(Match Report by Tyler Patner)
With temps picking up and the humidity on the rise, the Northeast Ohio Airgunners held their July match on Sunday the 24th. With rain forecasted for later in the day, we were fortunate to get the match in before the storms came. We had 32 shooters join us this month including a few new shooters which is always great to see.
The course was set in the woods, using a similar layout to our June match but with some altered target placements. The course was a 32T and featured 17 targets over 40 yards, including 10 at or over 50. Thankfully, the wind wasn’t too aggressive but there’s no doubt that the long course and dark woods took their toll on some.
Before we get to the results, a big thank you to the small group that came out to help for setup. We had a few regulars that couldn’t attend due to conflicts, but as always, our membership stepped up to get the course built and ready for the match. Also, another thank you to Ashley Reily for building an immaculate bridge across lane 15 for us. There’s a creek that runs through the lane, and getting across the creek to place long targets has been very difficult, so this bridge makes life a lot easier.
In Open PCP, newcomer Joe Edwards and Gary Palinkas ended their respective days tied at 52. The tie was settled by a coin flip that saw Joe come out on top. Good shooting to both of you. Hunter Piston had 3 shooters, with Dan Putz laying down a strong 48/60 to take top honors. In WFTF Piston, Matt Uhler bested Jeff Paddock by a few shots, posting a 44. Matt continues to improve as the season goes on, progressively bettering his scores with each match.
In Unlimited, Rick Smelko shot a 55, a few shots better than Tim Baylor on 52. In WFTF PCP, Tyler Patner posted a 57. A big shout out to Briquelle March, shooting a 40, which may be her highest score to date! In Hunter PCP, Bill Rabbitt dropped just a single shot and finished with a 59! Very impressive stuff for the birthday boy. Well done.
Thanks again to everyone who attended, we appreciate the support and dedication. It was a long and hot day on the lanes for sure but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the challenge course.
Our next match is scheduled for August 28th, and we hope to see you all there. And if you’re up for a real challenge, the Burning River 120 was just announced and registration is now open. That will take place September 23-25 and is sure to be a great time!
Until next time, stay safe and we will see you on the lanes.
