For whatever reason you missed these matches, it wasn't good enough.  If you are a Black Powder Long or Mid-Range affectionado with cartridge rifle or muzzle loader, there is no other place on earth you should have been.  No, conditions were not ideal.  However, if it was easy anyone could do it and do it well.

As always, for most, this match is about the rifles and riflemen.  Present were Hepburns, High Walls, Rollers, Wessons, Borcharts, Sharps, Ballard and many others.
 
In a nutshell, the match went pretty much like a conversation I overheard between Lige Harris and Dan Theodore at the range.  "Dan, don't tell me how good your paper patched bullets shoot, show me how good they shoot."  and, good old humble self deprecating Dan T proceeded to take up the challenge and lead the field in Long Range after the first day of competition using paper patched bullets in his 45-90, even after a long night of merriment and toasting various events, causes and pregnant thoughts with a cohort of revelers.
 
However, Ole Dan went back to his quarters after the first day and likely sealed his fate for the second day of competition.  Some say he made a mistake.  I dont know.  Anyhow, so Dan T claims, he cleaned his rifle well, ate early, did not partake of strong drink, avoided Jim Terry, Kenny Wasserberger and friends, went to bed early, slept well and arrived at the range the next morning 30 minutes early.  All highly unusual behavioral characteristics for Dan.
 
The long and the short of it was that, lurking behind the ready line, other riflemen had fairly prepared for this day and pressed the issue one shot at a time.  When the smoke had cleared, the current World Champion BPCR Target Champion, Dave Gullo, edged to victory by one point over hard holding Lige Harris.  Dave peering through iron sights and Lige shooting scope.  It was a well fought battle right up until the last shot with Kieth Lay, Rick Moritz, Ray Hanson, Joe Boyle, Frank Monikowski and friends in a close hunt for first place.
 
Mid-Range Target was much the same with some fantastic scores fired.  Chip Mate of Elgin, Arizona, won the National Position Title.  Always cheerful and optimistic, and a dead serious competitor, Rick Moritz from Colorado waltzed away with the Iron Man Aggregate.  (Ironman is an aggregate of Long Range, Mid-Range Prone and Mid-Range Position scores.)
 
Mon Yee of Dodge City, Kansas, took the muzzle loader title with his original 1853 vintage J. Miller .45 Caliber Rifle.  Black Powder Target Shooting with a muzzle loader is really good exercise.  Calisthentics with a smoke pole.
 
There is a persistent rumor that Kenny Wasserburger fired a one inch group with his 45-199 and paper patched bullets at the Pedersoli 5 at 200 Match.  Moreover, the rumor goes that he was so overcome with joy with his accomplishment that he summarily left his rifle at the Coors Range.  Fortunately, someone recognized the long old thunderstick and returned it to Kenny at a later time.
 
While I did write down the hand scoring, they are not official.  NRA advises that the "official" scores should be on their website in three weeks.
 
The World Championship BPTR Match is to be held at Raton, New Mexico, September 2010.  Get ready!

Dangerous Dan the Torpedo Man is the only shooter I know who has actually rung a chicken in a match. Of course he's also the only shooter I know who has won both ends of the Pedersoli MOA challenge, so go figure.

I knew Kenny has always been a heckuva good shooter and a, shall we say, an interesting person but he seems to have outdone himself this time - in several ways, apparently! I haven't talked to him in a while, he's a nice guy in my book. But he will lead you down the primrose path if'n you ain't watchin' close!
Best wishes to all competitors, Joe