Tag Archives: NM

End Of Trail, Day 1 & 2

Posted on by kathousekelli70

After arriving in Edgewood Monday afternoon and checking in, Tuesday morning brought purpose to this next week of shooting.

It was Warm Up Match. We completed 8 stages for the day. All going good so far. The range is set up with some great stage design, a reasonable amount of movement this year but targets are still generous in size and distance. It will be an interesting match!

A wall honouring previous World Champions has been put together in the Belle Union Saloon. A fantastic tribute to our overall Cowgirl and Cowboy World Champs since SASS began. Some have passed, some don't shoot anymore, and some are multiple champions.

 

There is also a special tribute to the late U.S. Grant (SASS#2) who did so much for our sport and we were lucky enough to have had the pleasure of shooting with him.

Well done to all involved with putting this all together.

Prize draw is different this year too with everyone receiving a ticket in your pack to be placed in the jar relating to the prize. There is anything from guns, ammo, rigs or clothing vouchers to be won.

Into Wednesday and it's going to be another warm one today. This morning there is the cowboy flea market, time to visit vendors and peruse their wares, and, if you care to, take part in the odd side match as well.

 

This afternoon's Opening Ceremonies begins with Handlebar Bob as fabulous MC, introducing the Wild Bunch and proceeding with the colour guard of flags for nations represented at the 2015 World Championships.

 

The Star Spangled Banner was sung beautifully by Miss Autumn (Starr?) who has performed at the famous Carnegie Hall.

SASS Scholarship awards were handed out to some very worthy applicants by Justic Lily Kate, the new 2015 Regulators were announced by Hipshot (and to note, our good friends from Texas – Texas Mac and Texas Flower were part of this years recipients) the Judge was presented with a beautiful portrait photo from Major Photography in appreciation of their 20th year of SASS attendance, providing posse and action photos to Cowboys.

 

In closing Misty Moonshine gave a short eulogy type/let's remember US Grant tribute and a poem by Lassiter about remembering how to be cowboy and the spirit of the game, basically.


 

The canon went off with a bang and we all dispersed to pay respect to US Grant, hit the bar, eat and on to the Cantina for Margaritas!!

 

A good time was had by all and we look forward to a great weekend of shooting.

Aim straight and have fun fellow cowboys n cowgirls!

Kat xo

P.S. Among the vendors today, there is one called 'The Old Pine Box' they make beautiful pine box coffins…..I know, I know but I thought it was amusing and took Jack back by there because he always says he wants 'to go out in a pine box' – simple.

http://theoldpinebox.com

http://www.sassnet.com/EoT/

 

Heading to Albuqurque

Posted on by kathousekelli70

An early start out of Cortez this morning we headed for the 550 just South of Durango.

We went through a few little towns and into New Mexico we came across Aztec – your four corners playground, was the advertising. It was quaint and has a little historical museum and a gorgeous mural of buffalo being herded through town.

 

As we headed out on the open road we passed Angel Peak. Then Turtle Mountain (think it was mountain, remembered the turtle bit).

The landscape is changing fast from the Colorado trees and mountains to rock formations, flats and scrub.

 

We are going via Cuba! Lol!

Not much through there. Anyways made it into Albuqurque, changed and headed for the range, we are checked in, damn hot, off to Motel and settled in for the week.

End Of Trail 2015, bring it on! Hope everyone has a great match! See you on the range.

Cheers

Kat xo

 

 

Hit The Road Jack!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

After cleaning the car last night and Jack doing final internal touches while I did laundry we are heading through Santa Fe and stopping in Taos (pronounced touse – thanks Melody!).

Views of a very dry looking New Mexico.

Through Santa Fe and Espanola just outside of Taos and landscape is changing again. It's a little greener and the gorge looks spectacular! Called Horseshoe Bend ?? We didn't go out to Rio Grande gorge and the bridge though.

In Taos, we had a nice lunch at the Gorge Bar & Grill out on the deck overlooking the plaza and then walked some of the many, many shops before heading out to check out the Taos Pueblo.

What an interesting place that is, the current church, which we thought looked a bit new gets taken care of each season like the rest of the traditional adobe buildings and the church has been there since 1850!

The original site for the San Geronimo Church was where the cemetery is and was built around 1619. It was rebuilt a couple of times after conquests and revolts in 1680 and 1706 and then after the 1847 overthrow when Governor Charles Bent was slewn by natives it was reconstructed on the site where it is today.

The Taos Pueblo is a world heritage listed site known as the first living world heritage. In the confines of the original walls they still maintain age old traditions, no electricity and no running water, drawing water from the Red Willow Creek that breaks up the North and South.

Tonight we are in Walsenburg and will head onwards to Fort Collins tomorrow.

Night!

Kat xo

 

Tales of End of Trail

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Founders Ranch, Edgewood, NM, where games are won and lost in the world of cowboy action shooting. The 33rd Annual End Of Trail 2014 World Championships have been held under a clear blue New Mexico sky, hot and dry conditions with plenty of the usual fine powdery dust.

(That's why I'm sitting in the laundromat now – trying to get dirt and dust out of white petticoats!)

 

This year we were on Posse 22 – Apostle Charlie, Bordello Baz, Doc Rankin, Downunder Undertaker, Ex Sighted, Jackaroo, Kathouse Kelli, Johnny Behan, Max Montana, Pious Player, Shanley Shooter, Tejon Buckaroo, The Bandit, US Grant, Whiplash Whitey and the lovely Singin' Sue stayed to do scoring for us!

A few new faces, a few from Australia with us and a few we already knew. Fun, fun, fun!

Three days of fun at that! Thursday through Saturday were the main match days where I finished clean!!! Jack was clean……….with a P. Dang!

It was an interesting match, targets were up close and speedy, and THAT's what made it interesting for the faster shooters! The top 16 shoot out was again, as always, fun to watch (Savage Sam from Aus and Ruby Redsmoke and White Lightning Jack from NZ in it) watching the Wild Bunch shoot out as well which R C Shot from Aus was in. (Alvira Sullivan Earp was too but didn't shoot)

Scores were done, rank points added up to see who'd be the best in the world. Congratulations to all 539 shooters who attended EOT, and 127 clean shooters this year, I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Jack finished 12th in Senior category and 108th overall, I finished 4th in Lady Wrangler category and 145th overall.

There were 23 Australians and 8 New Zealanders this year which was pretty cool, with half or just over half placing in the top 10 of their category and receiving a buckle. A very credible 2nd place to Savage Sam in the Cowboy Category and 3rd place to Alvira Sullivan Earp in Ladies Senior category and to Ruby Redsmoke 1st and World Champion in Ladies B-Western!

Top honours this year and your 2014 World Champions (I thought I was T-Bone Dooley and Ringo Fire announcing then!lol!) are Men's – Cobra Cat and Ladies – Sasskicker, who I might just add is only 16 years old!

Besides all the fun with the shooting Friday evening was the saloon night “Daggers and Derringers”. Five of us contested the saloon girl/soiled dove competition with Diamond Blaze taking first and a derringer, the rest of us received a Damascus blade dagger!

Saturday night was the party night and yes I did manage to be able to dance in an 1887 bustle dress with reasonable ease from boot-scooting to two-step. BUT the best part of all is seeing everyone dressed in their finest and seeing all who go in the Best Dressed Costume contest. This year I won 1st place Best Dressed Lady! Yes! I finally got it right with my 1887 walking dress for day on the streets of Tombstone!

 

Cheers!

Kat xo

 

 

EOT Opening Ceremonies

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Not much done today, we didn't go shoot side matches but headed out after lunch and strolled through the vendors and visited with many.

Opening ceremonies were on at 5pm. Italy, France, New Zealand, Canada, United States and Australia were all represented with 2013 World Champion, our own Aussie and friend, Savage Sam bearing our flag for the parade of colours.

There were SASS Scholarship presentations, new Regulator presentations and a stirring speech by Coyote Kay for an additional scholarship presentation for the Coyote Calhoun Scholarship Fund.

2014 End Of Trail was declared open by SASS #1, Judge Roy Bean.

The after party with supper hosted by the Dooley Gang and Margaritas were happening again down at Hot Tamales.

Tomorrow is the first day of Main Match, we are on Posse 22 and start on the mid rotation but will be out there for the day. Let's go!!!

Good luck to all the Single Action Shooters attending 2014 End Of Trail, we wish you all the best of luck for great competition and most of all FUN!

Yeeeeee haaa!

Kat xo

 

Warm Up EOT

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Headed out to range today for Safety Meeting at 9am, then wandered the range checking out the set up, catching up with old faces making our way back down all 12 stages to the car to grab our guns and gear for the 1pm warm up session.

We shot with Savage Sam, RC Shot, and Kiwis – Ruby Redsmoke, White Lightning Jack, Wild Willie Kiwi, Tuscon the Terrible and a whole heap of other cowboys n cowgirls. Had a great time and shot stages 9 thru 12 but different from main match.

Jack and I both shot some good times but both had a fumbled stage each.

Now it's beers and cheers! I've added to the farmers tan today and yes I did put sunscreen on – I just forgot to start earlier because we are closer to the sun here at 7000ft above sea level!!! 🙂

Here's a few happy snaps from today.


Cheers Kat xo

 

End Of Trail Bound

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Well I didn’t make it ‘sunny up in my eyes’ this morning – something I used to say as a kid if we were going on a holiday. Mum would say, “we aren’t going if it’s raining!” Now I don’t actually know if she would have ever followed through with that but I would dream to make it ‘sunny up’ for the morning so we could go.

Thank goodness I don’t wait for it to be sunny up now! A ripper of a thunderstorm at 3am this morning and light rain as we left at 6.45am, we are headed for Edgewood, New Mexico for the Single Action Shooting World Championships.

On the I40 heading west it’s overcast with some cloud.

But onward through Texas and then into the enchanted land that is New Mexico! We gain an hour and it’s clear blue skies and dead straight roads.

We’ve unpacked and set up for the week in a little Motel in Edgewood full of cowboy shooters, now it’s out to the range to check in, catch up with some Cowboys n Cowgirls from US, AUS and NZ at least!

See ya on the range!

Kat xo

Meanwhile a few hours later, (Couldn’t get internet when we first arrived) been to the range, checked in, lots of vendors and more to come by the looks, met up with our mates and met some new people as well. Yee haa!!

Bring on Warm Up tomorrow!