MS Classic Update?!?!

Was a great match first large match for me! I had a great time. Thanks to John for putting on a great match and all the RO's who worked so hard to keep it running. With as many shooters as there were, I was thoroughly impressed by how smoothly it went, and how fast we were able to roll through stages, safely. Congrats to all of our MSGO winners as well.

I just have to echo what was said by those above. The Classic has always been a good match, but it just keeps getting bigger and better. Big props to John and all of the volunteers and match staff, from the local guys and gals that work their behinds off to the ones that travel in from out of town to assist, as well as all of the sponsors that help make it possible. Of course it didn't hurt that the weather was great this year, too. Ok, it was a little hot Friday (but we avoided the rain), and a little cool Saturday (did I just say that about Mississippi in May?), but Sunday was perfect and all things considered (like past monsoons and near miss storms), I am not complaining! Thank you also to the competitors that came and enjoyed the match.

It is really hard to believe this is my 12th Classic in a row. I shot the 2000 Classic as my third match ever, and I have worked and shot it ever since, including one year as pseudo match director. This was my second year getting the "easy" job of running the chrono station (see pictures below). I'm a little surprised John put me back on it after last year, but I do appreciate his vote of confidence. Mrs. Corley and I had pretty smooth sailing this time, and since I ran 500+ rounds over the chronos through 150+ guns in addition to shooting the match as a competitor, I think I can safely say I shot more rounds and guns this weekend than anyone else present at the match. Ha!

I shot a very solid match for me on Friday, easily the best Classic I have shot in several years. I only had 3 really great stages, but only one bad one and one that I shot a bit too conservatively. I had one Mike for the match and shot 183 A's, 2 B's, 57 C's, and 11 D's. A few more D's than I would have liked, but that adds up to somewhere between 90-95% of the available points at the match, so I was in the right ballpark overall I think. I shot most of the match with a great squad, many of whom I don't get to shoot with very often. I had my nephew's high school graduation to attend that night, so I shot ahead when they broke for lunch and had the pleasure of shooting with Chris and Gale B's squad for a couple stages. Congrats to both Chris and Haydn for their respective wins, as well as all of the other winners. Kale G., High Overall in Production, was in this squad as were a couple of other quick open and limited shooters. However, I think I enjoyed most watching Chris' "son #2", Carter, shoot. I shot with them on the stage with the closing window (Stage 7), and Carter at first doubted his ability to get all of the targets before the window closed. The squad was supportive, as was Chris of course, and sure enough he got them all without difficulty. You could tell he was proud afterwards, and he asked a few other folks, including me, if we were able to get everything before "Game Over!" appeared in your face. Good stuff, and I look forward to watching both Haydn and Carter continue to shoot and improve.

Blake Miguez was mentioned above. Well, the Texas Star wasn't the only thing he shot well. He won every stage in Limited Division, which is pretty impressive to say the least. I thought I had a chance for possible stage wins with one or more of my three better stages, but no dice. I think 97%, 95%, and 94%, respectively, was as close as I could get to him on them. I ended up with seven 2nd's, a 3rd, a 5th, and a 10th, and am definitely not disappointed in the outcome.

I didn't run the hat camera this weekend as I had way too much else to keep up with, chronos, scales, radios, a 4 wheeler, chrono bullets for 200+ competitors, shooting the match, etc. However, here are a few pictures of my "office" for the weekend, taken by Mrs. Corley. 2011 Chrono station brought to you by McDade's Wine and Spirits:


Chronographing a competitor's 115 grain minor load. Yep, they made Minor no problemo. The two infrared CED chronograph's (one is the club's, one is borrowed) ran within 10 fps of each other all weekend. Generally the one on the right, although connected to the farther two sensors, was faster, although not for this particular shot:


Running some more rounds through the "coffin":

(Just for the record, the pasters are covering holes from the replacement chrono staff that filled in on Friday when I left for the graduation. Mrs. Corley pasted them, and I think she did so to test me. Ha! I am proud to say that no chronograph equipment was harmed in any way during the entire weekend...)