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The 2005 STI Euro Open

Hi All,

A little late perhaps - but I would like to share with you my experience of the 2005 STI Euro Open which was held last weekend in Philippsburg. This time of year is seems like each weekend leads to a new match, and it's tough to keep up with the schedule. But I will do my best.

I have said it before, and will say it again - the STI Open is one of the best, more enjoyable matches you can shoot in Europe! The guys who put this match together spare no effort to ensure that all the shooters who attend (and the match if fully booked weeks in advance) have a great time. The best proof of their success was the standing ovation the organizes received from the 200 or more shooters who attended the prize ceremony! the applause went on and on, and it was well deserved.

Germany does enforce some restrictions on stage design, but you won't feel anything lacking in the stages. they are well planned and well laid out, so that all shooters are well challenge and can shoot the stages in any of many options. This match offers more tactical options than most competitions you will find in Europe.

We began on stage 8 - which was one of more the tactical stages: Shooting down a popper lifted a bucket which revealed a bowling ball. you had to take the ball and drop it down a pipe. It rolls the length of the pipe, activating 2 swingers and 2 moving targets as it went. A very cool stage indeed, but certainly hard work for the crew on the range, having to set up all those props. Well done guys!

Other stages offered long field courses of 32 rounds, in total there were 9 big stages! and well over 300 rounds to shoot. Lots of points is always more fun to shoot on a stage, I think. Very few of those 9 rounds stages at this match. In fact, I would say that this match is more USPSA match you will find in Europe. Perhaps that is the influence of the American main sponsor, STI. Whatever the reason - we love it!

The prize ceremony as always was a hoot! lots of prizes were given out, and all the winners were encouraged to spray each other with Champaign. I forgot to bring spare cloths, but fortunately the hotel was not a long drive away. I would have had a hard time explaining to a police officer that I had not been drinking, had I been stopped. All in all - it is a prize ceremony like no other in the shooting world...

Top Open results

1	Kirsch,	Saul	100,00
2	Testa,	Eddy	95,36
3	Eggert,	Timm	88,25
4	Witters,	Frank	88,07
5	Kummer,	Patrick	85,76
6	Schulte,	Andreas	85,24
7	Nothnagel,	Nils	84,85
8	Avonds,	Alois	84,33
9	Obriot,	Emile	83,77
10	Wiegand,	Maximilian	79,32

Top Limited results:

1	Midgley,	Gregory	100,00
2	Damm,	Oliver	98,25
3	Heller,	Peter	91,79
4	Boit,	Julian	88,93
5	Schütz,	Michael	87,34
6	Blank,	Andreas	85,79
7	Rubio,	Laurent	85,23
8	Loch,	Marijan	84,65
9	Lacroix,	Christian	84,03
10	Somers,	Ive	83,82

As always I have my sponsors to thank for making this possible.
Drummen Custom Guns
Berry's Fmg
Competitive Edge Dynamics (CED)
Mpro-7
Arredondo accessories
Rescomp Handgun Technologies
Lapua/Vihtavuori
Aimpoint
BUL Transmark

Best regards

Saul Kirsch

Picture:

There was nothing easy about many of the stages, some offered really tough body positions to shoot from.

who said monkeys can't shoot IPSC. this was a tough stage, but it could be shot all strong hand. that was a better option than to transfer the gun.

Lots of close targets too allowed for the full speed shooting we all enjoy.

The eleborate pipe setup on stage 8. the ball rolled down this pipe, activating swingers and movers as it went. very cool!

Dave Skinner. Not only owner of STI and main match sponsor, but also a fine shooter in Standard.

The prize ceremony is always well attended. No wonder- there are lots of prizes on the prize table - all of which are raffled among all those attending the ceremony.