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For those of you have been around for, 20 or more years, the names Chinquapin and Charlie Dell go together. Starting about 35 years or more ago, Charlie ran a small but enthusiastic event a couple of times a year on the range he had built on his farm. It was the ultimate low key, fun match with shooters coming from as far away as Ohio, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Maryland. With his passing the range was no more and since the Director for Local Clubs was in receipt of a couple of years of prepaid dues, he contacted me and asked whether I wanted to continue the event. My local club, Brushy Mountain, had just completed a new range with berms at 100, 200, and 300 yards and ten covered firing points with concrete benches. So I approached our directors for permission and got it. Those early years in the twenty-teens were active with great participation and full firing lines. Then we ran into a couple of bad weather events at matches, the COVID scare, and just aging of the participants. The last couple of years have been slim, with fewer and fewer participants, and this past weekend was close to rock bottom with only two families, a father and son and a father, daughter and grandson joining me to shoot. The good news was that both youngsters (9 & 15) turned in credible targets… 100 rimfire from the bench, with a 228 and a 235. Also, two BPCR shooters came up from Chapel Hill to observe and committed to coming back to shoot in June. We also had one new and one long time BMC Member who made the same promise. We had a couple more locals who usually join us but were otherwise occupied this weekend, but they too plan to come in June as well. Soooo, after hitting a participation floor, it looks like the Chinquapin CSV may rise, Phoenix-like, from the ashes. I think Charlie would approve. Charlie Shaeff aka Green Frog
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