Directors' Message
The dust has settled and the 2009 BCRA Tactical Rifle Championship has finished for another year. With the exception of a few checks things progressed smoothly and a positive vibe predominated. Mother Nature even held off as long as she could and we only had a few hours of rain on the last day though some felt she ‘gamed’ us by saving it for the hardest matches.
It was great to see so many Tactical Rifle Alumni returning to compete but even nicer to see so many new shooters coming out as well. With entries from BC, Alberta and the U.S. attending it was a large field and a great showcase of talented shooters.
For those that couldn’t attend this year’s match, you were missed! This was especially true of Larry Hill whose passing saddens us all. Rest in peace Larry, gone but not forgotten.
On a happier note, through the generous support of our sponsors we were again able to provide a trip to the prize table for every competitor. There were an awful lot of smiles to be seen though none where able to rival the grin of our first place shooter as he held his new C14 Timberwolf! Congratulations to JP for his outstanding performance.
This year also saw us able to provide our competitors with a match package which included some useful and mandatory kit as well as the 09’ match hat. Available only to competitors, this quickly became a coveted piece of kit.
A sincere thank you to all the competitors, volunteers and especially the sponsors that made this year’s match a success. We have come a long way in the last few years and it is terrific to see the continued support and positive response from all of you.
Many thanks and see you in 2010,
Mike Cook - Ed Begg
2009 Sponsors
Once again, the BCRA Tactical Rifle Championship received excellent support from some of the premier names in our discipline.
Sponsorship is the life blood of any event and the Tactical Rifle Championship is no different. Being able to recognize competitors with trophies and practical awards goes a long way to ensuring the continued success of this event.
Other sponsors made it possible for us to pay for our barbeque on Saturday night as well as provide a very nice competitor’s package which includes the ‘BAD THINGS’ cap, Sniper 09’ patch, DCRA chamber flag and a lens pen as well as the documentation needed for the match.
In a terrific example of mentoring the sport, McMillan even designated a prize for our last place military shooter.
GOLD LEVEL
V Bull Precision
PGW Defense Technologies Inc.
DS Tactical
SILVER LEVEL
The Shooting Edge / Ruag
Hirsch Precision / Lapua
Wolverine Supplies
Tactical Tailor
BRONZE LEVEL
Abbotsford Tactical Shooters
Highland Rescue and Safety
Reliable Gun and Tackle
Italian Sporting Goods
Marksman Supplies
Atomic Flashlight
I.C.E. Integrated Combat Equipment
McMillan
One Shot Tactical
Match Scores
Individual Grand Aggregate HPS 800[/CENTER]
Rank Competitor Class Score
1 Jean Paul Job LE 762
2 Ryan Cicansky LE 748
3 Justin O’Mahony LE 747
4 Andrew Howton CIV 738
5 Ed Begg CIV 728
6 Mike Freisen CIV 684
7 Shawn Hardman LE 666
8 Darrel Buell MIL 664
9 Matt Hnatuk CIV 662
10 Wayne Foster CIV 658
11 Rob Engh CIV 644
12 Kris Caprarie LE 627
13 Keith Jordison LE 616
14 Craig Meyers CIV 609
15 Landyn Grant CIV 603
16 Rod Hadley CIV 600
17 Chad Crouch CIV 596
18 Richard Cho CIV 591
19 Ante Zulj CIV 586
20 John Larmont CIV 585
21 Rob Brooks CIV 581
22 Noel Wright LE 573
23 Shane Hofer CIV 567
24 Will Mackeigan MIL 559
25 Mike Cook MIL 549
26 Ed Hing CIV 530
27 Mike Johnson CIV 523
28 John Lengyeltoti MIL 514
29 Marlin Kachmar CIV 511
30 Barry Wills MIL 504
31 Nadine Foster CIV 493
32 Chris Ewert CIV 479
33 Randy Wilson CIV 475
34 Dave Harry CIV 469
35 Wayne Wills MIL 461
36 Kevin Hilliard CIV 458
37 Matt Moody MIL 456
39 Gregg Trigg MIL 454
39 Richard Simpson CIV 454
40 Brent Anderson CIV 450
41 M.Z. CIV 441
42 Adrain Slater LE 404
43 Stanley Pate MIL 401
44 Phil Scyner CIV 388
45 Wayne Zylik CIV 366
46 Knight Gumienny MIL 344
47 M.S CIV 334
48 Roy Yamada CIV 322
49 Chris Ng MIL 320
50 Bob Chafe CIV 300
51 Ken Petersen CIV 297
52 Claude Murdoche CIV 271
53 Brian Tansley CIV 264
54 William Burwood MIL 206
55 Ian Millar MIL 154
56 Darryl Porteous LE 134
Team Grand Aggregate
1 Cicansky/Job LE 1510
2 O’Mahoney/Caparie LE 1374
3 Howton/Meyers CIV 1347
4 Hnatuk/Freisen CIV 1346
5 Hardman/Jordison LE 1282
6 Grant/Couch CIV 1199
7 Hilliard/Begg CIV 1186
8 Hing/Engh CIV 1174
9 Foster/Foster CIV 1151
10 Brooks/Hofer CIV 1148
11 Cook/Mackeigan MIL 1108
12 Ewert/Hadley CIV 1079
13 Buell/Pate MIL 1065
14 Cho/Harry CIV 1060
15 Simpson/Larmont CIV 1039
16 Wright/Moody MIL 1029
17 M.Z./Zulj CIV 1027
18 Kachmar/Wilson CIV 986
19 Wills/Wills MIL 965
20 Johnson/Zylik CIV 889
21 Anderson/Scyner CIV 838
22 Ng/Trigg MIL 774
23 Millar/Lengyeltoti MIL 668
24 Murdoch/M.S. CIV 605
25 Petersen/Chafe CIV 597
26 Tansley/Yamada CIV 586
27 Knight/Burwood MIL 550
28 Slater/Porteous LE 538
Golf Ball Shoot
1 Wayne Foster
2 Rob Engh
3 Andrew Howten
3 Craig Meyers
3 Mike Cook
6 Ed Hing
6 Nadine Foster
8 Darrell Buell
8 Stanley Pate
8 Matt Moody
8 Brent Andersen
12 Noel Wright
12 Darryl Porteous
12 Adrian Slater
12 Rod Hadley
12 Will Mackeigan
Three Gun Match
1 Hofer/Brooks 125
2 Meyers/Howten 123
3 Engh/Hing 102
4 Hadley/Ewert 89
5 Slter/Porteous 76
Match Report
This year’s match fell on the weekend of 20/21 June and was held at General Vokes Range in Chilliwack, BC. Vokes Range is one of the nicest and best maintained ranges in Canada and it is a great venue for the competition.
Most competitors took advantage of the Friday sight in and it was busy enough to run three separate relays. The shooters had reasonable weather with overcast skies, even light and a very comfortable 18 degrees.
With a time limit of twenty minutes for each distance the day progressed quickly but most shooters felt they had enough time to refine their dope. There was a bit of socializing but the tight schedule kept everyone focused on equipment. Readily apparent was the usual mentoring as more experienced shooters lent a hand to get everyone sorted. For new shooters this was only a hint of the vast amount of knowledge that would be shared freely over the coming days.
Day One
Saturday morning dawned with a much improved weather report. Initially calling for heavy rain the day turned out partly sunny with temps in the low twenties.
As shooters arrived and proceeded to register, the scene outside the office resembled a homecoming as shouts of greeting and handshakes spoke of friends well met and acquaintances renewed.
As relays and targets where assigned, competitors received their match package which included sponsor information, the rules and course of fire as well as a personal scorecard. Also provided to each entrant was a DCRA chamber flag (mandatory use), a lens pen (fortuitous considering Sundays weather), a ‘Bad Things’ ball cap and commemorative embroidered patch.
Match package with rules/course of fire, DCRA chamber flag, lenspen from TSE, TacTailor hat, embroidered patch from Abbotsford Tactical Shooters and the 5.11 Professional catalogue from DS Tactical.
At eight o’clock, everyone headed for the line and we proceeded with the trigger weigh in. This was an excellent opportunity to compare equipment and some good natured ribbing ensued. As testing went on more than one rifle failed including one with a pull of only 17 ounces. Some competitors had to make quick adjustments to avoid being bumped into Open Class.
Once everyone had an inspection sticker affixed to their gun it was time for a quick brief by the Match Directors on safety and rules. From here the RSO took over and we were off and running.
The first match was a single 100m cold bore shot on an ISF 20 meter airgun target. Worth a possible 100 points it surprises many competitors with a less than perfect score.
The second match of the day was Ed’s Dot’s. The nemesis of many, this match allows a maximum of ten shots, one each at any of twenty .75 moa targets. Each target is worth ten points for a HPS of 100. The caveat is that if you miss one at any point your score is zero. There where some amazing performances turned in including a couple 80's but there where also many, many zero’s. The ‘trick’ they say is to know when to stop.
The next two matches at 200m involved shooting off a roof and then off your partners shoulder. Several teams came up with innovative ways for dealing with these challenges and an erratic breeze added to the fun. HPS 100 each match.
Match five is the popular FIBUA or Hotel stage. Competitors have one shoot and two no shoot 5 cm x 7.5 cm targets randomly placed in the thirty windows of a building. With six second exposures to challenge cognitive and decision making skills it’s a good match. While a standard 100 HPS it is also possible to score minus 100 by shooting the wrong targets.
The sixth match of the day was the ‘Whack a Mole’ Match. Shot from 300m while standing in a foxhole, shooters start at the 400m line and have sixty seconds to run 100m, get in the trench and fire one round at a fig.14. This is followed by nine more five second exposures for a total of ten shots and a HPS of 100
As the RSO’s cleared the line most where pleased with the day. The few scattered showers we had where more refreshing than a bother and the general consensus was that we’d had perfect shooting weather.
With the regular match over, most headed for the ‘wailing wall’ to check posted scores. As the barbeque was fired up, people made themselves comfortable and discussed the day.
Meanwhile, a dozen shooters headed back to the mound. Being run as separate stand alone matches, the ‘Golfball’ shoot and the ‘Three Gun’ where about to start. The Golfball Match is ten metal disc’s the size of golfballs attached to a 2 x 4. For ten dollars you have ten shots from 200m and highest score takes the pot. There is enough talent that we usually need a shoot off and this year was no different. Resolved in one round the winner pocketed a respectable $180.
At about this time most of the competitors where tucking into plates of hotdogs, hamburgers and steaks. Lots of fresh salad and beverages rounded out the feed. As belts loosened and legs stretched a general sense of well being ensued.
Not so for the 5 teams competing in the three gun. Lunch must have seemed a long time past as dusk started to settle in on the ten shooters waiting at the 600m mound. As the match started, one team member dropped prone and fired 5 rounds with their precision rifle. Then it was up and running for the 500m line where the precision rifle was again used for 5 rounds and then again at 400. As the teams moved from 400m to 300m the team member with the containment rifle stepped up. Firing prone at 300m, kneeling at 200m and standing at 100m, they too would have 5 rds. at each distance to add to their overall score.
Proceeding to 50m, both team members drop to a kneeling position and fire 5 rounds from their pistol followed by 5 rds. Standing at 25m.
As the scores where tallied these last ten made their way back to the barbeque for some well earned nourishment and rest.
Day Two
Sunday started with steady rain which pretty much tapered off to drizzles as the first match of the day began.
Firing a single cold bore shot from 600m, match seven is usually cause for an interesting mix of elation, acceptance and disappointment from the shooters. With a 15cm V Bull worth 50 points this was one of those stages that like stage two, really started to spread out the scores.
Match eight took the line back to 300m for ten rds. of prone unsupported shooting. Dubbed the ‘Old School’ match, it quickly became apparent who had been practicing with their sling and there were even a few people shooting unslung, not an easy task with that long and heavy barrel.
Match nine saw shooters having to aim through a window and again, teams came up with some interesting solutions.
Next up where moving targets at 400m and as usual, match ten had a steep learning curve for some. With random and inconsistent target speeds and a half second bullet flight time shooters were additionally challenged by a steadily increasing rain.
Match eleven is the aptly named ‘Agony’ shoot. Shot prone at 500m, shooters have 25 exposures spread over fifteen minutes. Consisting of very similar shoot and no shoot targets and very short exposure times, this match is usually a drain on competitors and this year was no different. As the first two relays came off the line, most hunkered down under rain gear and ponchos for some much needed rest.
By the time match twelve came around we had a rain worthy of the name. With fogging optics and the challenges of keeping tight chambers dry, shooters settled in at the 600m line for ten shots in five minutes. With poor light and soaked flags, most shooters where unaware of a left to right wind that crossed the middle ground. Packing an unseen punch, most competitors failed to allow for it and their groups at the right side of the target boards told the tale
As the teams came off the mound and started wiping down their equipment the scores where tallied. A brief hiccup in the scoring program caused a twenty minute delay and it could have turned ugly but fortunately there was cake! With everyone mollified the awards got under way.
First up was our returning champ from last year. As top shooter JP was respionsible for drawing our two random door prizes. Both the Savage 300 WM with Optic and the 5.11 Sureshot Ballistic Calculator Watch were very well received.
Patience will be rewarded and that was certainly the case as JP was now presented with the top prize, a PGW Defense Technologies C14 Timberwolf. The grin on his face as he held his new rifle was akin to a five year old on Christmas morning and the resounding applause was humbly received.
As the rest of the shooters where recognized there was more genuine applause and handshakes all around. For a second year it was again possible to provide a trip to the prize table for every single competitor.
Great times.
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