Just got back to Holland from the Czech Republic, where, during a long weekend we shot the 2001 Czech Euro Open.
What a great match! Over 350 competitors, 24 stages, about 340 rounds. We had a great time - even though the weather left much to be desired at times..
The big news: I NEARLY beat Eric.. :) So, I guess we will have to wait for next week, for the European Championships to try one more time...
Saul Kirsch 99.4% (8 points back from Eric, out of 1450...)
We shot the 24 stages in 3 days, 8 per day. The range at the beautiful city of Cesky Krumlov is a big open military range. Huge open spaces, yet no cover or any kind of protection from the elements. What you carry with you - you have. What you don't carry - you do without. I've always said that it would be tough to shoot a match there in the rain - well, we got to try that out for size..
The rain started in the night, and didn't stop for one minute the whole of day two! And I don't mean a drizzle either... The ground was muddy, the surfaces slippery - and it just kept on coming down. The challenge became trying to keep your range bag reasonably dry, and not get your trolley stuck in the mud... (most shooters walked around with any of a dozen various kinds of trolleys... a range bag gets really heavy over 2km..)
But - actually, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I shoot well throughout the match, and did well in the rain too.
The biggest stage of the match was a 28 rounds "Jungle run" stage, down a lane in the woods. targets left and right as you move done the line - and a very slippery surface of mud and stones...
The RO's crew on that stage (who get my vote for the best RO's at the match..) brought with them a tent for the shooters to wait their turn to shoot! Trust the Dutch RO's to know about shooting in the rain... (Thanks guys!!!)
They told me "best time was Eric, yesterday in the dry weather, 19.6sec. You will never be able to run it in under 20 in this weather.
Well, I did my best, and proved them wrong, with the best time of the match, of 18.89sec, shot in pouring rain! That was one of my best stages in the match.
There were 5 other shooters from Israel, and I had the pleasure to shoot with them on the same squad.Avi Gurewitz, Riki Hollander, Yael Dagan, Rami Karin and Dotan Tobias. All shooting BUL pistols, and 9x23 Winchester ammo!
Avi shot a good match too, finished 3rd in the Senior class, and Riki was 7th Lady. It was great to hang out with friends from Israel, I look forward to going back there for a while immediately after the Europeans.
Well, I have 4 days to practice before heading off to Germany for the Europeans. I will be doing my absolute best to represent the Israeli team and of course my sponsors, to whom I owe so much:
The Makoff-Reifman Foundation
Winchester Ammunition
Rescomp Handgun Technologies
