What draws names like BOBBY,TONY, SCOTT, BRAD, CORY and RICK? -----> MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!....$25,000 dollars and a Big Diamond for EVERY CLASS.
In an interview with the Diamond Man himself, Mr. William Hinz, the formula was simple...put your money where your mouth is...you want the big guns to come, you have to do more than dangle a carrot, you need many, many carats, in the form of a big, shiny, diamond trophy.
Add the fact that it is held at the finest, private gun club in Houston, Texas...THE GREATER HOUSTON GUN CLUB...throw in a manager like KEVIN DOUGHTERY, a little pinch of "tender loving care" from the clubs members, and the "BIG SCOOP" himself, trap setter extraordinaire STEVE SCHULTZ.... a
nd shooters you have just stumbled into a competition you will not forget AND will always return...if you sign up early! This Diamond mine is only open to the first 200 hunters. DO NOT STOP AT GO! GET ON THE PHONE, AND GET ON THE LIST FOR '09, NOW!
This was what we call in Texas, a "Truck N Shoot!"...get out of your truck and get shooting----> No prelim and no practice stations. Here in Texas, it's about the "quick draw" not the warm-up. However, they did have "Snooker" to sharpen your stick....and it was a kick to watch. With so few shooters you had the opportunity to see the country's very 
best shoot...and if you were fast enough, you could shoot with them! 
FLASH...FLASH...BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS.....MR BRAD KIDD IS NOW IN LOUISIANA WORKING FOR THE "VARCO"...(oil business for you out-of-towners)....also presently sharing quarters with CORY!
Day One: The real deal begins.....
Hey, this was the first time I have shot with a squad that 3 shooters actually took home the gold...oops the DIAMOND!!! Yea, baby your lookin' at Diamond Hunters here! RICHARD WRIGHT..RANDY STRICKLAND...PAUL ANTONY...GUY WOMACK!
Soooo what about the targets...pleeease, stop whining! Was it suppose to be easy? Were you suppose to do better? Come on folks this is for the DIAMOND! Ain't no Texas back-country turkey shoot!
Did we think it was difficult---> yup! Were the towers difficult---> yup! DID WE THINK THE ATTACKING RABBIT ON #13 was difficult? No---> Well ,it really was not ...the fact that a rabbit was coming AT YOU...it was the scoring of the rabbit that created the problem. We loved the rabbit Steve/Jason/Mo... but..but...the scorekeeper needs to be much more consistent with what he was calling "dead bird".
But it was no one's fault...it is a challenge to find REF'S with experience. The largest weakness we all face in SPORTING CLAYS COMPETITIONS, is the lack of experienced, trained scorekeepers on the stations. BRUCE HERING and his students are the very best I have ever seen. 
The second best would be the Military Personal "sometimes available" from local bases. I would strongly suggest to all range owners/managers , that if you cannot get good trained scorekeepers....call your local Military. I am not sure what kind of arrangement others make.. but the Military knows how to follow orders to the "enth" degree without question! If you went to NATIONALS last year, you experienced what the Military has to offer. Don't even try to argue over a call...lol..lol...There was a young noncom on one station who I witnessed, turn to the squad who was trying to argue over his call...listened politely and responded by saying----->"register your protest with the office, sir...NEXT SHOOTER PLEASE!" ..lol..lol..
DAY TWO: Game on!
If you were playing cards...draw these three! ACE, KING, QUEEN....MR. BOBBY FOWLER, MR. WILLIE HINZ AND FRIEND.
HOORAY, BOBBY...HOA! It was a hard fought fight against a handful of aces who came to snatch "YOUR" DIAMOND right out from under your nose!!! I saw Bobby at the end of day one, getting ready to leave..."whew, man these are some tough targets..." But when the going gets tough, BOBBY FOWLER, Jr. just gets tougher! He trains hard, works out, watches his diet and keeps LORI close!
By the way, I had a great interview with LORI FOWLER for the radio. I finally cornered her and convinced her to ,"get on the radio"....I had been trying to do this for a year! What an interview! If you are NOT getting the FREE CD'S I send out every month, you're going to miss this....so email me or call, and GET ON THE LIST!
The day began for us at 2pm...many had finished. TONY RIVERA stopped to tell me he had to leave.
He had won THREE competitions back-to-back and business was calling. When your the owner of a successful business that is spread all over Texas...how long can you be away? Congrats, TONY---> YOU ARE THE TEXAS STATE CHAMPION FOR 2008!! Go home, celebrate with your family and friends...and beautiful wife!
The targets changed...the day went smoothly. I know this because I spoke to Jason just before heading out. Very cool shirt Jason!
Our squad kept a good attitude and supported one another as we moved through the stations. It somehow seemed easier? The "killer rabbit" was now a scared, little full belly, crossing target....we ate well here today. But...but...that pair off the tower tricked many of us. Some walked away with a ZERO! High score here could be ONE! We all shot it poorly...I shot last. I was certain it was more lead...more lead...but when I shorten
ned the lead the target EXPLODED! There is sooooo much to learn in this game! I think it was BOBBY FOWLER at the Texas State shoot last year that said to me on one station, " if you did not hit the target on the first try you MUST do something different..." just can't keep blowing the same hole in the sky. Some of us learn that lesson sooner that others....lol..lol..
Now, you know, over the past year or so I have been reading the name RICK CAMUGLIA...RICK CAMUGLIA this, RICK CAMUGLIA that...I even stumbled pronouncing his name on the radio show scoreboard a few times and became determined to meet him. As I was watching the "snooker" shooting I had my eye on CORY, he had just returned from the UK and brought back the 
SILVER! I really wanted to talk to him about it.....but when CORY is competing, well, he kinda gets a little focused, would be one way of saying it. So just as I was turning away thinking some shooters just cannot be interviewed at a shoot...CHERRY, MATERESE, ROBERTSON and even KRUGER to a lesser extent, but JON will stop and chat...but you can see he is elsewhere.I understand... I do understand, but there is not much of a chance to do it anywhere else, fellas....
Hey, for those of you who hear my show you know I am a "ROCKER", so like the EAGLES say on their new CD-----> " Somebody's following you!" BUT.. if your a Willy Nelson fan, as I am also, then remember----> "don't let the show get in the way of the music.." I'll catch up to you sooner or later. Hey, CORY, you probably do not remember this, but at NATIONALS last year, I won a tiny little award for my class and you stood with me o
n the podium, so Lal could take a photo....I thank you for that small courtesy and look forward to our interview.
I do want to mention PEDRO DELGADILLO. We met at the Texas State shoot. I was on my way to the next station when PEDRO had abandoned his "carrito" to swamp through mud, with an umbrella ,so when I saw him in Houston, I had to ask the question...."how do you shoot in such GOOD weather?"
Hey Kevin, we missed the radio interview, but I do want to thank yo
u for hosting a great, fun shoot! See you in October.
OK, for my wife, I added my photo holding my Diamond. On my left the DIAMOND MAN himself WILLIE HINZ and on my right the famous DR. NADIM NASIR, Jr. They both were smiling because I went up to them as I was leaving and held out the DIAMOND saying....." LIVE IN FEAR!" both of these shooters are Master Class. I don't think they lost much sleep over my warning..lol..lol..but we did get one last laugh together. Oh hey Dr. ,you forget to send me a mailing address... I cannot send you a copy of the show??
Sooo, I'm turning West again, shooters...on my way back to the station for a few weeks so we can go back to "live" shows. It's been a great ride! See you at NATIONALS!
James B. Towle
Host
Trigger Sports Radio
888-785-2876
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