Tag Archives: Warm Up Match

Winter Range Wrap Up

Posted on by kathousekelli70

The week began with Sunday being somewhat wet and miserable still with folks hoping it would dry out ready for Winter Range to start last Monday.

Heading out to the range later that day to register and pick up packs, it as sunny but cool and the waddies were desperately trying to create drains around vendor tents and pump water off ranges.

 

Monday and Tuesday were for Wild Bunch. Ten stages were done, along with some long range side match and speed. Our posse for Wild Bunch was Half-A-Hand Henri, Long Swede, Dixie Bell, Constable Nelson, Rooster Cockburn, Medicine Creek Johnny, Big Foot Billy, Deadwood Fred, Wolf Gang, Haole, Paniola Annie, Kid Rich, Shirttail Bess, Mad Dog Mark, Mar-Lynn, Matchlock, Ottercreek Bushwacker, Yellowstone Vic, Flyin' Shootist, Brushy Creek Bill, and Major Pain.

 

Tuesday afternoon was spent helping out with the Doily Gang Clinic, giving some coaching to ladies wanting to improve their transitions. I Posse'd with Dixie Bell and Whirlwind Wendy and we had 10 beautiful ladies to teach. I spoke to a few of them throughout the week and seems all are happy to have taken away something from the clinic and are excited about their matches.

Wednesday, it's warm up, side matches (which we didn't do this year), shopping, eating, catching up with more cowboys and the opening ceremonies. The fly over of 11 war birds lead by Lt. Col Scratch in his Nang Chang was spectacular and I bet those Cowboys that were chosen to go for a ride were absolutely loving it!

 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were main match days. Four stages each and at the end of the 12, Jack and I were pretty satisfied with how we had shot our matches and would eagerly wait to hear the results. We had a great Posse, Posse 30! Alvira Sullivan Earp and Virgil Earp (our Aussie friends), Bois D'Arc and Tacky Jackie (Oklahoma friends), Chugwater One Shot, Coal Train, High Country, Honest Henry, J.B. Corn (and his lovely wife Aurora who kept all our scores for us), Just Marshall, Kerman Kid, Lazlo Scarr, Little Joe Dalton, Marshal Law, Pill Peddler, Sgt. StroDog, Standpat Steve, Valrico Kid and of course Jack and myself.

 

Friday night was Saloon night and this year they had craps tables, black jack, Texas hold 'em and the infamous Doc Holliday (we saw him when visiting Tombstone a few times) with his Faro table and regaling people with his stories. You handed your chips in, when you were ready to leave, in exchange for prize tickets of which I was lucky enough to win a voucher with Wild West Mercantile!

 

Saturday is of course the day of relief I guess, the match is done and everyone now gets to enjoy the Banquet and side match awards. Costume contest is on and I had the pleasure of being a judge this year. I stepped aside from my judging duties for Pea Patch to step in when a couple of ladies presented in costumes I had made for them. Costume Judges this year were myself, Goodness Grace, Cowtown Scout, Skinny and Capt.

 

The shoot off participants for Wild Bunch and cowboy were announced. Making it into the sweet sixteen with 3 other Lady Wranglers meant it was going to be a close match for us all.

 

This brings us to yesterday, I had one run in the shootout with fellow Lady Wrangler and my main competition Echo Meadows. She shot well and made it through to the next round after I left 3 plates up.

For the Ladies the shootout was won by Molly Magoo and for the Men's, Slick McClade.

So onto the awards and first up the SASS Wild Bunch presented the Wooly Award to the Winter Range Board for their 2016 match.

For Wild Bunch, the overall winners were Captain Sam Evans for Men and Texas Tiger for the Ladies. Jackaroo placed 9th for Wild Bunch Senior Modern and I finished 3rd in Ladies Traditional.

This year's Cowboy match had 111 people from 749 shoot a clean match! That's no misses, no procedurals etc! Outstanding effort and was achieved by three of the Aussie's – Frank James, Renegade Ty and Rooster Cockburn.

Out of the 10 Australians participating, 8 of them (sorry if you did too Renegade Ty but I didn't catch that one) placed in their categories. Constable Nelson, 8th Place in Forty Niners. Frank James, 9th Place in Senior. Alvira Sullivan Earp, 5th Place in Ladies Silver Senior. KC Woody, 7th Place in Senior Gunfighter.

Jackaroo finished 7th Place in Silver Senior and 60th overall! He shot a great match and wasn't too far off me.

I'm ecstatic, I achieved my goal for this match finishing 1st Place Lady Wrangler, 2nd Lady overall and placed 57th overall.


AND the 2017 Winter Range US National Champions overall with a huge congratulations goes to SASS Kicker for the Ladies and Deuce Stevens for the Men.

Here's congratulations to all the competitors who placed at Winter Range and we will see you again somewhere down the road for the next one.

Kat xo

 

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

 

Guns Of August 2016

Posted on by kathousekelli70

What a great weekend, done and dusted!

The weather was hot and humid, like, really humid, dripping is more precise! The shade and trees really only kept the sun off us, nothing else!

Bug spray kept mozzies and other bugs away so that was something.

Thursday was the side match day. Mini warm up, side matches, felt pretty good! Only 1 rifle miss. Rest of the day, clean and reasonable, feeling sensational!

Friday, Day 1 of main match, clean! Six stages and going awesomely. Jack had a couple of undesirables but is shooting really well! I might add that the opening ceremonies were pretty spectacular with Lady Lopez playing the Canadian, AUSTRALIAN and US anthems!! Impressive, indeed.

 

Friday night at the clubhouse was a ribs and corn dinner and damn fine it was! Thanks to Doc Eells and others!

Got to sit and talk to RJ Gatling and Paden Emmett Cobb only to find out they knew Mary-Lou June and Mary-Lou July! RJ Gatling showed me a picture of him wih the Deere Sista's and turns out Paden was one of the judges for the Daggers and Derringers saloon contest in 2013 when the girls visited End of Trail. Haa Haa Haa!

 

Saturday, Day 2 started off okay and then a couple mistakes with shotgun made for two not so pleasant stages for me. Jack still went really good.

 

Done and dusted, we did the shoot off Friday afternoon with rain expected on the Saturday. The awards and banquet were held and all in all we finished up well. I won Lady Wrangler, a few side matches and best dressed saloon girl. Jack came 2nd in Silver Senior. We finished 32nd and 36th overall.

A huge congratulations to Sage Chick finishing not only 1st lady overall but 1st overall! For 1st man overall, a big congratulations to Duke Skywalker!

 

We had a great Posse led by Two Bit Drifter, consisting of Clementine Valentine, Darby, Darby Belle, J K Tadpole, Bad Bad Beth, Don Jorge, Taco Belle, Billy The Avenger, Deuce Stevens, Drover Dean, R J Gatling, Paden Emmett Cobb, Crazy Mingo, Shell Stuffer, Lady Viper, Jackaroo and myself.

Thanks for having us Lassiter and the Big Irons team!

Kat xo

http://www.bigirons.com

 

Pawnee Station Vindicators

Posted on by kathousekelli70

The Colorado State Championships were held once again at Pawnee Station in Nunn, Colorado over the July 1-3 weekend.

Jack and I arrived there after a couple of nights at the Cowboy Hotel with friends Aspen Filly and Aspen Wrangler (and brown dog). (Thanks again for having us guys and the first hand viewing of the new place!)

All checked in at Fort Collins and we are ready for more action!

Friday was Wild Bunch day. 4 stages to start the day rolling, then a couple cowboy warm up stages followed by speed events. Jack was Posse Marshal so walk through for him late afternoon while I was back at the motel finishing a corset.

 

Saturday saw the commencement of 6 main stages. Hmmm pistol decides to give up working properly on first two stages. Thankfully that didn't occur during End of Trail!! Anyway focus, persistence and calm win over and I carry on using one of Jack's for the rest of the match.

We had a great posse and although our original Posse Marshal, Wild Horse John, couldn't be with us, we had Bulldog Ric, Bulldog Red, Bulldog Taz, Lady Bulldog, Wildcat Cliff, Flinch Lock, Smokewagon Bill, Dynamite Mary, Your Nemesis, Captain George Baylor, Dusty Buckboard, Casper Kid and John Mosby, Jackaroo and Kathouse Kelli make up the Posse 1 detail.

Everyone worked and we moved through pretty swiftly, catching up to the next Posse a few times.

 

The stages were good, the facades are always good and the few new additions added to the match! An outstanding effort to all involved.

Saturday night at the range under the big tent (which I must say, even for lunch was a much pleasant addition this year, keeping shooters out of the hot sun!) was casino night. Side match awards were handed out before the pot luck dinner and rest of the evening got underway.

Ric-a-d Split was the singing, guitar playing entertainment. A Soiled Dove and Bar-Fly costume contest was part of the evening and then it was on to Black Jack, Texas Hold Em and Faro.

 

Sunday we continued with the final 6 stages. After lunch there was an all in shootout. Whoever wanted to participate. Congratulations to Mesa Belle for the Ladies and Waterloo for the Men's.

 

The VFW venue hosted the awards and banquet that evening. Captain George Baylor and myself judged costumed cowboy's and cowgirl's for the Best Dressed.

Jack finished 20th overall and 2nd in Silver Senior category. Congratulations to Bulldog Ric, your Colorado State champion in 1st place and Whiskey Rick in 3rd.

 

I finished 11th overall and 1st in Lady Wrangler category. Congratulations to Allen Street Contessa in 2nd and Turquoise Queen, your Colorado State champion in 3rd place.

 

The overall winners this year were Cobra Cat and Hey You (10th overall, 1st lady) with overall Colorado State Champions being Cobra Cat and the lovely Lefty Jo! Congratulations!

 

Cheers

Kat xo

http://www.pawneestation.com

 

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/

 

Winter Range 2015 – The Week That Was

Posted on by kathousekelli70

What a week it has been!

We started out Sunday week ago shooting at Cowtown – Fire and Ice. It was a good warmup for the week ahead and got to shoot with some new cowboys and cowgirls.

Monday and Tuesday were Wild Bunch match days. 5 stages each day with 30 pistol, mostly up to 10 rifle and 4 up to 12 shotgun per stage. We had a go at Wild Bunch long range rifle and some speed events for giggles.

 

Tuesday evening was the Classic Cowboy Dinner at the Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek. This year honours went to Classic Cowgirl “Squawty Bawdy” and Classic Cowboy “G W Ryder”.

Wednesday it was onto Warm Up match and speed events. Back into the cowboy guns and ready for the main match to begin.

Thursday – start of main match and not too bad. A little slow and 1 miss for the day. Jack had a few issues with jacking rounds out, we are 2 for 2 at the end of the day.

 

Friday – Red Shirt Day in honour of all troops serving or have served. A fly over occurs before each wave of shooters commences (for those that have never been to this event there will be x amount of posses that start early, mid or late in the day).

 

The flight team of 4 commences their flyover in formation and part way over one will peel away from the other 3, representing the lost men and women of service.

 

Had a couple of really good runs this day and one very happy cowgirl. Jack continuing his streak from the day before is not particularly happy – and he did have some really good raw times.

Friday night is saloon night with side match awards, followed by Bingo and Poker.

Saturday – last chance to finish the match strong, the weather was a bit drizzly and a tad annoying. Dropped 2 shots on stage 12 and I knew it was going to hurt. All in all, I was pleased to have shot my best Winter Range yet and all would be revealed come Sunday.

 

Saturday night of course is banquet night. I entered the costume contest with the 'Alamo Ball' 1879 gown and won 1 st place Best Dressed Lady and to top it off my seamstress skills assisted a 1st place Best Dressed B-Western Lady for 'Lil McGill'.

 

The Top 16 Mens and Sweet 16 Ladies shooters are also announced for the showdown on Sunday morning.

For the Men's – Blackjack Zac, Cobra Cat, Cody James, Deuce Stevens, Fast Enuff, Frederick Jackson Turner, Gateway Kid, Hell Hound, Matt Black, Ole Short Tom, Ranger McDuffie, Robyn DeVault, Single Barrel, Skin Dawg, Slick McClade and Texas Slim (alternates were Lead Ringer, Colt Faro, Oklahoma Dee and Bogus Deal)

For the Ladies – Bonnie MacFarlane, Crazy Little Woman, Echo Meadows, Kathouse Kelli, Lefty Jo, Lilly Long, Mame, Panhandle Cowgirl, SASS Kicker, Shamrock Sadie, Spur Broke, Sunshine Marcie, Texas Tiger, Tillie Dyes, Two Sons, Whirlwind Wendy (alternates were Etta Mae, Addie Rose, Victoria Diamond and Molly Magoo)

Come Sunday morning the light drizzle cleared and we had one change in the men's lineup and only 12 jittery but keen cowgirls to give it a go. Overall the final two were 'Slick McClade' and 'SASS Kicker'. Congratulations to both of them.

 

Awards were done and dusted in a couple of hours. A big congratulations to 'Tillie Dyes' for taking 1st place in Lady Wrangler, 2nd place me! 'Kathouse Kelli'! 3rd 'Echo Meadows', 4th 'Mame', 5th 'Pinto Annie', 6th 'Renegade Roper', 7th 'Miss Behavin', 8th 'Six Packin Jan', 9th 'Misty Moonshine' and 10th 'Winchester Mariah'

For Wild Bunch I placed 3rd in Ladies Traditional – 1st Place went to 'Texas Tiger', 2nd 'Dixie Bell', 3rd me, 4th 'Lacey Doyley' and 5th 'Shotgun Shannon'.

 

Phew! An awesome week finished off with a great dinner at Abuelos with none other than Judge Roy Bean, Justice Lily Kate, Shotglass, Texas Jack Daniels, Squawty Bawdy, Hipshot, Hawkshaw Fred, Hot Tamale, Aspen Filly and her sister Nancy. Thanks for the invite, Jackaroo and I thoroughly enjoyed it and everyone's company.

 

 

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