September 3 TEXtreme Field Target match announcement

[AirNGasman]

Our September 3 TEXtreme Field Target match will feature an $850 prize list of Airguns Of Arizona gift certificates, to be awarded to the four highest-placed rifle shooters. First place claims $350, second place $250, third place $150, and fourth place pockets a $100 AoA gift certificate.

This being our last TFT match before the big Extreme Bench-Rest weekend where the Extreme Field Target match is shot with the additional element of time limits at each lane, we will also use timers in our September TFT match to acclimate shooters to competing "under the gun" of time limits. Our lanes being three shots at each of two targets for a total of six shots per lane, shooters will start a four minute timer at each lane BEFORE looking through their scope. Any shots not taken before time expires count as misses on the score-card.

By entering the match each shooter agrees to know, understand, and abide by the TEXtreme Field Target rifle rules, a copy of which is attached below. Also attached is a map of the area around the Ranchito Ranchito TEXtreme Field Target venue.

The practice range opens at 10 AM, and the shooters meeting begins at 2 PM. No lunch is served, however free snacks and cold beverages are included on site.

Feel free to contact Match Director Ron Robinson with any questions, any day from noon till midnight, CST.

See Y'all Soon,
Ron

View attachment TFT Rules pdf.pdf

View attachment RR to CTRPC pdf.pdf

 

[AirNGasman]

Well, dang!

The latest weather forecast predicts rain every day for the next week (at least); every day through Saturday peaking at over 50% chance. I'll be monitoring the weather and forecast obsessively, and if the forecast proves correct, Saturday's TFT match might be canceled. I suspect some of you might be no more motivated to subject your expensive competition rigs to downpours, any more than I care to subject my little shack to foot (and PAW) traffic emerging from a giant mud-hole.

Should the match be canceled, which might not be decided before Friday, it will be rescheduled for the following Saturday (September 10). I'll try to keep y'all posted about any changes or developments, but that could mean no updates before Friday.

laguna park, tx weather
Keeping my fingers crossed. I'd do an anti-rain dance; but the last time I 'danced' my girlfriend said, "You dance funny".

Apparently she couldn't appreciate the Funky Chicken

as much as I do... Correction- DID! Suffice to say I haven't 'danced' since the Eighties!

Regards,
Ron

P.S.- TFT rules-set attached.

View attachment TFT Rules pdf.pdf

 

[AirNGasman]

Time for another match update, but not exactly. More like 'sorta-kinda'... like weather forecasts! And a short lesson in Match Directiing 101, from one with about two decades experience.

One of MANY challenges match directors face that most shooters don't fully appreciate is not only IF to cancel a match, but WHEN to cancel a match. I'll present a couple examples, for clarity's sake.

After the three biggest airgun competition weekends were canceled for the second year in a row due to the pandemic about the same time it was becoming clear the Powers That Be had at least overblown the threat, some competitors HEAVILY INVESTED in those competitions and hard up for a chance to not only exercise their investments but salvage some semblance of their sanities approached me about hosting an alternative to the canceled competitions. I had to think about it... for about two seconds! Hence, TEXtreme Bench-Rest was born; followed shortly by TEXtreme Field Target. To paraphrase, that was a virtual no-brainer.

But canceling a match based on weather, and more specifically, weather forecasts, can induce conniption fits in even relatively sane match directors. Much less your (admittedly) weak-minded MD!

As mentioned in in the last match update, I've been watching weather forecasts obsessively all week. But as not mentioned in the last match update, I've also been comparing those forecasts to REALITY all week. Had the forecasts aligned with reality this week, this update would be a match cancellation. But the forecasts have not aligned with reality.

Forecasts of rain probabilities peaking between 50 and 80% every day have produced so little precipitation that I was able to mow my whole place yesterday by avoiding the lowest-lying (small) areas. So the good news is the venue, course, and targets are well prepared; in case I don't cancel the match.

The bad news is the weather wizards are still calling for the same forecasts through match day as they have all week. This forces a difficult match director decision... soon.

Yes, I FULLY realize most travelers cannot wait until the last minute to cancel lodging reservations. That increases the already ample pressure on match directors, many-fold. Do I cancel the match NOW so travelers can change their plans in time to salvage their reservations and/or weekend plans, and likely have match day weather that makes canceling the match seem a bad call (in retrospect)? Or do I postpone the decision one more day, in order to have not only more evidence to weigh forecasts against reality, but BETTER EVIDENCE to weigh forecasts against reality before rendering a (hopefully) better decision?

I sometimes ask for opinions or feedback before making a decision. However I've learned from hard experience(s) that it's a mistake to seek advice, opinions or feedback from those naturally disposed to bias(es) rather than objectivity. That is the case here, so is why I am not asking for help.

At this moment I am NOT canceling Saturdays match. However, should the weather wizards' forecasts of biblical-proportions downpours suddenly take a turn marked Reality, I reserve the right to cancel the match before tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. I'm sorry, and fully understand that leaves some/many of you in a state of suspended animation. My apologies. Probably just as many or more prefer the match not be canceled (yet).

Be aware that, all other things being equal, my approach is to what I think is best for the majority of shooters.

On a different but related note, should I decide to ever write another airgun related book, you just read a chapter. Correction- part of a chapter.

Apologies,
Ron

 

[AirNGasman]

Due to responses from enough shooters in favor of shooting come rain or shine, and since a week of forecasts for 30-80% chances of rain every day have amounted no more than a half-inch TOTAL, last night I decided the match is on.

So of course this morning we're getting some of the downpours the forecasts have been suggesting for a week.