SAPSA
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Hi Guys
Just wanted to say that i think the round count for the first nationals at cape town
is a bit on the low side. I mean to travel all that way for 231 rounds is just not feasible
when taking into consideration the price of flights and accommodation.
Nazeem Khan
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Hi All I also agree. That match was very enjoyable and tough.
My thanks to the RO’s, admin office and others that assisted in the match and range building.
Firstly, commenting on the match, I think those small targets were great.
I hated most and my drops showed, but it brought back a simple aspect of looking
at that little thing on the front of the gun called a front sight (or dot for those fortunate enough).
Then, on roommate Geralds comments. I agree with him but also don’t know of how a solution can be achieved.
Shooting an entire weekend (for only 4 minutes of actual shooting) doesn’t go down well with
my wife, nevermind those helping who don’t even get to shoot. I think the comment about the briefing
is really good. At registration, everyone can sign a paper acknowledging that Comstock
refers to best 2 shots, Virginia is only 2 shots, etc. Then the briefing would be a lot quicker
and if the shooters sign the paper, they can’t go back saying they didn’t know that it was best 2 to count. Also,
only a fraction of people look here. I only look here every couple of months. Maybe, on the next Nationals registration o
r entry form to another one, we can have a questionnaire and get all the shooters opinions on these topics.
However, battling for time, I’m not going to volunteer
For it :P
CheerZ
Alan Bucke
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Hi Guys
Nice shoot
The Nationals in Pta were great. Stages were professional those stingy black and red targets were
professional and consistent (no I didn't like them too much either but they were effective).
The match was managed well and we didn't seem to wait too much.
However, most people get to shoot the entire match in less than about 4 minutes. 2 days to shoot for 4 minutes!!!!!!!
Look at least my detail has Eddie's, Joel's and Jan's bullsh. antics with which pass the time
but still its not much shooting for so much time spent away from work/home/whatever.
I guess shoots are done pretty much as they have been done since the start of 'ipsic'.
I am assuming I don't stand alone when I find that a Nationals of 2 entire days is a lot of time to afford.
I don't know what the solution is and if it would work but things could be tried.
E.g. Details of 4 or 5 MAX squadded to shoot 10 stages from 7am to 12pm and other details
squadded to shoot 10 stages from 12pm to 17pm. So a 20 stage National will have 40 small details.
The briefings could be reduced. The long generic speech can be given once at the beginning and
stage specific BRIEFings (start like this, shoot from there, there and there) could be given
at each stage in 30 seconds flat. Once again, hiring in 'patchers' and 'doppie pickers' will also speed things up no end.
We should actually enquire of the shooters whom we no longer see on the range why that is. I hazard a guess that their reason is time.
Regards Gerald Gardener
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Howzit Shooters
So how many misses did you have. The shoot was fantastic albeit with all
those horrible painted half targets. The range is fantastic, props were
very cool too, well done to the builders and organisers.
But we can always make things better.
I would like to re-iterate Geralds points from last year.
1. Waiting to shoot according to the schedule! Since when is being ahead
of schedule a bad thing? This happened to my detail on stage 9.
After 2 requests to start 20 min early we were told to wait and have a break.
But the shooting gods were watching and promptly ordered a
calibration gun request which took ~20 min. So from being 20min ahead of
schedule we were now 20 min behind schedule.
I hope all RO's can use this example to justify allowing an "ahead of schedule" situation...
2. The hired hands idea, yes in a country with cheap labour and high unemplyment the
organisers could get some extra hands to help with brass and patching.
My detail did it in PE and everyone was happy to pay R10 a day extra.
Hopefully future national organisers could try this.
Regards Stan Kaczor
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Dear Fellow Shooters
I enjoyed the Nationals and the tightness of the competition. On the whole it was run well
and the Eufees range which I was until now not familiar with is a great venue for Level 3
(and up) matches. There are a few aspects with regards to the running of the match
which would result in further enjoyment by shooters in general.
1. Inconsistencies Focus should be made on ensuring that what applies on one range applies
to all (e.g. Hands surrender has several definitions).
2. Waiting on open ranges If we*re ready to shoot let*s shoot.
We were made to wait up to 30 minutes to shoot a stage. The reason given was
to avoid a bottleneck further up the stages.
The quicker we get through the stages the quicker the shooters finish
the match. Personally I would rather take a 90minute break (and know it)
than 3 x 30 minute breaks.
The advantages of taking fewer longer breaks is that the shooter could rest,
watch others shoot, chat to others in other details, go peruse sponsors* stalls
or take lunch without worrying about missing the briefing.
3. Missing the point wrt shooting positions A stage in particular had a silly
rule about feet position. It made no difference whatsoever to prohibit toes
from extending over the edge of a platform.
The shooting position did not change on that stage, feet did not move
and absolutely no advantages were gained from feet positioning.
It seemed more a case of pedanticness from the RO*s side.
4. More labour in stages Most shoots overseas have hired hands patching
and painting. In a country with relatively cheap unskilled labour available
I can*t understand why we cannot hire people to patch and paint.
For an attendance of 160 people paying for 16 guys (1 stage) over 2 days
would cost R100 x 16 a day implying R20 each for the weekend.
That added to the shooters* entry fees takes it from R400 to R420. What a pleasure.
5. Redundant rigs on a stage The rulebook ruling on this is ambiguous and
open to interpretation. I cannot see why a shooter who starts with gun not in the
holster and no mags or ammo on him, needs to run around wearing his rig.
It also brings me back to point 1 above where some RO*s did allow it *.for a while.
Otherwise, the shoot was great and I*ll see you all at the next one.
Regards Gerald Gardener
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3rd Nationals: Pretoria:8/9 September2007
A big thank you to Sapsa,Ngpsa and everybody involved in making the recent
nationals such an enjoyable success.This was really one of the best, if not the best,
nationals I have attended in recent years. I had the privilege of shooting in
THE best squad ! Well done Squad 12, it was a joy and honour.
The RO's were great.......yip, you heard(read) correctly...the RO'S were really great.
As a competitor I actually felt welcome on the ranges.....thanks SAIRO. My heartfelt appreciation to everybody for their hard work.
regards Hendrik Brits
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March 16 2006 - Points for Building Ranges, doing admin
Feb 16 2006 - Has Been- Phils Comments
Feb 10 2006 - Pierre - SAPSA Teams Comments
Feb 10 2006 - Pieter - SAPSA Budget
Feb 4 2006 - Polla - Response to Some Thoughts on our Sport
Feb 1 2006 - Phil - Some Thoughts on our Sport