As the days got closer to May 1st the weather forcast began getting wetter and wetter for the Western Classic Trail Shoot. It was almost an after thought when I threw in the Under Armour Cold Gear and a wool shirt. But 2 years of hot weather and sunburns still were fresh in my mind as I packed 3 pairs of shorts and t-shirts. It’s always sunny at Redding right?
Thursday we arrived to a typical sunny day and shot the Pro- Am shoot. Both Doug and I appreciated the chance to get the cobwebs knocked loose on 12 targets. Let’s just say it was a good warmup and leave it at that ok?
Friday the tournament started with 25 targets. This year, we joined the “Whack’em, Track’em and Pack’em” team. This motley bunch has hunted together for years and it was a pleasure to meet the rogues gallery:
- Rich Howarth, AKA Monsterbull, has hunted turkeys and run trail runs with me twice. This was our first time shooting an archery tournement together. He shoots a Diamond Marquis, made by Bowtech.
- USMC Lt Col. Todd Holmquist took a break from his duties to join us. He is best described by Eleanor Roosevelt when she said: ““The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”. He was the other half of “Team Bowtech”
- Ed Howarth is Rich’s brother, who works in the paint and coatings business in Western Oregon. Ed didn’t say much but his shooting spoke volumes. He was consistantly one of the top scorers with his Mathews bow.
- Pete Hanes sardonic wit and sense of humor as dry as a Wall Street Martini kept us in stitches for three days. The words “I’m just sayin….’” now will cause the rest of the group of grown men to giggle uncontrollably from now on. He kept our spirits up when the weather had us at it’s mercy. He shot a Mathews Drenlin.
Doug, my buddy from Alaska and I rounded out the group. Doug shot his “Mutt bow” a Martin Scepter 4 with straight limbs and Nitrous “B” cams. I shot my 2009 Martin Warthog.
So we had a 3 brand shootoff going with bragging rights at stake. Martin Mathews and Bowtech…
It was overcast most of the day but we finished by 1:00 pm just as it started to rain. I found myself three points under my first day score last year.
Doug and Kat decided to catch a movie that afternoon so I caught a ride to the north side of the Sacramento river where a running trail took off. As they drove away, the rain began to fall in earnest and I was seven and a half miles from the hotel. What was I thinking?
So an hour and 20 minutes later I made it back to the hotel. It felt good to run in the rain, although I spent the evening getting my clothes dry again for the next day…
hilltop to Hotel
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