J
Jeff Welker
Guest
On February 5th and 6th we held the Cactus Classic Warm-Up Match at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. A total of 34 competitors participated. Compared to the frozen tundra being experienced by most shooters in North America; conditions at Ben Avery were excellent. Crisp cold mornings gave way to comfortable afternoons. The large swing in temperatures resulted in a wonderful fashion show. Down-filled “Michelin Man” parkas quickly gave way to sweat shirts and ultimately many shooters were festooned in a variety of brightly colored t-shirts. Super models everywhere would have been jealous at the deft talent demonstrated by these veteran shooters as they coordinated shooting groups, reloading, checking the “Wailing Wall”, and changing outfits. Winds ranged from 2-11 mph; with light conditions in the morning and slowly gaining velocity throughout the day. Mirage was modest and switches were typical for Ben Avery - tricky.
Saturday we shot LV5-100 in the morning. Winning the aggregate with a .2030 was Mr. Happy – Ed Maxwell. Ed has been shooting very well lately – watch out for him at the Cactus. Mr. Happy installed a high-tech weather station outside his loading trailer. In between matches, Ed would broadcast a weather report and forecast the conditions anticipated for the next group. Clearly, Mr. Happy has a second career as a TV weatherman. Second place went to Norm Jeffery with a nice .2126. Norm traveled from northern California to compete in the warm-up. It is always a good time when Norm comes to shoot with us in Arizona – a tough competitor for sure. Third place, with a .2134, went to Tom DeBacco. Tom is a veteran of benchrest and you never know what caliber he will bring to a match. While he shot a 6PPC in LV; Tom shot a 22 Beggs in HV – I don’t know how he keeps track of all the powder and bullet combinations? Small group for LV5-100 was shot by The Wickenburg Wonder (Bob Brackney) with a .102 in match #2.
After the Match Director granted us a generous 52 minute lunch break, we shot HV5-100. Winning the HV5-100 aggregate with a .1682 was Gary (The Oozer) Ocock. Gary shot a low one in the 1st match, a three in the 2nd, a couple of middle twos in the 3rd and 4th matches and finished in style with an .083 in match #5 (small group for HV-100). If The Oozer had not fallen asleep in the 2nd match, he would have shot a really small agg. Second place went to Lou Murdica with a .1826 and Bob Hammack shot a .2124 to finish third.
Sunday we started with HV5-200. Winning the aggregate with a nice .2225 was Lou Murdica. In second place was The Oozer with a .2370. Lester Bruno took third place with a .2531. Small group for HV5-200 was shot by Mr. Ocock with a .193 in match #4.
After a very precise 37-½ minute luncheon recess, we shot LV5-200. Art Clegg bested the other 33 shooters and won the yardage with a .2817. Art enjoys shooting groups at 200 and it really showed during some challenging Ben Avery Sunday afternoon conditions. Sir Walter Berger took 2nd with a .2868 and Chuck Miller came in 3rd with a .3035. Chuck had been struggling on Saturday; however, once he was able to get an emergency dose of estrogen from his Gynecologist, he calmed right down and started shooting small. A nice side benefit for the other shooters was the wonderful dress Chuck wore on Sunday. I hope his wife Nancy didn’t mind his borrowing it for the match. Mr. Happy (Ed Maxwell) shot the small group for LV5-200 with a very handsome .198 in match #5.
The Light Varmint Grand Winner is Ed Maxwell. Mr. Happy shot a very steady .2645 to win the grand. The Albuquerque Flash (Todd Tyler) was 2nd with a .2665 and Walt Berger shot a .2698 to take 3rd.
The Heavy Varmint Grand Winner is Lou Murdica. Lou shot a .2025 – beating out Gary Ocock by a very small (?) hair. Gary took 2nd with a .2026 and Lester Bruno was 3rd with a .2394.
THE 2-GUN WINNER IS GARY “THE OOZER” OCOCK. Gary shot a .2553 to take first. Todd Tyler was 2nd with a .2622 and Mr. Happy (Ed Maxwell) finished third with a .2711.
The new president of the Ben Avery Benchrest Shooters is Art Clegg. Bob Brackney and Doc Marsh will continue their service as vice president and secretary – respectively. If you are interested in joining our club or practicing at Ben Avery, please contact Art for details.
Tragically, the microphone was left unattended for just a few moments Sunday morning and Tom Libby gained control of the audio system. Quickly Gary Ocock was vocally assaulted by Libby with a series of yelps, yodels and the traditional songs of pigmy singers from Central Africa. Just like kids around swimming pools; never leave a microphone unattended when Libby is in the vicinity.
Finally, the 2011 CACTUS CLASSIC is scheduled for March 12th & 13th at Ben Avery. Please contact Gary Ocock for all things Cactus Classic. It should be a great competition – come join us and be part of one of the best traditions in benchrest.
Full match results are attached below.
Match Reporter – Jeff Welker
Target Crew is always working when there is a condition I like - darn.
Rifles ready to go as Walt Berger counsels Ed Maxwell on the finer aspects of smiling
The reloading trailer of iniquity - left to right: Joe Pipola, Gary Ocock & Doc Marsh.
Nanok of the North Libby and his Michelin Man Costume.
The Ed Maxwell's weather station/loading trailer. In between matches, Ed broadcasts weather reports to Woonsocket RI, Deadwood SD, & Mollie's Nipple UT.
The WINNERS - left to right: Norm Jeffery, Chuck Miller, Bob Brackney, Todd Tyler, Lester Bruno, Gary Ocock, Walt Berger, Tom "Abraham" DeBacco, Bob Hammack, Ed Maxwell, Lou Murdica & Art Clegg. Take a close look at the expression on Chuck Miller's face and ask yourself; "WHERE ARE BRACKNEY'S HANDS?"
2-Gun Winners - left to right: Todd Tyler's surrogate (Lou Murdica), Gary "The Oozer" Ocock, & Ed "Mr. Happy" Maxwell.
Saturday we shot LV5-100 in the morning. Winning the aggregate with a .2030 was Mr. Happy – Ed Maxwell. Ed has been shooting very well lately – watch out for him at the Cactus. Mr. Happy installed a high-tech weather station outside his loading trailer. In between matches, Ed would broadcast a weather report and forecast the conditions anticipated for the next group. Clearly, Mr. Happy has a second career as a TV weatherman. Second place went to Norm Jeffery with a nice .2126. Norm traveled from northern California to compete in the warm-up. It is always a good time when Norm comes to shoot with us in Arizona – a tough competitor for sure. Third place, with a .2134, went to Tom DeBacco. Tom is a veteran of benchrest and you never know what caliber he will bring to a match. While he shot a 6PPC in LV; Tom shot a 22 Beggs in HV – I don’t know how he keeps track of all the powder and bullet combinations? Small group for LV5-100 was shot by The Wickenburg Wonder (Bob Brackney) with a .102 in match #2.
After the Match Director granted us a generous 52 minute lunch break, we shot HV5-100. Winning the HV5-100 aggregate with a .1682 was Gary (The Oozer) Ocock. Gary shot a low one in the 1st match, a three in the 2nd, a couple of middle twos in the 3rd and 4th matches and finished in style with an .083 in match #5 (small group for HV-100). If The Oozer had not fallen asleep in the 2nd match, he would have shot a really small agg. Second place went to Lou Murdica with a .1826 and Bob Hammack shot a .2124 to finish third.
Sunday we started with HV5-200. Winning the aggregate with a nice .2225 was Lou Murdica. In second place was The Oozer with a .2370. Lester Bruno took third place with a .2531. Small group for HV5-200 was shot by Mr. Ocock with a .193 in match #4.
After a very precise 37-½ minute luncheon recess, we shot LV5-200. Art Clegg bested the other 33 shooters and won the yardage with a .2817. Art enjoys shooting groups at 200 and it really showed during some challenging Ben Avery Sunday afternoon conditions. Sir Walter Berger took 2nd with a .2868 and Chuck Miller came in 3rd with a .3035. Chuck had been struggling on Saturday; however, once he was able to get an emergency dose of estrogen from his Gynecologist, he calmed right down and started shooting small. A nice side benefit for the other shooters was the wonderful dress Chuck wore on Sunday. I hope his wife Nancy didn’t mind his borrowing it for the match. Mr. Happy (Ed Maxwell) shot the small group for LV5-200 with a very handsome .198 in match #5.
The Light Varmint Grand Winner is Ed Maxwell. Mr. Happy shot a very steady .2645 to win the grand. The Albuquerque Flash (Todd Tyler) was 2nd with a .2665 and Walt Berger shot a .2698 to take 3rd.
The Heavy Varmint Grand Winner is Lou Murdica. Lou shot a .2025 – beating out Gary Ocock by a very small (?) hair. Gary took 2nd with a .2026 and Lester Bruno was 3rd with a .2394.
THE 2-GUN WINNER IS GARY “THE OOZER” OCOCK. Gary shot a .2553 to take first. Todd Tyler was 2nd with a .2622 and Mr. Happy (Ed Maxwell) finished third with a .2711.
POST MATCH NOTES
While Gary Ocock gets many well deserved kudos for running the matches at Ben Avery, our local club (Ben Avery Benchrest Shooters) has been lead for the past 5 years by Mr. Joe Pipola – El Presidenté. Nearly every weekend, Joe arrives at the range before any shooters and makes things ready for us to enjoy a good practice session. For 5 years he has put up with, and trained, newbie’s (like your intrepid match reporter) who broke nearly every range rule in the book as we came into this sport. Joe has always put safety first and willingly shares information and knowledge with all who inquire. Like all good things (i.e. Egyptian President Mubarak), Joe’s tenure as President of the Ben Avery Benchrest Shooters has come to an end. Many thanks to Joe for his tireless service on behalf of our club and the sport of benchrest. The Range Nazi (as we affectionately call him) will now be able to focus all his energies on competitive matches. Beware; Joe has a hummer barrel in his closet that will be brought to bear at the Cactus. ALL HAIL THE CHIEF – THANKS JOE.The new president of the Ben Avery Benchrest Shooters is Art Clegg. Bob Brackney and Doc Marsh will continue their service as vice president and secretary – respectively. If you are interested in joining our club or practicing at Ben Avery, please contact Art for details.
Tragically, the microphone was left unattended for just a few moments Sunday morning and Tom Libby gained control of the audio system. Quickly Gary Ocock was vocally assaulted by Libby with a series of yelps, yodels and the traditional songs of pigmy singers from Central Africa. Just like kids around swimming pools; never leave a microphone unattended when Libby is in the vicinity.
Finally, the 2011 CACTUS CLASSIC is scheduled for March 12th & 13th at Ben Avery. Please contact Gary Ocock for all things Cactus Classic. It should be a great competition – come join us and be part of one of the best traditions in benchrest.
Full match results are attached below.
Match Reporter – Jeff Welker
Target Crew is always working when there is a condition I like - darn.
Rifles ready to go as Walt Berger counsels Ed Maxwell on the finer aspects of smiling
The reloading trailer of iniquity - left to right: Joe Pipola, Gary Ocock & Doc Marsh.
Nanok of the North Libby and his Michelin Man Costume.
The Ed Maxwell's weather station/loading trailer. In between matches, Ed broadcasts weather reports to Woonsocket RI, Deadwood SD, & Mollie's Nipple UT.
The WINNERS - left to right: Norm Jeffery, Chuck Miller, Bob Brackney, Todd Tyler, Lester Bruno, Gary Ocock, Walt Berger, Tom "Abraham" DeBacco, Bob Hammack, Ed Maxwell, Lou Murdica & Art Clegg. Take a close look at the expression on Chuck Miller's face and ask yourself; "WHERE ARE BRACKNEY'S HANDS?"
2-Gun Winners - left to right: Todd Tyler's surrogate (Lou Murdica), Gary "The Oozer" Ocock, & Ed "Mr. Happy" Maxwell.
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