away last year. A young man's Daystate Huntsman went missing on Saturday. To date, it is unknown if its disappearance was a crime or just an error. In any event, that young man was pretty distraught. On Sunday, at the banquet, after all the awards had been given out, that young man was surprised with brand new Daystate Regal Huntsman.