A while back I sent in my entry to participate in the World IDPA Shoot and I intended to shoot in SSR.
Unfortunately I put the circle in the wrong place on the form and I ended up in ESR.
A few weeks back when I realized that I was in the wrong division I sent an e-mail to head office about this but was not afforded the courtesy of a reply.
Today I called the office and they pulled my paperwork to take a look and they informed me that my form was clearly marked, ESR rather than SSR. OK I have no problem in believing this, so what is the issue, other than my stupidity which I will freely admit. I was also told that in the match material it clearly states that no division changes are permitted so I am now stuck in ESR, like it or not.
One small problem, I don't have a 4 inch gun for ESR. If I had a 4 inch gun for this division I would have shrugged my shoulders and just got on with it.
I was told by
Robert kindly offered to get me a loaner and I know enough folks in Florida that I can probably make my own arrangements if I really want to, which I will probably do in the end. That is not the point though.
The final kicker is this drama is fact that there are still slots left, so in theory I could make another application at $300 in addition to the original $250 that I have already paid to try and get a slot slot in SSR if I really want to shoot this. This will be a fine of $300 for a circle in the wrong place if I got the slot. Ooch!
Does this make sense to anyone out there?
Robert was very polite and he explained that the logic behind the no change policy is intended to stop competitors (sand baggers) from jumping divisions when they see the competition that they are facing.
So the moral of the story is check your paperwork carefully if you plan to shoot a match like this with IDPA as a simple mistake could cost you. Better still, if you need them, make sure you find those glasses before you tackle the paperwork as this might also help you to avoid the issue entirely!
As for myself I am so turned off by the stupidity of this situation that I am seriously considering kissing goodbye to my entry fee and forgetting about the whole thing.
Am I out to lunch here, or do we need a few changes in IDPA HQ to accommodate the ordinary shooter who is willing to stump up the fee to support a match like this? There is $250 for entry plus travel to Florida, hotels meals and so on and so on....
If there are problem people sort them out, don't discourage new IDPA shooters (like myself) from even trying to participate in an event by having them encounter a level of bureaucracy that, in my albeit biased opinion beggars belief.
What do you think?
Unfortunately I put the circle in the wrong place on the form and I ended up in ESR.
A few weeks back when I realized that I was in the wrong division I sent an e-mail to head office about this but was not afforded the courtesy of a reply.
Today I called the office and they pulled my paperwork to take a look and they informed me that my form was clearly marked, ESR rather than SSR. OK I have no problem in believing this, so what is the issue, other than my stupidity which I will freely admit. I was also told that in the match material it clearly states that no division changes are permitted so I am now stuck in ESR, like it or not.
One small problem, I don't have a 4 inch gun for ESR. If I had a 4 inch gun for this division I would have shrugged my shoulders and just got on with it.
I was told by
Robert kindly offered to get me a loaner and I know enough folks in Florida that I can probably make my own arrangements if I really want to, which I will probably do in the end. That is not the point though.
The final kicker is this drama is fact that there are still slots left, so in theory I could make another application at $300 in addition to the original $250 that I have already paid to try and get a slot slot in SSR if I really want to shoot this. This will be a fine of $300 for a circle in the wrong place if I got the slot. Ooch!
Does this make sense to anyone out there?
Robert was very polite and he explained that the logic behind the no change policy is intended to stop competitors (sand baggers) from jumping divisions when they see the competition that they are facing.
So the moral of the story is check your paperwork carefully if you plan to shoot a match like this with IDPA as a simple mistake could cost you. Better still, if you need them, make sure you find those glasses before you tackle the paperwork as this might also help you to avoid the issue entirely!
As for myself I am so turned off by the stupidity of this situation that I am seriously considering kissing goodbye to my entry fee and forgetting about the whole thing.
Am I out to lunch here, or do we need a few changes in IDPA HQ to accommodate the ordinary shooter who is willing to stump up the fee to support a match like this? There is $250 for entry plus travel to Florida, hotels meals and so on and so on....
If there are problem people sort them out, don't discourage new IDPA shooters (like myself) from even trying to participate in an event by having them encounter a level of bureaucracy that, in my albeit biased opinion beggars belief.
What do you think?
