Martin Blanchette amde the trip down with me to lower NY. We had lunch in New Paltz and the proceeded to head for some practice at Mid Hudson SPorting Clays. The place is owned by a pair of competetive shooters. We hit the 16 station, fully automated of course. There were no puff targets there! All very interesting, testy and entertainning! We shot as many targets as we wanted due to the target counters that we had. So, if a certain target presentation was not hit well, we reshot it untill we got it right! We then hit the one and only Parcour de Chasse layout (FITASC). There were long shots in all directions and a pair that screamed low to the ground. Being a little rusty having only shot 125 targets since early December, I shot 15 and Martin 19. After much wine, great food and a few grappas at La Stazione, we headed for the hotel.SUnday morning after a high cholestrol breakfast, we headed for Orvis Sandanona across the Hudson. About 90 showed up for the shotgun start. It got very muddy due to the spring conditions. It even got up to 15C, so most of us shot in summer attire with our Le Chameau boots. 16 testy stations with two machines on each awaited us. There were 3 puff stations were one should not drop a target, but many did! STation3 had a driven target some 20 feet over your leeft shoulder and a looping R to L teal simo. That was the only hold up as there were 3 squads waiting. Everything ran smoothly.
I was in the groove and lucky. It is better to be lucky, than good and unlucky! As well the other dictum: If you think, you will stink! Worked well as I only dropped a few by thinking about them. In the end Martin got one more than me and tied HOA at 91. He got 2nd due to a tiebreaker. I got 3rd. A great way to start the season. The Hidefspex worked really well on the orange targets in the woods!!!
Pictures can be seen in my website at:
http://www.sportingphotsshop.com
The next major that I will attend is: The US Grand Prix FITASC and Palmetto Cup at Hermitage Farm in Camden, SC. The shoot is from April 3 through 5. Joe Cantey knows how to put on an event and set targets!
Regards,
Henry
