I understand what your saying, very well. I'm 71 and have always had a competitive spirt, that hasn't left me but, my overall drive has been effected by age. We have a local match but, out of 10 people, only about 4 are really competitive so, I can't wait, each year to drive 900 miles to the shoot at Spokane (9 Mile Falls, actually) to compete. It's 8 days of actual shooting so, it's well worth the drive but, while doing the drive, I wonder some times. When I get there, that goes away!
The old friends that I've had since the 80's and the newer friends that I've made since I started attending in 2011 make it that way
I've lost one of each this year (Both Chuck's) make me appreciate the matches even more.
Like you, I didn't get to attend the Coors matches, I had a family and was working hard. I kept saying next year but, in a poof, they where gone and never came back!!! But, that's not why I want this so bad, that reason is because I do not want this sport and these rifle to fall by the wayside (again) and never return to their glory.
In the late 80's Slug guns still had matches, I got into them but, my love was single shots and I only did it about 3 years. Slug guns had their beauty and accuracy too but, I never bounded with them like I did with SS's, after the generation of the 80's pasted, so did the Slug Guns, I saw that happen. It was a very sad thing!
I do not want that to happen with our rifles, ever. A publicized National Shoot could keep it alive and even thrive, at least until I'm gone (I know some would love that
).
Frank