Aus Nats Part 8

Thursday and first day of main match.

A 32 degree day means seek shade, plenty of water and at the end of it sore feet and drained.

What a great start with opening ceremony and National Anthem.

We are in Posse’s 3 and 4, starting on stage 3 at The Blacksmith

The New Bulldogger – there’s a vacancy in the show for something called a bulldogger. Seems the last cowboy got impaled…whatever that means. You’re feeling confident because you’re under instruction from the legendary Billy Pickett, the inventor of bulldogging himself. You’ve got this…..surely it can’t be that hard.

Starting hands on the bulls horns,, line is ‘You’ve got this!’

A rifle hitch and a miss on this stage for me. Jack had a miss also.

Stage 4 at Open Range (left half of range)

The Battle of Summitt Springs – There has been a gruesome discovery. Tall Bull and his Cheyenne ‘dog soldiers’ have been attacking homesteads, killing, burning and absconding with some of the women folk. In this re-telling you join Buffalo Bill and the 5th Cavalry as you exact a terrible revenge on Talk Bull’s camp and attempt to free hostages.

Another miss for each of us.

Stage 5 at Open Range (right half of range)

Custer’s Last Stand – you’re in a desperate struggle at the Battle of Little Big Horn. General George Armstrong Custer, wishing to attack with haste, has led elements of the 7th Cavalry into battle without waiting for their supplies and their all-important Gatling guns. As the doomed men of the 7th were overrun by the red savages of the Sioux, one can only wonder how things could have been.

Kat – clean, Jack 1 miss.

Stage 6 at the Bank

First Bank Robbery – Ladies and gentleman, here now, we re-enact the first armed bank robbery in US history. It’s February 13, 1866 in Liberty, Missouri. The brave and daring James-Younger Gang, led by the charismatic champion of the underdog, Jesse James, starts an enthralling adventure that would endure for the next 10 years.

Start at the cashiers window, hands on fake pistols. Line is ‘reach for the sky’

A nice clean one again for me on this stage and Jack has a clean one also to round out the day.

Lunchtime and then just like clockwork, it is announced that the side matches will be starting at 1.15pm and once the Frontier shooters have shot their side matches the .22 carnival shoot will be open.

Speed Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, Pure Speed, Texas Star Pistol Challenge, Carnival Shoot, Shotgun Challenge and Hicock & Tutt Challenge.

Tonight was Taco Dinner on range with Long Range, Mexican Stand Off and Side Matches from today awards.