So what was the differrence?

Before 2016 I had never placed in a titled match. In 2016, I scored points in every titled match I entered and was in the top 7 in the majority of the matches even though I was 50 milliseconds slower in 2016 than 2015 due to Cal's silliness. What was the difference?  Before I get to that let me give credit where credit is due.

All of the credit goes to the Lord.  Each day he gives me tasks and it is my job to do the best I can. He blesses me with wins and losses, with pain and joy, with adversity and successes. All the glory is his.  Alleluia Ruah in Hebrew is "Praise God's Spirit."

I credit my draw to Miss Kitty.  Three years ago I had hand surgery and could not shoot. As I recovered, I watched and copied Miss Kitty's draw.

I credit my accuracy to Rodeo Romeo.  We started out about the same time and his mentor lead him to believe that you have to learn to be fast before you learn to be accurate. That never made sense to me.  Seems like a lot of wasted wax so my training regiment is to learn quickness and accuracy at the same time.  He needles me that I am just a good 2nd place shooter and I recant that if he ever can get to me we will see who the best gunfighter is.

I credit my mental toughness to No Daisy and Shady Mike.  About 18 months ago No Daisy wrote a post about making adjustments. Prior to that I believed you should never adjust during a match.  No Daisy's post lead me to change my mind and now adjustments are the main part of my pre-shot mental and physical routine.  That Shady character up on the mountain is always taking my marbles (gold coins) and toughening me up for the matches that count.

So what is the difference between 2015 and 2016?  The difference  really comes down to mental toughness.  My last match at world really illustrates what I am talking about.  It was against Holli Day in the master gunfighter bracket.   I have tried to mentor her without success and I  believe she considers me a thorn or burr.  Anyway, prior to the match I say to her "Play for blood?", she says "sure",  phrases from her favorite movie.  Her first shot nicks the plate low left, her second shot is 3 inches closer to the light, I say to her "next one in the light", which she does, all in 4 flat speed.  Three shots and I sit down eliminated from the match.  I have not been able to beat her in months. Whenever we meet she gets that cold gunfighter toughness and puts me down in three.  Whatever she is thinking, whatever is her attitude, she needs to replicate that for every match. If she would do that she is unbeatable, men or ladies.

I shot poorly at World and I know the reason why.  It will be fixed prior to next season.  The only time I shot average was towards the end of the resurrection match which had a lot of speed in it and 75 shooters. I knew I was going to win after 60 shooters were eliminated even though three Arizona Gunslingers were left including two multi-champions.  I was in that "I ain't missing, bring the next shooter" zone.  Loverboy may say I am just a good 2nd place shooter, but as I say, "get to me and we will see."

The difference between 2015 and 2016 was mental toughness.  You can practice it. You can develop it.  There are club wide drills for it. Arizona Five is a great mental toughness drill.  How you train matters.  Don't practice missing.  Develop that cold hard gunfighter attitude.

See you in 2017.  Think Ruah coming back with the short gun and Everett again will try to master the long gun.  As Noah says, real men shoot the long gun.

Handicapping the Men's Top Gun Race

With less than 60 days to go the men's top gun competition appears to be pretty well defined. Gray Ghost appears to lead but is actually in 6th with 217 points because "they counted seven." Skagway Sam suffered the same affliction and actually is in 10th with 181 points.  Being in the top ten this late in the season is quite an accomplishment.

One would have says the favorites probably are Marshall Cooper (8th) and Powder Keg (9th).  Marshall has the potential to add 110 points while Powder Keg can add 104 points. A dark horses may be The Draw (5th), Boulder (3rd) and Vic Torius (7th).

The Old Timers: Short Keg (1st) Everett Hitch (2nd),  Buzzard Cooper(4th) and The Draw (5th) seem to be solidly in the top ten even if they fade as their points are in the bank.

The race for that 10th place buckle appears to be between three gunslingers, Skagway Sam (10th), Whiplash (11th) and Mongo (12th).  I would put my money on Whiplash because he only has 5 events, but it is his first World and an early out would put him out.  All three could be pushed out of the top ten by a stretch run by Oregon Ranger (26th) with three events or Master Gunfighter (19th) with three events.  

It is a credit to our sport that the top twelve shooters includes four Old Timers and two new shooters.  Clearly illustrates that our shooters can be competitive well into their retirement years and new shooters can reach the top within their first few years.

I must not have enough to do.  Looking at the shooters potentials, if they win out, I think their maximum score would be, Marshall Cooper 307; Everett Hitch 301; the Draw 288; Short Keg 287; Powder Keg 286; Master Gunfighter 283; Gray Ghost 279; Boulder Vaquero 278; and Oregon Ranger 254.  Of course, they all can't win out.


Looking at the tenth spot looks to me that it will take 210 points to sneak  in.  If Whiplash does not shoot, my money would be on Mongo since he has a 10 points to drop off to Skagway Sam's 26 points.  Mongo will have 60 points available to Sam's 44 points at World. Whiplash will have 70 points available.

September 13 update.  Whiplash finished 4th in Kentucky State Championship so I think that moves him up to 7th with 214 points. He now has six events so it will be harder to move up since new events replace lower placing events.  Mongo also placed 6th gaining 13 additional point to move to 184 points and 10th place.

Last chance before FGA is Nebraska this weekend.  Better come and shoot if you want to move up. 

FASTEST GUN ALIVE...A Showcase of “True Grit.”

FASTEST GUN ALIVE...A Showcase of “True Grit.”

Since most of our minds reside in 1880's, it was exciting to step back to a bygone era and fight it out for the honor to be called the best gunfighter in the world.  As a rookie to cowboy fast draw the entire event at times appeared to be much like the Buffalo Bill Wild(er) West Show.

More often than not your final standing was determined by a “single shot/hit.”  If the fastest, you won!  The crowds would then cheer as the announcer stated your alias and home state.  You stood there trying to look like it did not make a difference but you were cheering wildly inside.  If not yours, you walk off with true cowboy pride.   No one was there without extreme courage and commitment.  For over 85% of the shooters all you win is a “X.” To take home a prize from this event is the exception.   Those who won definitely did so by overwhelming skill and very little luck.  All of the 200 plus shooters wanted to earn the Top Shooter belt buckle and it showed.

Stud expressed to me, in his funniest cowboy manner, how strange it was to shoot against an octogenarian who said he had a pacemaker and only one good eye.  They blasted away and once again that last shot got Stud an “X” on his score sheet.  Later in the day, this winning elder statesman took a nap and ended up with an “X” for missing a follow-on match.  True grit is really just that.  Every cowboy with a sidearm and name tag came to play.

My final “X”, during the main match, came from Hell on Wheels.  This cowboy was not limited at all by his wheelchair.  He could drive nails in with each shot.   Those nails were putting the finishing touches on my coffin.  My age related ailments seemed minor when compared to this cowboy's true grit to get here and then win. Just before shooting me out of the match, Hell on Wheels had won the Quick and the Dead match defeating three dozen standing cowboys capable of all types of body English.  Hell on Wheels will always be a role model for me.

I watched in amazement as the "youth-boys" shot on our range between one of our matches.  The young-ins was shooting in the .4s and .5s with some in the .3s. While other members their age sit around playing video games and tweeting these youngsters were learning the cowboy way of life.  In this old cowboy’s opinion, in the end they will be much better off.   One family had three generations of shooters in the contest.

In my case, I was given the opportunity to compete against the top shooters we see all the time named in the Gunslinger's Gazette.  It was ugly at times but I did manage to win a match each day keeping me alive for another round.  I am proud to say: “I am the 132nd Fastest Gun Alive!”

Noah Chance asked me at the Awards Reception if I had a “fun time.” His cowboy friendly attitude is directly responsible for getting me into the sport. I paused on my answer since I was exhausted and already pre-occupied on how to get back to the 21th century.  But then it hit me. I did have “fun” sharing in others’ successes.

Thirsty got an award as a top five shooter in the Shootist category.  He had just taken up shooting a long gun and was glowing with pride.  Miss Kitty was given a Top Hand Award for all her volunteer efforts with the AZ chapter.  This year only 46 people were recognized with this national award.  She too had that look of inner pride that comes from a job well done.

Rodeo Romeo and Dry Gulcher ran the charity auction raising thousands of dollars for the Shoot for the Stars Scholarship Program.  Here were two AZ cowboy brothers doing their part for the association in outstanding style.  I saw Yowee, late Saturday afternoon, running across an open field (clutching her six gun and holster to her hip) with the latest line up for the Resurrection Finals.  Then all of a sudden off she goes at a full gallop back to the scorekeeper’s booth.  Yowee was definitely showing her “grit” to keep everything running smoothly.  She is always a great source for assistance to our members.

All of the AZ Gunslingers and Rio Salado Vaqueros took a very active part in the event and made me proud to be a member of both groups.  Shady Mike, Thirsty, AZ Thumber and Muletrain definitely provided me with the encouragement and the training I needed to compete.  Except for that single shot, in three matches, I almost won a buckle.  I actually pushed several of the fastest in the world to a 2-2 tie.

To my extended cowboy family “Thank you!”  Your support is greatly appreciated by this super senior cowboy who simply wants to be a  gunfighter and not feel like life is passing him by.  Without friends like you all, I would be lost in an era ran by computers and not cowboy ethics.

Just remember, often times being a gunslinger has less to do with the gun and more to do with your grit to get things done in the cowboy way. So put those reins in your mouth and practice, practice, practice for next year.  Remember the Duke! His way should be your way! So Charge!

Boss T