On how our USA WFTF Team made out in South Africa last week?
@bill-day
Some chat in this topic - https://airgunwarriors.com/community/postid/61908/
And the official results are posted here - https://wftc-2023.com/results
I am pretty sure that @hector_j_medina_g will drop his usual thorough report on his website pretty soon too.
@ck Extremely busy and it may take some time to "gel" in my brain, so MANY things happened that the trip was mind-boggling.
As a quick exercise, these would be the highlights:
-Wonderful country and people. DO make it a point to visit the country. Food was great everywhere, from the "gourmet" restaurants to the "fast-food fried chicken places". Beer is decent, but not too varied.
- Getting there is expensive, yes, but the stay proved more than offsetting. Hard to say this, but next year's Phoenix World's will be more expensive overall than the ZA ones this year.
- Amazing places, from the nature at Pilanesberg Park to the museum at the Cradle of Humankind, there is a LOT to learn and appreciate of the efforts of the country.
- The shoot was absolutely excellent in many ways, there was ONE mistake (a lane that was a bit farther than what the rules allowed, LOL!), but it proved to be easy to solve with the help of the International Jury, and it was a source of ribbing for the Marshalls that took it in good humour and earned our respect. Another lane was protested, but it was handled efficiently and effectively under the current rules and the practices that were started by Volker Bluhm back in 2013. There were three full days of shooting, NO suspension/delay/shortening or any other of the recent FusterClucks in the last few World's.
- The course was challenging, but doable. Challenging to your stamina, your brain focus, and your equipment. True "African Field Conditions". From the talcum like red dust to the temperature swings between early morning and mid-day; and the extremely deep contrasts between lit and shadowed areas, it was all in there.
- And the people, . . . wonderful people! We all shot with a ZA'n on two days, for the third day the re-squadding according to scores was effected with obvious precedence for the PCP shooters.
- The performance of Team USA was outstanding:
Took the 1,2,3 in Springer Individuals
Took #1 in Springer Team (though it is not official because no other Teams made it to the match, though that was no fault of our own)
Took # 3 in PCP teams
Took #1 in Ladies
Took #2 in Veteran Springer
IF there is a "Leit-Motif" that should be applied to this WFTC's (more than any other) it would be "Never give up, Never surrender"
I am proud to be part of the Team, we are slowly coalescing into a solid group of persons that can easily overcome many obstacles. Watching out for each other, helping all.
AND, hearing the "Stars and Stripes" when on foreign soil while awards are given . . . NOTHING beats that!
😉
There is a LOT to be done till November 12-17/2024. The Organizing group has put the proper processes in place, and you can all see how the WORLD was invited here:
https://www.world-field-target-federation.org/about
and here:
There are only 300 places and I am sure that, this time, most of the world will want to come so, please, volunteer to help in any way you can.
Thanks for reading, keep well and shoot straight!
HM
