MayDay! MayDay!

                                                                           I couldn't resist it! MAYDAY>>>MAYDAY>>>MAYDAY! The weather was Santa Barbara perfect...everyone should come here once in their life when they think the weather is at it's best in their own hometown. Today is one of those days to ring the bell, press the buzzer or hit the panic button...because if your not here, then where are you!

Hey bring you favorite shotgun, long gun or pistol with you because Santa Barbara has hidden in the golden hills above the those white sand beach's something for the shooting competitor-----> Once a month a challenge not to be overlooked....clean your weapon Mr. Gunfighter and be prepared to do battle with some of the best target setting teams in California among one of the most unique settings in the country.

      Nestled in the sandstone rocks, tucked high above overlooking the Santa Barbara airport and stretching some 30 miles out to the islands to the South is a small patch of land rich in Chumash Indian history.   As you approach the entrance to the gun club the massive rounded boulders hid the mysteries of ancient Indian gatherings. Cowboys once tethered their horses here on their last night before dropping into the mission city. Legendary stage robbers squatted around open fires poking sticks under hot coals roasting wild Hare while they planned their attack on tomorrows passing stage line. The history here is long and deep and you will be forgotten quickly if you fail to meet the challenge just ahead. But fear not, fore there will be many who leave here today bloodied.....You have just entered the Winchester Gun Club.

     Despite the awesome challenge we did see 45 or so shooters. Some new faces--->George Ellis  brought his trusty pump, confident he would turn clay targets to dust. He left wounded but made a commitment to become a regular participant.  By the end of the day all the faces were tired and ready to go home. Not from heat, not from sun. The challenge was grueling, the walk steep. Bruce Gordon fought his way to the top with his Remington/k32 modified gun jumping targets as they spun out towards the lake below. Some targets seemed ejected from the very rocks that hid the trappers. They came in doubles, pairs and Minni's. They twisted and fell. The zone was short, tricky and full of surprises. The wind came and went, lifted and pushed targets into the valley. We watched as targets screamed across the blue sky. A well calculated strategy on the first pair failed on the second pair. We saw the faces of shooters shocked by the targets at first, smile and laugh as they knew they had been beaten out foxed by wind and speed. But for those who had prepared it was a victory walk. Our own " Club Double" David Williams stuffed his winnings into his shell bag as he laughed all the way down the hill.

     A shoot off singled out this months winner. In typical Westfall's fashion he backed the two shooters to a point the would stretch and weaken most gunfighters confidence. Congrats to Paul Fritz who won HOA. Always calm and calculating Paul stepped into the ring of fire and squeezed off solid heart shots like the Pro he is.... Paul was on the squad I shot with at the California State Championships and I have shot with him in the past. A successful attorney and licensed Realtor Paul is a guy to watch in Sporting Clays....sorry Paul the camera battery went dead before I could get a photo for this report.

     Soooo next Sunday it's the famed Vandenberg AFB shoot!

                                                                                                           ...remember just click on the photos in the text for a closer look!

C Ya!