Those of you who attended the 2015 Nationals in Ennice remember the horrid conditions on Day 1 of the Rifle match... Cold temps, relentless rain, heavy winds, low hanging clouds (not fog) at 3000 ft elevation in the pretty Blue Ridge mountains. Here's a picture of Red Course Lane 10, which -- at the top of the hill -- posed some unique challenges.

I was squadded with Phil Eakley and youngster Ben Smith. By the time we arrived at this 2-3 lane section of the course, our score cards had already melted into paper pulp, eventually replaced by new paper inside a zip-lock bag. The low hanging clouds were wafting over these lanes, drifting in and out of play. We were alternating shooting order (among we three Hunter Division shooters), and as luck would have it, I shot R10 first.



As shown on the left (not me but another shooter to illustrate), this was just about as clear a view as anyone had of this lane. But not when we shot that lane. Through my scope, I could barely find the far target, even though the clouds were rolling over the ridge and I could not see the KZ on the long shot... it was just a 50+ yd silhouette in the haze, as bad as the view on the right (a little better through the scope). Count XX-00 for me. Then the clouds really rolled in, to obscure not only the far target, but put the near target in and out of view!

Neither Ben nor Phil could see anything 5 yards past the first target. Nothing at all. Phil resigned himself to merely trying to hear -- rather than see -- his shots, taken from memory. He took it in good humor, laughing it off, hoping for luck when none was on offer. Such were the conditions that unforgettable day in Ennice!

I'm so delighted to write that the weather the next day (by contrast) was gorgeous.

What are your visual memories of Ennice? Does anyone have a photo of Leo's poncho blowing over his head? LOL

Bob, the ONLY thing I want to remember about that day is the 2 great shooting partners I had. Shooting with you and Ben made it ALMOST tolerable. Now on day TWO, that was a beautiful day. I'd rather have some pics of that:-) How about it guys??

Those of you who attended the 2015 Nationals in Ennice remember the horrid conditions on Day 1 of the Rifle match... Cold temps, relentless rain, heavy winds, low hanging clouds (not fog) at 3000 ft elevation in the pretty Blue Ridge mountains. Here's a picture of Red Course Lane 10, which -- at the top of the hill -- posed some unique challenges.

I was squadded with Phil Eakley and youngster Ben Smith. By the time we arrived at this 2-3 lane section of the course, our score cards had already melted into paper pulp, eventually replaced by new paper inside a zip-lock bag. The low hanging clouds were wafting over these lanes, drifting in and out of play. We were alternating shooting order (among we three Hunter Division shooters), and as luck would have it, I shot R10 first.



As shown on the left (not me but another shooter to illustrate), this was just about as clear a view as anyone had of this lane. But not when we shot that lane. Through my scope, I could barely find the far target, even though the clouds were rolling over the ridge and I could not see the KZ on the long shot... it was just a 50+ yd silhouette in the haze, as bad as the view on the right (a little better through the scope). Count XX-00 for me. Then the clouds really rolled in, to obscure not only the far target, but put the near target in and out of view!

Neither Ben nor Phil could see anything 5 yards past the first target. Nothing at all. Phil resigned himself to merely trying to hear -- rather than see -- his shots, taken from memory. He took it in good humor, laughing it off, hoping for luck when none was on offer. Such were the conditions that unforgettable day in Ennice!

I'm so delighted to write that the weather the next day (by contrast) was gorgeous.

What are your visual memories of Ennice? Does anyone have a photo of Leo's poncho blowing over his head? LOL

Day 1



Then I was up late double checking score cards that had disintegrated from the rain and I finished the squading for Sunday around 3am.

Many of the timers were ruined so on Sunday we didn't use them. Interestingly, I don't remember a single complaint about the pace of shooting on Sunday without the timers.

Here's Phil shooting from the barn on day 2


And Bill out in the open on day 2.

Those of you who attended the 2015 Nationals in Ennice remember the horrid conditions on Day 1 of the Rifle match... Cold temps, relentless rain, heavy winds, low hanging clouds (not fog) at 3000 ft elevation in the pretty Blue Ridge mountains. Here's a picture of Red Course Lane 10, which -- at the top of the hill -- posed some unique challenges.

I was squadded with Phil Eakley and youngster Ben Smith. By the time we arrived at this 2-3 lane section of the course, our score cards had already melted into paper pulp, eventually replaced by new paper inside a zip-lock bag. The low hanging clouds were wafting over these lanes, drifting in and out of play. We were alternating shooting order (among we three Hunter Division shooters), and as luck would have it, I shot R10 first.



As shown on the left (not me but another shooter to illustrate), this was just about as clear a view as anyone had of this lane. But not when we shot that lane. Through my scope, I could barely find the far target, even though the clouds were rolling over the ridge and I could not see the KZ on the long shot... it was just a 50+ yd silhouette in the haze, as bad as the view on the right (a little better through the scope). Count XX-00 for me. Then the clouds really rolled in, to obscure not only the far target, but put the near target in and out of view!

Neither Ben nor Phil could see anything 5 yards past the first target. Nothing at all. Phil resigned himself to merely trying to hear -- rather than see -- his shots, taken from memory. He took it in good humor, laughing it off, hoping for luck when none was on offer. Such were the conditions that unforgettable day in Ennice!

I'm so delighted to write that the weather the next day (by contrast) was gorgeous.

What are your visual memories of Ennice? Does anyone have a photo of Leo's poncho blowing over his head? LOL

The hunting cabin near Shenandoah valley and Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia:


A little time for sight in before we head to our motel, about 4 hours away in Galax:




Friday:
There was lots of cover at the range:


Sighting in was already underway when we arrived:




Brad Troyer and Hector Medina:


The competitors were given the opportunity to walk the course:




The pistol match was on Friday afternoon:






Saturday:
Dark, cold, wet:


The rifle match commences:






No breaks in the weather on Saturday:


Ammon Piatt seems fine with the rain (and wins the Hunter PCP class):



Sunday:
Sebastian Gerz shooting Open Piston:


Scott Hull shooting Open Piston:




The "Ray Gun":


Shoot through the knot hole and the KZ:


Eric Roehrle shooting Open Piston:


Perfect shooting conditions all Sunday:


Looking back at the sight-in range:


My Open Piston squad mates, Sebastian Gerz, Scott Hull (me), and Eric Roehrle:


Traveling companion, Jim Whittlesey, wins the shootoff for third in Open PCP:


The Pyramyd Air Team made a good showing:


The California crew. California took 1st in the team competition. Not shown - George Doganis who left early:


Back through the Mojave desert:




The gas oasis that saved us early in our trip:

I hoped someone would post a picture of that target. Very unique. More unique than challenging.

Another (positive) memory. Thanks, Scott.

Bob, the ONLY thing I want to remember about that day is the 2 great shooting partners I had. Shooting with you and Ben made it ALMOST tolerable. Now on day TWO, that was a beautiful day. I'd rather have some pics of that:-) How about it guys??

Sunday's beautiful weather showed the course to their perfection. And more fun, too.

I appreciated your positive outlook on Saturday more than you'll know, Phil.

I hoped someone would post a picture of that target. Very unique. More unique than challenging.

Another (positive) memory. Thanks, Scott.

How did the knot hole target work,can't tell from the pic?
What indicates a hit?

There was a conventional field target sitting on a shelf cut behind the knot hole. You can see the regular target clamps in the picture, along with a second hold drilled for the reset string.

At the firing line you could see the KZ (3/8" at 11 yds, IIRC). The knot hole was big enough to see when the target properly fell over. But the knot hole wasn't big enough to tell what silhouette sat behind. Does anyone know what it was?

Bob, I believe it was a Squirrel N/T

The hunting cabin near Shenandoah valley and Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia:


A little time for sight in before we head to our motel, about 4 hours away in Galax:




Friday:
There was lots of cover at the range:


Sighting in was already underway when we arrived:




Brad Troyer and Hector Medina:


The competitors were given the opportunity to walk the course:




The pistol match was on Friday afternoon:






Saturday:
Dark, cold, wet:


The rifle match commences:






No breaks in the weather on Saturday:


Ammon Piatt seems fine with the rain (and wins the Hunter PCP class):



Sunday:
Sebastian Gerz shooting Open Piston:


Scott Hull shooting Open Piston:




The "Ray Gun":


Shoot through the knot hole and the KZ:


Eric Roehrle shooting Open Piston:


Perfect shooting conditions all Sunday:


Looking back at the sight-in range:


My Open Piston squad mates, Sebastian Gerz, Scott Hull (me), and Eric Roehrle:


Traveling companion, Jim Whittlesey, wins the shootoff for third in Open PCP:


The Pyramyd Air Team made a good showing:


The California crew. California took 1st in the team competition. Not shown - George Doganis who left early:


Back through the Mojave desert:




The gas oasis that saved us early in our trip:

monthly matches. Chris had put the terminator gtarget I made him in there too.