IN MEMORY OF BOB BRISTER!

There are but a few men and women in SPORTING CLAYS that have come and gone leaving more than a fading "Carbon Stamp"....BOB BRISTER was one of those men. He gave much more than he received....but maybe not. According to many I spoke to at the BRISTER MEMORIAL SHOOT, Bob "received" an overwhelming amount of respect and indeed love from men and women around Houston....and Texas....and yes, the world, for his contributions to Sporting Clays. It could be said he was the WORLDS' STRONGEST MAN-----> he single handedly lifted SPORTING CLAYS from the soggy bogs of the UK and carried it to the sun drenched plains of the UNITED STATES, deep in the heart of Texas. Here is where he nurtured, cared for and eventually weaned the sport as we know it today. As I walked amoung the shooters, here at the WESTSIDE SPORTING GROUNDS, I was consistantly made aware of Bob's presence by members and non-members who knew him. To the man, there was always a slight pause before responding to my questions, almost as if they were waiting for Bob to whisper the answer in their ear....

We are all just a little less because of the loss of this great American, to our Sport. But our sport remains alive, growing tall and strong from Bob's tutelage from a young age. We must, as students of Bob Brister, pick up that banner and continue to move it forward in his honor...I think he would have asked for that...

As often as I tried, I was unable to meet with his wife here at the BRISTER MEMORIAL SHOOT. Perhaps next year...because I will be there and I would extend an invitation to one and all to come. Each person that attended this year will go on the TRIGGER SPORTS RADIO CD list! You will receive a FREE copy of the radio show every month courtesy of GRETCHEN MENKE, MR. DANIELS and TRIGGER SPORTS RADIO. Plus..plus.. I am asking for help with the BOB BRISTER BOOK----> Stories & Tales of and about Bob and his friends.

The first story I was told had someone driving a pick up truck, pulling a bed sheet passed Bob as he shot, so he could study exactly what the shot string looked like in motion...after that story and a few others, then hearing what the Brister Fund was about....well, I decided this was too good to let go, untold. I left feeling that although his friends never requested a Book..that between the lines they were asking for SOMETHING to continue the BRISTER LEGEND. He may be the "most missed" man in Sporting Clays history. With the help of you, his friends, we can document his legend for all the future generations who come into the sport.

If you have a story about Bob, please email me. If we get enough material and photos I see the possibility of creating the BRISTER BOOK of STORIES & TALES. Of course the profits from the sale will go to the Memorial fund...if you're interested, I will do what I can to make this happen. But wait..wait..----> Everyone who sends in a story will get a bi-line in the published edition! Your name will go into history along side the BRISTER BOOK! So start putting pen to paper! Don't worry about creative writing....I'll work with you when the time comes. Hope to hear from all of you. With any luck we can get a rough copy out for next years' shoot....so here is what I want you to do FIRST---> send me your email address, phone number and mailing address. I will begin returning calls and compiling the information. I will also post our progress as the project proceeds...so let's get started!

But right now ....lets get back to TODAY'S BRISTER MEMORIAL SHOOT...................

Along a paved, manicured back road between Katy, Texas and Brookshire you will run up on a "lightly" marked entrance. In typical "country" fashion, the understated signage is there for the INSIDERS only....but it is a private club after all....and as I was told will remain a private club for those who would like to be in an exclusive shooting club. The concept of a private shooting club comes from Europe. The idea of one in the USA is rare. But if one can exist in this day of depleting disposal income, it would be in Texas where the OIL & GAS industry thrives strongly as the backbone to the United States. In times of rising fuel costs, it is the TEXAS OIL & GAS Industry that points to the solution-----> DRILL!

OK..OK...we came to shoot not preach....but hey by-the-way if you see a photo you like click on it and it will go full screen for you to copy...use good photo quality paper and the photo is yours!

God I love this country...just look at this farm house under the shade of the oak...and it only gets better!

It was my first visit and admittedly a last minute decision. I was here on the rebound of the US OPEN. My plans were to shoot the Texas State and the Diamond Classic. But while at the US OPEN, I was sitting at a table, recovering from the "BLACK & BLUE" course, when BOBBY FOWLER asked if I had ever shot at the WESTSIDE SHOOTING GROUNDS.

I decided since I was going to be in Houston for a month or so, I had better check the place out. Fortunately, I was in the right place at the right time for the----> BRISTER MEMORIAL! I quickly emailed in my application because I did notice, in the advertising, that the shoot was limited to the first 200 shooters. Now there is something exclusive! Not many ranges limit the amount of people they want to attend. They had definintely gotten my attention with that statement. I was dying to see what they were soooooo secretive about.

Registration was a breeze...here inside the NEW location for registration it was just barely completed in time..in fact the final interior was awaiting the drywall....I had to laugh when we reviewed the photos, does anyone know the guy in the background doing all he can to cover his identity..lol..lol...most likely a TRAP shooter spying on SPORTING CLAYS events. Ha..Ha...we caught you! Mary Beth Blue be careful that guy in front of you loooooks very suspicious!!

DAY ONE MAIN:

Studying the map of the stations I resolved to go back to Jr. High and start over...it was a bit confusing. Many of the roads...trails would be a better description, had been cut for this shoot. Coming off the US OPEN where signage was plentiful and easily seen..... But hey, the layout more than made up for the direction problems.....and it seemed I was the only one lost...so there you go. It was just me.

But when I did arrive at station #4, the other shooters were waiting patiently. NELSON WILCOX, MARCUS FELDER, RON MAHLE. All friends of one another. Obviously, they had shot together often in the past....probably hoping to shoot together without a PRESS guy around...lol...lol...sorry guys, someone just stuck me in your squad.  I never request to shoot with anyone in particular. That way I get to meet more shooters. But not before to long I was accepted and we started acting like a team. I guess I would have to say that Marcus impressed us the most, with his shooting. He had a funny way of having a conversation with HIMSELF, in the box. He asked HIMSELF a question...then answered it. When HE and THEE were in agreement he swung the gun up and called for the target. Ron started off slowly, but got better as the day worn on, patient and deliberate, he paced himself ever gaining speed and accuracy as the sun rose in the sky. Nelson was truly a warm and generous guy. Never asked him what he did but he had a salesman personality. He offered encouragement when I shot well and bolstered my moral when I shot badly. Towards the end of the shoot he fell into himself, frustrated at his own shooting. I felt he had run out of energy.....he is a great shot and proved it early on but after a few stumbles was unable to regain his momentum. But I would like to thank Nelson for his perseverance, pushing himself hard to get back on track, AND kindness to a stranger.

Now on the other hand.....I discovered this bunch of trappers scheming together back near the "TREE SISTERS". Jason Menke was trying to hold them back from making this shoot another "Black & Blue" course! ThanX Jason the machines worked great and the targets were excellent and the grounds beautiful...as for your side kicks----> well, that BIG SPENDER in the middle bet a whole 50 cents he could take Mr. Digweed in a golf game...lol..I'm sure George will rush over for that bet!

But there were a few friendly faces I see around the country in my travels....MARY BETH and DON BLUE  of NEW BRAUNFELS, TX are some of the "Usual Suspects"....Don and I actually had a chance to sit down together for a whole 3 minutes at the KIDS & CLAYS shoot in San Antonio. That's when they shared the dream of extending their property-----> CONGRATS, THEY DID IT!

And....let's see, of the RICH & FAMOUS variety WILLY RIBBS and his HOA son THEO....congrats Theo!

Then of course, Mr. GEORGE BALL was there, and in his typical form, much to busy concentrating on his own shooting to say hello to a low class shooter like me....hey, remember George, it's not what they say that counts, but spelling your name right...lol..lol..you shot well, George.

Also I want to mention that WILLY HINZ and his wife attended...maybe members, I did not ask. But since I am a Houston kid, I recognized the name, PLUS his shooting cart has his logo printed on the side. I wanted to spend a few minutes with him because HINZ JEWELRY has been in Houston for as Long as I can remember. In fact, when I was able to afford my first ring, I bought it from HINZ back in.....well let's say a long time ago and leave it at that! But more importantly, HINZ JEWELRY is the sponsor of the famous DIAMOND CLASSIC shoot that I will be attending next month, before I return to the station in CaLEFTornia.

DAY TWO:

Cloudy with a nice breeze...I only had to find station # 11..probably the most easy to find...hooray! But that was the only easy thing I found all day. Did not shoot as well as the day before...

And as I sat waiting for my squad from the day before to show up I began to wonder if I was on the right station?? Seems this will be the first shoot I ever attended where you did NOT shoot with the same squad on both days, BECAUSE each day counted separately....need to read those details. So when PETER WERTZ walked up and introduced himself, it took me a few minutes to figure this out...thanX Peter <--- detail guy standing next to me in photo wearing blue shirt. With him I met VINCE PETRENELLA (far right) who became known as VINNY as we watched him blast targets...VINNY your on your way to becoming a Master Class shooter in a short time, You have a great natural talent. Far right in red shirt, MIKE SELLERS,  our grocer who shot like his next bag of groceries depended upon it. KORY WAHL, who would go down in the BRISTER book for the statement " I squatted so low for that shot I almost ripped open the stitches on my hemorrhoid surgery!" and  Mr. JAMES "LINK" SMITH, who I learned graduated from the same high school I did....MEMORIAL HIGH...yea MUSTANGS! Hey, by the way LINK I checked on your graduation date--> '71. Nope I don't think so----> you just said that to make me look older! But I am not going to ride you toooo bad about it because I saw you at the end of the day changing Mike's flat tire....I was amazed that anyone could get a MEMORIAL HIGH guy to get his hands dirty! Just goes to show your one of the few people that  came out of MEMORIAL High who actually became someone decent...oops, I guess I better be careful---> Never know who's listening...I'll get emails on that one!

It was great shooting with all of you and "I'LL BE BACK" as the Terminator Gov. says in CaLEFTornia...

Hey, lastly I want to thank GRETCHEN for all the hard work she put into making this a great shoot. Everyone from the staff to the TEXAS COOK-OUT COMPANY put in hours under a hot sun to make this a shoot to remember. and...and..and...Mr. Daniels you evaded me this year but like black flies and moskeeters ----> I'll hunt you down next time and getcha!

C U @ The TEXAS STATE!