It was dark and cold as I drove out the drive way in the Humvee. A thick layer of fog had set in overnight. As I past the gate and looked east and west I had to listen carefully for traffic because I could not see any cars as I turned onto Hwy 192. This was a sport that preaches never to question your decision.... just squeeze the trigger. But I was wondering if I had made the right decision to shoot at Winchester when in fact my instructor, Dan Reeves, had said go to Moore N Moore.
It is almost always guaranteed there to be warm and clear. So I struggled with the temptation to turn south as I came up to the 101 rather than north towards the Winchester range. But I had committed to the Winchester Shoot and had invited my two shooting sidekicks "Club Double" David Williams and Bruce "SideXSide" Gordon to join me. After all Winchester is my home club....
Whats the expression...I love it when a plan comes together. Just as I turned north towards the mountain pass of the 154 the sun broke threw the coastal fog. As I reached the top of the mountain overlooking the Santa Barbara Airport and UCSB I stopped the Humvee for a quick picture of the fog. By the afternoon there was an even chance it would become bright and clear again.
When I reached the very top of the pass and entered the gates to the club there only a few cars randomly parked with that abandoned look . I parked the Humvee and headed for the club house. This would be the first Sporting Clay Shoot managed and run completely by Carl Westfall and his wife Clair. Click to see interview--->Download MOV01094.MPG.
As seen here looking over Clairs shoulder she begins checking in shooters, collecting the entry fee issuing each participant a numbered score card.
Jim Reynolds on the far right in the attractive white hat is by far one of the most studied shooters in the club. It appears he is helping Clair with some of the new members or was he counting out his fee in penny's? Anyway, by 9 am the field was ready. The shooters lined up along the 6 stations and the friendly competition began. The four minds of Carl Westfall, Dick Griffen and Jim Metcalf and Chris Lund have once again managed to convert trap and skeet fields, mountain paths and rocky nooks into one of the most challenging courses in Southern California. If one cannot imagine an Urchin diver, sign painter, and a pair of tennis court designers putting their collective heads together and producing a "Sporting" course second to none....well come on up to Winchester Gun Club! But be prepared to eat humble pie.....
By lunch the 47 shooters had much to talk 
about over Tom's burgers, beans and soft drinks. My personal score had been less than what I expected as I watched Carl post it under the B Classification. But "Club Double" David had earned his first cash reward for a splashing a pair of targets and had begun counting his winnings happy to be on any squad that paid to see his marksmanship with a fine looking K gun. The conversation at Winchester is always much more like a class reunion than a competition. 
It's the comrade of the shooters. They see one another once or twice a month somewhere in the county and it is much more like a version of the classic TV show "Cheers". During lunch the chatter runs from target video's from Iraq to political opponents at home. But in the back of everyones mind is the afternoon shoot...the last 50! As you look about the tables of hungry shooters clawing at chips and burgers their eyes stray back and forth to the Target Setters, when those guys get up everyone knows the afternoon shoot is only 30 
anxious 
minutes away. We entered station #7 and it had changed very little. But as we worked our way up the hill the mission took on a new face. We ratcheted up our level of concentration. It was anyones game before lunch but only 
the experienced will take the number one spot today. The "hoola hoops" used to position the shooter had changed. The Birds doubled in some cases and the tension and speed increased along with shorter target windows. Since my squad had rushed in behind the Target Setters Team we pushed our way to the last station grateful we had finally reached the end. Returning to the Club house most shooters briefly
scan the posted results and make their way to their cars cleaning guns and equipment, drawing out the final minutes allowing the other squads to turn in their results before they walk back one last time to check the board hoping for bragging rights and a few boxes of shotgun shells before they leave.
It had come down to a Shoot Off...and I was in it! I left that day in the second position in B class. The First position was earned by a better shot. Nice Shooting Gary! Remember click on any photo in the article to enlarge it and I'll see you next month....
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