Well, Winter Range is in the books. Congratulations to all of the shooters and especially the top three in each bracket. Rodeo Romeo won Bracket A coming from the 6th seed, a truly difficult task since the shoot off was a 1 x 2 winning shot affair. Rodeo was the toughest gunfighter at the event.
We had 90 shooters which put our 6 lane range at 150% of capacity. We had to adjust the format a bit going to Nevada Eight for the entire main match and then Best Two shot shoot off 1 x, but we got it all done before the sun set. The club in a box was in the box before dark thanks to all the gunslingers that stayed to put the range away.
The large numbers meant that the pot was large, payout was 80%, with substantial money going to California (Cowgirl Up), Colorado (Wench), and Iowa/South Dakota/Arizona (wherever Sky now calls home). Bracket winners were: A. Rodeo Romeo, Hell on Wheels, and the Draw; B. Grey Wander, Cowgirl Up, Sky Queen; C. Quiet Thunder, Wench, and Calaboose Bill. We had a little trouble getting Quiet Thunder to the photo op, with his protestation that he was not familiar with the routine, but I know that is not true since he put me out at the Springs last year.
Shootist Winners were Ladies: Miss Kitty and Wench; Men: Brasada Spur, Noah Chance, and Dirty Dan.
The cat factor kept us from using the best 5 shot option, more on that in a later blog. Next year, whether it is a Jackpot shoot or a State Championship, we will have two 6 lane ranges, the Loess Hills Paladins (another later blog) are committed to a second range for 2019 Winter Range raising our capacity to 120 shooters
On a personal note, I shot about as well as possible hitting at a better that 75% at low 4 quickness breaking down into the 3s for the SASS competition. No match for the entire week was less that 60% with most better than 80% except the last match (50%) which was a two winning shot format.
Unfortunately, we had to go to a two winning shot format for the shoot off since each bracket had more than 30 shooters in it. This format does not allow for sufficient shots to have a valid test of gunfighting ability. It make Rodeo's feat all the more remarkable.
Weather for the Jackpot Shoot was a bit nipping in the morning, but by mid day it was perfect. Hope to see you all next year at Winter Range. If you have never experienced it come early, more vendors than anywhere else, 800 plus SASS shooters, 5 days of practice if you want, then a big money jackpot shoot on Saturday or maybe a titled match, we will see. I'm lobbying for the 7 x shoot. (Another later blog)
