When the Chips are down

Posted on 23 Feb 2014 by WH

With the team now finally caught up with sleep and issues arising from jet lag, it was time to negotiate the final day of the California State Full Bore Championships in relatively fine fettle. Today's format would be pairs shooting: once again at 300, 600, 900 and 1000 yards, with two sighters and ten to count. The championship results would be based on the aggregate of both days' shooting. Jamie was gutted to learn that there would be no prize for most firearms used in the competition.

Relay one went down at 300 and scores were high. The tourists had settled into the range and the standard was immediately noticeable. An immediate pit change and relay two knocked in a similar performances (see "Results").

Six and nine hundred yards demonstrated similar conditions to the previous day. However, the team had quickly learnt from their experiences the day before (aided by the post match team learning/sharing sessions) and managed to maintain higher, healthier scores for the board (other than those who cross-shot - all too easy at 1000 yards with small, very uniform number boards).

One thousand yards today would prove to be what the locals referred to on Saturday as 'when the foreplay is over'. They were right. Several Scots in the first half of relay two shed points out into the eight and seven rings in a state of perplexed anger and needed someone to blame immediately for redemption. The culprit? Once again, Senor Miragio, the bandito.

Upon conclusion of the competition it was time once again to be treated to the hospitality of the Coalinga Rifle Club for prize giving with burgers and cold beers (they got to know us well quickly!). Words cannot express how appreciative we are of their incredibly welcoming and helpful attitude. Noma Mayo cleaned house in the championship and nobody else had a look in. Our Kenny McDonald and Matt Charlton won daily prizes in the Master category and Iain Hindshaw & Bill Hanley won three prizes apiece, with Iain finishing 1.1x ahead of Will in second place in Expert.

With Las Vegas looming in the morning it was time for a few brief cocktails, dinner and bed, while our rifles remained in the care of a kind California Highway Patrolman. One team member, who will remain nameless as he's writing this article, made the mistake of having the audacity to send back a (very expensive) corked bottle of wine to the sommelier. He then, coincidentally, was up all night with food poisoning before leaving for the Nevada desert. Oh dear.