Tag Archives: friends

Branson Triple Classic

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It's show time in Branson! In more ways than one. The city of shows – magicians, singers, acrobats, comedy acts – and then there are cowboy action shooters.

Yes folks, the Butterfield Trail Cowboys hold the Branson Triple Classic. Missouri State Wild Bunch, Black Powder and Cowboy Action Championship. Three shoots, one place, a whole heap of fun rolled into one action packed weekend.

Our dear friends Alvira Sullivan Earp and Virgil Earp from Australia were in the room next to us at the hotel and other Cowboys were starting to roll in for the next four days of competition.

Wednesday and Thursday mornings we shot 10 stages of Wild Bunch. Black Powder shooters shot 10 stages of holy smoke over the same two days. We had a small good mix of Traditional and Modern shooters – Brisco Kid, Alvira Sullivan Earp, Virgil Earp, MO No Name, Long Ranger, Cletus, Coffin Sam, R. J. Rust, Shortgrub, Doc Hurd, Luke McGlue, Jackaroo and myself.

 

Thursday evening was the banquet for Wild Bunch and Black Powder awards. Jack finished 5th overall in Modern and 2nd place Modern Senior. I finished 1st in Ladies Traditional and 2nd overall in Traditional. Both Virgil and Allie placed 1st in their Modern categories also!

 

Friday and it's day 1 into Cowboy Action match. It's early morning, about 5C if we are lucky (think the temp was showing 35F in the car), the sun is rising – right in our eyes! – suddenly smokeless gunpowder appears as if you were shooting black powder! There goes the clean match on the first stage.

 

Needless to say, we had fun, finished strong for the day and did have a good Posse. Our Posse, Posse 6, Brisco Kid, Kiamichi Queen, Alvira Sullivan Earp, Virgil Earp, Slipnoose, Ozark Outlaw, Hawkshaw Fred, Annie D Vine, Lil Feisty, Django, Rose Webb, (oh my goodness, I've forgotten someone's name and didn't have a photo of the posse!!), Jack and myself.

Given we were finished early a group of us after lunch headed to the cinema and watched the new version of Magnificent 7! We thought it was very well done and enjoyed it.

Friday evening they had a cowboy social – basically another banquet with a band and a separate room with gaming tables and slot machines! We had vouchers that you took and got chips or tokens so you could play roulette, black jack, Texas hold 'em, or slots. At a certain time in the night, the games were closed off and you traded in any wins for more tickets in the side raffles.

 

Saturday and its last chance to shoot well, have fun and see it through to the end. Lunch was provided every day at the range which was good and varied.

 

An afternoon rest, beginning of packing and last catch ups with friends before it was time to get ready for the Awards Banquet.

It was all very convenient to be staying in the hotel where all the banquets were held. No having to drive anywhere, just take the stairs or elevator and you were there.

We had a guest speaker that night who had started her film career working on the Lonesome Dove series. A great western series that just about every cowboy will have watched at least once in their time. Kelly told us of her beginnings, working with the actors and the many unforgettable moments during the filming of Lonesome Dove.

It was also a pleasure to meet Dusty Rogers, son of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (Virgil and Allie have known him for years and were glad to see him again). Dusty is a member of the Butterfield Trail Cowboys and he was the compère for all the awards. It was great to hear the odd little piece about his parents during this time.

Onto the awards and Allie placed 1st in Lady Silver Senior and 5th lady overall. Virgil placed 2nd in Silver Senior Duelist.

 

Jack finished 1st in Silver Senior and 14th overall with the 'Geezer Gang' and all out Oklahoma team. In 2nd place, Snake Oil George (right) and in 3rd place, Matt Valentine (left).

 

I placed 1st in Lady Wrangler with my very good friend in 2nd place and Missouri State Champion, Belle Vaquera!

 

Missouri Lefty won Men's overall and myself for the Ladies overall finishing 11th outright.

 

Of course a huge congratulations for the two Overall Missouri State champions Missouri Lefty and Belle Vaquera.

 

Another good shoot, another lot of fun, time to head back to Oklahoma and get ready for the SW Regionals, Red Dirt Rampage next weekend.

Cheers!

Kat xo

 

Wartrace, Tennessee

Posted on by kathousekelli70

What a neat range! Permanent facades for every stage, built on private property where it is purely for Cowboy Action Shooting.

The Regulators Reckoning, Tennessee State Match was held this past weekend and the weather was, if not, back to normal and a little on the hot side of the gauge.

We arrived into Tullahoma on the Wednesday afternoon and did a recon out to the range.

 

Thursday was some side matches and then we participated in a 4 stage Wild Bunch match. Hot, with tired legs and aching feet we didn't stay for the man on man event and headed back to the motel.

 

Friday we began with 5 stages of main match finishing just after 1pm. After lunch they had a team event. Names were draw from a hat to decide the make up of the three person teams. A clever concept! Jack and I were both lucky. It was Jackaroo, Prestidigitator, Marshall Rico. I was with Blackfish Kid and Ocoee Red.

It was an all knockdown timed stage, one would do pistol, one the rifle, one finish on the shotgun.

Anyway when it all boiled down to it, the team I was with won in 20.21sec!! I will add, if Jacks team hadn't had a slight fumble with the shotgun they would have beaten us!

After that it was all fun, making up your own teams and having fun trying to outdo each other as team on team events!

Dinner was at the range that night with side match awards held and with Whiskey Hayes working for Jack Daniels there was plenty of 'extra prizes' to go around!

 

Saturday was back into the final 5 stages with a turn in the weather (having become overcast and 25 degrees less than the previous 2 days!), the sun eventually appeared about the last 2 stages.

I'd like to thank our awesome Posse, Posse 3 a great bunch of people. Jackaroo and myself with C. W. Knight (our Posse leader), Fort Knox, Cody Kid, Boxom Boo, Tucker T Fudpucker, Buford Tanner, Marshal Rico, Sassy Teton Lady, Deadwood Woody, Wabash Valley Slim, Big Country, Christian Mortician and Smokin' Dave.

That evening was the banquet and awards, a good turn out of people with some fabulous costumes. I didn't even recognise Titus A. Gnatsass in his steampunk costume and mask! Pictured below with Dirty Nerdy.

 

A different twist on awards I thought, all the Tennessee State Champions were called up for their category and received their buckles first. Then all the categories were awarded according to placing.

Jack won 2nd place in Silver Senior – 1st place Knob Creek Drover, 3rd place and Tennessee State Champ Ocoee Red, 4th place Pig Iron Lane, 5th place C. W. Knight. Congratulations gents!

 

I was 2nd place in Lady Wrangler – 1st place and Tennessee State Champ Dew R Dye, 3rd place Cotton Tail and 4th place VIX-N With Vaqueros. Congratulations lovely ladies and a pleasure to duel again with Dew, 2.6sec's between us, 9 rank points!

 

This years overall winners were Lead Ringer and Slick's Sharpshooter. The overall Tennessee State Winners were Cumberland Drifter and Dew R Dye! Congratulations!

We had a great time, thanks to all the Wartrace Regulators for all your hard work!

Kat xo

P.S. Finished it off today with the Wild Bunch Range Officer course. Passed!

 

Mason Dixon Stampede 2016

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Arriving into Thurmont last week, did the tourist trips to Gettysburg, Thursday was the start of the match with Wild Bunch and Speed Events.

It had turned to light misty rain, compared to the previous weeks, enough to be annoying but nothing real drastic.

The three stage Wild Bunch match saw some very interesting little targets (6″X6″) being used which made for an exciting day. Good fun!

 

We had a couple of run throughs on the speed events, rifle, pistol and shotgun. Rifle I got down to 3.83sec's and was extremely pleased as the week before the best I could do was 4.56. Jack ripped out an awesome 3.30secs! We had a crack at the shotgun and pistol events as well before packing up for the day.

 

Friday, main match, Day 1, same drizzly rain. We had an awesome Posse! Posse 6 – Annabelle Bransford, Rowdy Bill, Tom Payne, James Samuel Pike, Yukon Mike, Silas Highland, Travis Spencer, Spinning Sally, Cold Brook Kid, Belle Evans, Marshal Jacobey John, Dirty Dingus Diggs, Geronimo Jim, Wild Bill Diamond, Ziggedy Zag, Jackaroo and myself.

 

They were awesome and it was like listening to or being in a movie with all the New York and Jersey accents. (I think and hope I got that right)

They are as entertaining as always! Tom regaled us with the National Anthem played on his harmonica before we kicked off for the day.

We shot Stages 6-10 on Day 1, clean for me and a couple misses for Jack.

 

Day 2 and we complete Stages 1-5. Jack had a much better day than the previous and I'm clean again!

 

Saturday night was the banquet in the big tent and the “Reel” West restaurant. The stages were based on different cowboy movies. Wild Bunch and Side Match Awards were handed out with Top 16 and Sweet Sixteen being announced.

After dinner in the club house, was the gambling night, raising funds for the SASS Scholarship. Try your hand at Chuck-A-Luck, Faro, and Roulette or you could just buy tickets for the raffle.

 

Sunday morning you could try your hand at an informal man on man stage and a 3 team event before the awards commenced.

Jack came second in Silver Senior. Congratulations to all Silver Senior's. 1st Place Dirt Rider, Jackaroo, and unfortunately the rest I do not have names and the scores aren't up yet, my apologies.

 

Congratulations to fellow Lady Wrangler 2nd place Calamity Jill.

 

Overall Divisional Champions for 2016 went to Sunshine Marcie and James Samuel Pike!

 

Top Overall Cowboy and Cowgirl – James Samuel Pike and Kathouse Kelli! Yee Haa! (I finished 8th overall from 154 shooters, very pleased indeed)

 

The Top 16 and Sweet Sixteen received a really neat Lone Star badge and then it was on to the shootout. Winners for the shootout were Sunshine Marcie and Indiana Loose Cannon.

 

A big thank you to Chuckaroo and his team, in particular Dog Meat Dadd who ran proceedings while Chuckaroo was not well again. All the ladies who assisted and many other hands of the Thurmont Rangers who put this match together, thank you!

Kat xo

 

Texas-Oklahoma

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Playing catch up!

Last weekend was fabulous, spending time with Texas ladies, shopping for fabric in Houston.

After being sworn in to the 'Royal Order of the Safety Pin' we headed out to the first stop – High Fashion Fabrics.

 

We lunched at Saint Dane's Bar and Grill after, then headed on to some more stores!

 

Got most of what was on the list! Win!

We spent two great days shooting with the Thunder River Renegades with some Mexican food and drinks thrown in for good measure.


Don't you just love TJD's new pinup shirt?!


Sunday afternoon it was back on the road to Oklahoma.

It's been head down, bum up this week and today we had the Territorial Marshals club match. Yippee! shot good today and so did Jack, we finished 5th and 7th respectively out of 55 shooters.

It's on again tomorrow instead of Wild Bunch, as we head for Sand Springs next week and the Oklahoma State Championships.

Cheers

Kat xo


 

Texas Bound

Posted on by kathousekelli70

This past week has been flat chat, getting into sewing, reloading, friends visiting, shooting clinic, club match and a practice day thrown in for good measure! Take a breath……

 

Well now, it's the beginning of September and a fabric sourcing expedition had been planned with Shotglass and Green Eyed Gypsy in Houston. Where did the time go?!! So we are on the road to Magnolia, Texas to catch up with these lovely ladies and a few others!

We hit the road early and started the days trip, passing through Waco around lunch time, where would we be without a stop at Magnolia Market at The Silos! Fixer Upper, my most favourite DIY show with Chip and Joanna Gaines! We just had to make a stop there after seeing the progress from buying the silos to creating this market space.

 

The grilled cheese sandwich and coffee from the food van setup were sensational and we sat with a couple of ladies from Roanoke, TX Peggy and Paula. Peggy has a friend from Queensland! We chatted for a while about cowboy movies, Fixer Upper and their art! A lovely chance meeting.

 

Back in the car we kept on to Magnolia, (sheer coincidence) to Shotglass and Texas Jack Daniels home!

 

Yours in shiplap, tin, timber and more

Kat xo

 

https://magnoliamarket.com

P.S. As I post this this morning, the few others has turned out to be Squawty Bawdy, Justice Lily Kate, Aspen Filly, maybe Nellie Blue will meet up with us too!

 

Australian Nationals

Posted on by kathousekelli70

To our Australian cowboy action shooters attending the Nationals in South Australia this weekend, shoot straight and have loads of fun!!

Jack and I hope it all goes well and we look forward to seeing some photos and results on Facebook!

Have a good one!

 

Kat xo

Aka Amazing Grace

 

Gunfight in Dixie XIV, done!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

What a great shoot!

We had a ball. Great stages, great range, awesome hosts! The shoot was based on Quigley Down Under. Yep, Tom Selleck, Australia, perfect really!

Besides the rain making everything a little soggy, this is a great range. Permanent facades with a lot of detail and thought adorns this neat little range.

 

There are signs and different bits and pieces that make the inside of the facades look like you walked back into time. Apparently the hotel has previously held poker games etc in it during the later evenings. It has lights and fans inside and tables can be set up in there.

 

Every stage had some cover, 5 have permanent cover and all have fans in them and at the loading tables.

 

Saturday night was dinner and side match awards, sitting listening, talking with different folks and drinking some of the purest white lightning I've seen or tasted at 95 proof.

 

Thanks to Hot Lead Lefty, Tennessee Whiskers, Cherokee Sergeant, Dew R Dye and all the Memphis Gunslingers and help, for hosting a great match!

We had a great Posse, with Cumberland Drifter, C W Knight, Tombstone John, our Posse Marshall Randy Saint Eagle, Dode City Dixie, Reno Mustang, Cullen Bohannon, Little JB, Ginderella, Jailbreak Jake, Johnny Tennessee, Mud Puppy, Silas Armas Aubrey, Tomme Gunz, Tennessee Pencil Pusher, Jack and myself.

 

Their top gun shoot off went well with a 10 plate knockdown rack for rifle, Texas star and dump plate for pistol and shotgun. I haven't got any pictures or video from that though.

Koda Joe and I won best dressed cowboy and cowgirl for the weekend. Congratulations to all the category winners and placers. Jack finished 1st in Senior and I was 1st in Lady Wrangler.

 

Top cowboy at the shootout was Slick Mclade with Dew R Dye taking Top cowgirl. Good fun!

The overall winners for this years Gunfight in Dixie was Blackfish Kid (cowboy) and Slick's Sharpshooter (cowgirl), congratulations!

Cheers

Kat xo

 

It’s the Cowboy Way

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It is with heavy hearts but the fondest of memories, that Jack and I raise a glass of Fireball whiskey to our friend Texas Slim and to his dear wife and good friend LilMcGill and family, our most heartfelt and sincerest condolences.

Any shoot with Lil and Slim was always an absolute hoot! Adoration and sincerely proud was Lil when Slim would take a win at a shoot we were at! It always made us smile.

 

Jack and I will never forget you Texas Slim, Slim's green all the way! Lil, love and hugs to you and all the family at this time.

Kelli and Jack xoxo

 

Skeet League

Posted on by kathousekelli70

I got my firearms license in 2006 intending to do clay target shooting after watching it in the Olympics. High hopes back then I guess, and Cowboy Action fell into my lap before I even tried it anyway!

So here we are today, having shot once with Flat Top and Missouri Mae when we first stayed with them in 2013. Come join the Skeet League they said, it will be fun….or words to that effect.

We never did get around to doing it with them last year and the question was asked again this year. Well, why the hell not, I'll give it a crack. How hard can it be? When we do clay toss from an activated shotgun target I can smoke them.

Haa, Haa, Haa not as easy as that let me assure you. Jack says, no way he is doing it, not much success getting them in cowboy but is happy for me to give it a go.

Soooooo, first night up for it I get 7 (out of 25 shots per round) in each of the two rounds. Not bad but a little disappointing. Etiquette is different to cowboy and there are some really good shooters including my fellow cowboys and cowgirl that make up our team. I can't swear/cuss or get over excited which is funny and a little weird.

 

Last week, second night I only get 3 in each round, now this is a little deflating! 6 out of 52 shots you have to be kidding me! Lucky I'm good at cowboy.

Anyway our friends say, let's go practice after cowboy (this is yesterday). Yep righto. 3 rounds, 78 shells later, I had some success! But that was yesterday….

So tonight was league again. You think I might have got somewhere with practice yesterday! Slightly ecstatic about hitting 12 in the first round and 13 in the second round! Yippee! I might be getting the hang of this gig. 😉 not changing from cowboy anytime soon though.

 

Here's to the orange 'birds' today!

Kat xo