Greetings all,

It has been some years since the last match I shot in France, other than the Med Cup, and it was good to be back. If you are looking for a challenge, you will find no better than your average level III in France. It seems they like to make things harder here than most places. There is a tendency in most matches these days to make things rather easy, so that everyone, no matter what level, can have fun. Not here. Here they like it HARD.
What do I mean by hard? Tight body positions, small plates, a plate rack shot strong hand - then weak hand? long complex running and gunning stages - basically a tough overall test of all your IPSC shooting skills. This match was no exception.

The match started for me disastrously: On the first stage I had 2 jams. And this with a gun that has shot 10,000 rounds without a hiccup! I didn't see clearly what the problem was, so tried the wrong fix, and the result was another 2 jams on the 2nd stage! By this time I had lost some 8 seconds, and basically any chance to try and keep up with world champion Grauffel?

The good thing was that on the 2nd stage I clearly saw the problem was extraction. A close look at the Aftec extractor reveled that the springs had just given up! There was not enough tension and the brass was getting stuck in the chamber. Change those Aftec springs in time guys! So after doing that, the STI GM was back to its flawless self. Lucky, as there was plenty of other tough competition to try and fend off for 2nd place?

There were some great stages in the mach, but none more so than the jungle run of stage 9: 32 rounds shot while running through what could only be describes as a real jungle! This range is really unique - trees and bushes, targets hiding left and right and 6 poppers to boot! What a truly amazing stage. I had an excellent run, but it was only good enough for about 95% of Eric, who shot a second faster, and matched my score of only 3 points down. Oh well, I was happy with it all the same.

Another good stage was stage 3: The shooter started seated, gun in a large box. You had to open the box, retrieve your gun, load it, and then engage targets. The box activated the first of 3 bobbers, shot from the fist position. Then you ran down the lane, shooting targets from 2 more positions. After that, you had to pick up a bag, which you had to take to the final position so that there you could deposit it on a spring loaded platform to release another bobber? the free style design of the stage allowed for either shooting a 3rd bobber and close target with the bag in your weak hand, on the move, or, move to the end with the bag, and then engage those targets later on, at a difficult angle and longer distance. The layout was such that the decision was not obvious and both options were used by many of the top shooters. A fine stage.

The match ran on schedule by a well capable crew. Although I found their insistent attention to equipment checks and procedures a little much at times. But that is how things are run here. I guess it is the more professional way, but I somehow prefer the more laid back atmosphere created in some other matches in other lands. Oh well, you cannot fault their seriousness about the sport.

I shot good points thought out, with the exception of a pitiful performance on stage 8, where I decided to take a chance on a stage with 2 swingers, where I felt I could get them both in one pass.. I was wrong, and dropped 2 missed. Not good! That really hurt my match on top of all those points dropped with the jams on the first stages. But other than that, I was solid, and was able to fend off the serious challenge mounted by young Emile Obriot, the newest member of our STI Euro team. Who shot an excellent match and finished a close 3rd. He is progressing so very well, and is certain to be one to watch in coming years.

The end results were:

As always I have my sponsors to thank for their support
STI International
Competitive Edge Dynamics (CED)
Rescomp Handgun Technologies
Lapua/Vihtavuori
Aimpoint
MSA Sordin

Until the next time I wish you all excellent shooting.
Saul Kirsch

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