2009 ARIZONA STATE SCOPE BPCR SILHOUETTE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Last year "Duke" Venturino and his side kick "Snake Hips" Tompkins blew into town and took the "Cactus Trophy" back to Montana with them after thawing out in the Arizona sun.

Well this year it was "Snake Hips" Ted's turn to take advantage of us and he did so very handily by shooting a 33X40 to win the Arizona State Scope Championship. "Snake Hips" and the "Duke" are really having fun coming to Arizona and "having their way" with us. We enjoy their company, but I'm hoping that next year someone from Arizona puts a little rain on their parade!

Second Overall was Oregon shooter Kerry Kegel with a  32X40. 

Kerry had to win the Second Overall trophy by out shooting 4 time National Mid-range Champion Chip Mate in a shoot-off.

Chip and Lee Bumbalow were the only two Arizona shooters in the top ten in the scope match this year. Numerous trips from Payson to the Ben Avery range to practice with a scope paid off for Lee. He shot a 29X40 which was good for 7^th place overall and the AA class win.

Shoot-offs were the word of the day as 2^nd and 3^rd Overall, 2^nd and 3^rd Master, 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd AAA, 2^nd and 3^rd AA, and 2^nd place in A had to be decided by shoot-offs.

This can get a little tense for the match director, having to organize all of this before the final scores can be tabulated, but thanks to the help from Bob Delatorre and Don Petersen the winners were determined and could be recorded on the score board.

Sherrie Taylor was also instrumental in helping me sort out the mess and I want to thank her for that.

This year was also the first year that we filled up the scope match with 48 shooters!

I had two shooters waiting in case someone dropped out and unfortunately they weren't able to shoot. Next year we will make a special effort to acquire target setters for the scope match which will allow us to accommodate all comers.

With the competitors getting older the scope match is growing so next year, which is our tenth anniversary, I hope we finally have an Arizonan holding the "Cactus Trophy" at the end of the day.

See you then.

Steve Rhoades

Match Director