Dear Friends,

I just got back from a wonderful week in Crete. I was there not only for the Greek Open, but also to enjoy a few days of sunny vacation with my girlfriend, Judith. Couldn't have been better weather - sunshine the whole week, which you really learn to appreciate coming from rainy Holland.

The match was a good one, attracting some 110 competitors, and some of the top officials and RO's as well. Seems everyone is drawn to this location... I wonder why... Even IPSC President, Nick Alexicos was there.

Since this was the final round of the CEL (Central European League, consisting of 5 matches, where your best 3 count), the prize ceremony was a double one, for the match, as well as the league.

I shot a good match, focusing on my points, and not making too many silly mistakes. This was enough to carry me through to a comfortable win, with a lead of about 8% over the Czech top shooters who were there in force.

This was the last level three match in Europe for me this season. I will compete at the "Desert Classic" Area 2 next month in Phoenix, and that will end the season for me. Of course, there are always the local events here in Holland, steel matches and small IPSC matches, just to keep the feel for it. But this is the end of the European season. It has been a busy season, my first professional one. These are my results:

11-14/04/01         Israeli Open, Causerie, Israel             1st Overall
21/04/01 30M1     Belgium, Dutch League                     1st Overall
29-30/04/01         Slovakian open, CEL                         1st Overall
04-06/05/01         Hungarian Open, Budapest                 1st Overall
20/05/01         Dutch League match Stein, Netherlands     1st Overall
24-27/05/01     Mediterranean Cut, Cheval Blanc, France             2nd Overall
08-10/06/01     Central European Legume, Budapest Hungary         1st Overall
17/06/01         Baxeam, Dutch League                                         1st Overall
23-24/06/01     Arras, French Qualification match                         2nd Overall
30/06-01/07/01 Swiss Open Nationals, Basel                             2nd Overall
5-7/07/01         Area 5, Barry Illinios, USA                                     6th Overall
13-15/07/01     Area 1, Everret, Washington USA                         2nd Overall
28-29/07/01     Rooster mountain, Danish Open                             1st Overall
09-12.08.01      Czech Euro Open                                                 2nd Overall
20-25.08.01     European Championships 2001, Germany                 2nd Overall
22-23.08.01     Dutch Open 2001                                                  1st Overall
29-30.09.01    Greek National Open 2001, Hania, Crete                 1st Overall

It has been a fantastic year, and I feel so lucky to be able to live this dream. I owe it to my sponsors: