Club Points

 I write this post for the board members of the Association of Arizona Gunslinger because I know this will come up for discussion for next year and because of some whining.

Rodeo:  Rodeo has been complaining that he could win seven event and still not win the top gun award.  That is simply false.  Rodeo has 4 wins, Hitch 4 wins, Shady Mike 2, and Muletrain 1.  Rodeo will not win because he only has 6 events.  To win top gun you have to participate.  If you don't shoot, you are not going to do well.   The nonsense about winning seven and not winning is about the points being weighted according to the number of shooters at an event.  What we do is what CFDA does.

CFDA Top Gun:  CFDA points are weighted according size of the shoot.  State titled events are worth 40 points, Territorial titled events are worth 50 points, National is worth 60 points, World is worth 70.  The more shooters there are the more points are in play.  We do the same.  Our points are inverse of actual standings.  If we have 45 shooters it is 45 points event.  We follow the CFDA policy of weighing the points by the size of the shoot.  Rodeo can whine about the snow birds all he wants.  Our point system is fair.  He had an equal opportunity to shoot in the January shoot, a larger shoot, as did all other members.  To complain about the weighing is just whining.

 

Speed Bias:  For scoring convenience, there is a speed bias in the CFDA scoring program.  For the national top gun system it in not a problem because for those in competition, say the top 20 shooters, all of the points come from "recognized places"  for which shoot offs are required.  There is no speed bias at the national level.  However, at the club level the speed bias is a real problem.  For illustration, Rodeo always gets more points than he deserves.  Rodeo can be shooting poorly and can be with a group with the same x count and he will always get top points because he is the quickest.  Month after month this bias adds up.  I have no answer for this bias but we do mitigate it in part.

Speed Bias Mitigation: We score by actual standings.  Rio using standings after the seeding rounds.  At Rio there is no opportunity to over come the speed bias.  To compete for top gun you need to finish in bracket A.  Because we use the actual standings after the shoot off, a shooter has the opportunity to overcome the speed bias.  Our system is like the national system wherein the points are determined on the line by shoot off.

One Point Differential: In our system point decease 1 point per place.  The national system decreases by more for the top 6 places.  I would suggest that our system is better for club use because there really is not much difference between 1st and 2nd.  Who gets first might result from speed bias, luck of the draw, or who has fastest load, as much as who is the better shooter.  It all balances out in the long run.  What is more important, under our system every shooter gets at least 1 point for shooting. For Master Gunfighter, Gunfighter and Sheriff this is not significant.  But for Deputy, it will matter as to awards.  Look at the places for this year.  Those bottom points will matter.  At Rio only 20 shooters get points.  If we had a 40 points system only 35 would get points.  If a shooter comes and shoots, he should get points.

Changes:  I think the system has really worked well.  The only change I might suggest is that maybe we should eliminate the overall youth award. We really do not have enough youth participation to justify the overall youth award.  I have not observed any problem with sandbagging.  Almost all of the shooter take pride in moving up in bracket.  The bracket awards really expands participation in the awards.

What might have been!

The 2020 and 2021 Arizona State fell victim to the cancel culture.  It is really unfortunate because a unique and great format had been planned which now will probably never see the light of day. I  am going set forth the format so that if other clubs might want to use all or part of it, they can consider it. The unique features were the following:

Shoot down to the magnificent 7 the first day:  Most title matches shoot 7or 8 rounds and finish mid day.  There is enough time to shoot down to the magnificent if you start promptly and are efficient in the use of your range time.  This has been done  at several title matches in 2021. The only complaint you hear is that it is too tiring.  In response, I would suggest that fatigue only affects small number of the shooters and it is not nearly as tiring as shooting long in a bracket, i.e 10 rounds or more, then finishing main match, i.e. 5 rounds or more, then having to shoot in the magnificent finals.  That is a long day and probably affects the outcome of the event.

If it takes 6 hours of range time to shoot the main match, it really does not matter whether you shoot 5 hours the first day and 1 hour the second day or 6 hours the first day.  It is probably more efficient to shoot it all the first day.  Our affection for just 7 or 8 rounds comes from the desire to "make it to the second day."  We dislike the elimination.  With this format, everyone remains in play for prizes and substantial cash on the second day.

Administration: By shooting down to the magnificent the first day, you can have the rounds drawn in advance for the second day and start promptly.

There are two ways title matches are run.  Divisions are assigned to specific ranges or divisions are rotated on all of the ranges.  Rotating divisions is much more efficient because there is no down time between rounds.  Normally, the next round is at the table before a round is finished.  While you are shooting the men, you draw the ladies and youth.  While you shoot the ladies and youth, you draw the men.  Paper flows evenly and there is plenty of time to input scores and draw rounds.  When you assign specific divisions to specific range, all shooter start and finish at about same time, so there is down time to draw the next round.  Ten or fifteen minutes between rounds add up especially when 3 or 4 ranges sit idle.

Every shooter was going to be shooting for prizes and cash every day. Recognized places:  At most state events there are between 25 to 30 recognized places.  Because recognized places must be determined on the line much range time is used having shoot offs for place.  Why not have the format determine all of the recognized places.  This was going to be done by have 14 recognized places for the magnificent shooters and then 12 recognized places 1st, 2nd and 3rd in four second chance brackets. There was going to be 26 recognized places. As an option, if you want more recognized places you can have 5 brackets with 3 places (29), or 4 brackets with 5 places (34). (The computer can handle 5 brackets)  In any event, the format determines the recognized places without excessive shoot offs.  And every shooters is still shooting for prizes and cash every day.

 

Cash Prizes Money:  The cash prize money of $4,000 was going to be divided equally between the magnificent shooters and the second chance shooters.  In addition to buckles and other awards 26 shooters were going to win not less than $100 and not more than $250 each.  The bracket shoots were going to be second chance to insure that the prize money was spread around. With this format there would be 26 money winners.  If you used a true bracket match (including all shooters) you might only get 14 money winners if all the magnificent shooters also won all places in the brackets, which is possible but not likely.

Summary: There is nothing in this that has not been done before. If my memory is correct, we shot down to the magnificent the first day at the Southern in 2021 and also at Southern in 2020 finishing before 3:00. I remember because I left to go to Palo Duro Canyon missing a large shoot off for place.  I remember cash awards in the 2nd chance shoot at Idaho.  

What might have been.  Try this you will like it.

 

NEAR MISSES!

 I attended a titled shoot in California in May.  After that shoot two gunslingers came down with covid.  I don't know if they got it there, they may have gotten it traveling to or from.  I had no contact with one and very little contact with the other.  At least, because of the timing of the onset of the disease, the one I had contact with probably was infected at the time. A near miss.

In August, I was at another titled match.  I watched a good friend shoot and it was obvious to me that he was ill.  I was there giving him encouragement and checking on his welfare, thinking the heat was affecting him.  He left the event early and later tested positive.  Another near miss.

I survive near misses probably because I am, by nature, a bit standoffish.  During competition I tend to stay by myself. A fault I am working on but now probably is a good trait. 

Since then one of our shooters on the mountain has tested positive.  We aggressively pursued treatment for him.  It took us two weeks to get medicine to treat the disease.  This is a disgrace!   The medical community has been brow beat into denying treatment for covid.  It is available, but you got to work to get it.  The doctors who have successfully treated patients have form an alliance, Front Line Critical Care Alliance, flccc.net.  Don't listen to the media attacks on them.  It is all lies to deny you treatment and promote the money making vaccines.

Safety:  Our titled events are probably low risk because they are outdoors with good spacing and ventilation.  However, travel is high risk, especially if by airplane.  I am going to drive to World to avoid airplanes.  The Delta virus is many times more infectious than the original virus.

What can you do at a titled event?

Use all the space available to you. Don't stand on top of each other.  Wash you hands.  Carry disinfectant and use it after every match.  It should be part of your cleaning routine. 

If you feel ill, stay away.  Understand that if you are vaccinated, you may have immunity only against the original virus which is probably extinct by now.  You are not immune from the Delta variant. Vaccinated person can catch Delta and spread it.  Delta is worst than the original virus and much more infectious.

If you are so inclined, start a preventative treatment plan.  It works.  Or in the alternative, have the medicine needed to treat the disease on hand so you can start treatment upon the first symptom. I will rely on preventative treatment until after World then I will wait with treatment medicine in the house.  With treatment the illness runs it's course in about five days.  Without treatment death may happen.  Know that currently if you go into the hospital you will get "supportive care" only.

 

"I come to dance!" Royal Wade Kimes

Fight the good fight!

Fight the good fight!

What the U.S. government and the medical community is doing borders on criminal.  There is a safe and effective treatment for covid-19. These deaths are simply the result of the medical community denying treatment for those who need treatment for covid-19.  The government has dictated to doctors and hospitals that treatment should be withheld.  It is hard to get the medicine that would cure covid-19.  The protocol is known as I-Mask + for prevention or I-Math for hospital treatment.  It works.  See flccc.net

A good friend is fighting the good fight right now. It is hard to get treatment when the government is against you.  But you got to fight.  We shall get him treatment.

Don't think that because you have been vaccinated you are safe.  You are not. Of my friends and family, those who have gotten covid-19 are evenly divided between those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.  Today, I listened to a podcast by a treating doctor who today had received 25 positive tests back on patients of which 17 had been vaccinated.  Whether you have been vaccinated or not you are going get covid-19, unless....

You got to fight the good fight.  Demand from your health care provider preventative treatment, you can get it.  If they will not give you to it, get someone else.

I have sufficient doses to get me through Nebraska and the World's.  Then I don't know what I will do.  I don't like taking drugs even if they are as safe as aspirin.  I may stop the I-Mask+ protocol and be prepared to treat the virus when I get it.  I am committed to staying strong.  I am going to lose a pound per week and am going to get fit. 

I will fight the good fight.  I will demand my doctor provide to me and my family good treatment.  I urge every gunfighter demand and get a plan of preventative treatment before they go to titled events.  To do less means that we lose more legends before their time.

 

Boy, it is going be fun!

 The forecast for September 4th at Sky Wolf Ranch is for a high of 94*.  That is spring like weather for here.  We expect about 30 shooters but we can handle more.  We will have 3 brackets if we get 36 or less shooters.  If we get 37 or more, we will have have four brackets.  If we get 49 or more, we will have 5 brackets.

If we have 30 shooters with 8 in the money that is 25% of the shooters will be in the prize money.  If we have more shooters, there will be more in the money.

For you greedy gunslingers, you can double your money if you win both the main match and your bracket, you would think this would be easy to do, but in our test shoot, that did not happen.  We shall see.

It will be a blast.  See you tomorrow at Pioneer for an Arizona  Bracket shoot.

Sky Wolf Ranch Jackpot Shoot

 The Sky Wolf Ranch Jackpot Shoot - Added will be held on September 4th, 2021.  It will more like a CFDA titled match than most of our club shoots here in Arizona.  Here are some of its novel features.

Added:  The corporate sponsor, Loess Hills Paladins, Inc, is warranting the purse.  If there is not enough shooters to fund the prize money, Loess Hills will "add" the additional money needed.  Payout is 2/3 prize money with 1/3 going to the venue. Entry fee is $15.  Prize money will not be less than $300.

Last Man Standing:  It will be a 2x last man standing shoot at championship distance and targets.  There will also be a 3x last man standing bracket shoot at championship distance and targets.

Five Shot Option: We will use Arizona Five because it sorts better and saves range time. By using Arizona Five we will be able to give every shooter 5 xs instead of 3 or 4 xs.  Rules are as set for in CFDA five shot format except there are no ties or tie breakers in Arizona Five.  0-0 or 1-1 results in an X for both shooters. 2-2 results in a W for both shooters.  All shooters leave the line at the same time.

Simultaneous Bracket Shoot:  After round 2 of main match a bracket report will be run and all shooters will be placed in brackets.  We anticipate three brackets.  The simultaneous bracket shoot will begin after round 3 of main match.  Shooters will only shoot in bracket match after they are eliminated from main match. For an explanation see my March 7th, 2021, post.

Late Arrivals:  Sign in is 7:00 a.m., summer hours.  For some coming a substantial distance, they may want to come late and skip the main match.  If they get here before registration finishes for the bracket shoot, we will let them enter the bracket shoot in their appropriate bracket.  We have yearly bracket reports on most shooters.

Additional Sponsors:  As of today the purse is $300 which will be divided 1st $50, main match, and three brackets, 2nd $25 main match and three brackets.  If any one else would like to be a sponsor, please contact me.  Sponsors will be recognized at the shooter's meeting and on the face book. It would be great if we could get more sponsors to "add"  to the pot.

Tune up gone awry!

I thought we had a pretty good speed warm up session on Friday for Rio, but perceptions can mislead.

That gunslinger from Alamosa won the marble match hitting better than  90% at mid three speed shooting a borrowed rig and gun. I heard he offered big dollars for the rig and gun, but only left with some parts to duplicate the gun. At Rio, he did reasonable well shooting the same rig and gun until he ran into the system in the shoot offs.

That crippled lady from Buckeye showed great determination making steady progress.  She has shown some speed recently and Friday she hit a legitimate .340.  If she will learn the system, she will be unbeatable when the boot comes off in 4 weeks. Not to rile up the daughter, but she better stop wasting all that wax or she will be the slow one in the family.  The daughter did put me out of the shoot offs at Rio, might have been pay back from treating her beau so summarily.

I thought I had a good warm up Friday, but it turned out to just be foolish folly.  After Alamosa collected his loot I tried the Rodeo/Thirsty technique and shot a few WR times.  It made me hopeful. Grailfever is a dreadful disease.  At Rio, I missed my first 16 shots, losing two matches and only getting an over time win in the third. I then reverted to the system and shot pretty well until the final match of the main match when grailfever struck again.  

I must mention that No Name won the event going clean in the main match. Great shooting pardner!  He was beaten in the shoot offs, but at Rio shoot offs don't count.  First place in the points is the winner!

Lesson for me is to go back to the bucket.  Shoot the system.  When I shoot the system, I am pretty tough, when I chase the grail, I am just another flash in the pan.