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The 28th of February was looming closer by the day. At this time "Cowboy
Paradise" didn't much ressemble a shooting range, but still the earthmoving
machinery were carting gravel, building the access road, levelling the
range floors and preparing the surfaces to erect the marques. Three days
to go and finally the new bisaloy targets arrived, now they needed to all
have the mounting hooks welded on. This was what confronted the early arrivals
who had travelled from many parts of Australia and New Zealand, to be part
of the third annual Duel Down Under. Trans Tasman rivallry is just as strong
in cowboy shooting as in all other sports, however all such rivallry was
put aside as cowboys from both nations worked shoulder to shoulder building
props assembling targets erecting marques, and all the thousand and one
other jobs that had to be completed. This is the true cowboy spirit, without
it the third Duel would not have happened. Thursday the 28th, side match
day, and would you believe it, it rained, not just rain, that we could
have handled, it bucketed down all day and most of the night. Consequently
the scheduled side matches were cancelled or postponed until Sunday. It
was particularly dissappointing to cancel the cowboy clays as I think that
this event has hugh potential in this country. Main match morning and it
looked like the whether was going to improve, fingers crossed. Sixty shooters
from both sides of the Tasman listened to the customary welcome and briefing.
the story continues
*
Formalities behind us and at last the first shots were fired on the
Trail Blazers' new range "Cowboy Paradise". There were seven stages each
day, shot on six ranges. Stages varied from ten rounds through to thirty
odd rounds. Some had knife/axe throwing, all required movement down range.
There were windows and doors to shoot through, there were steps to climb
up and down, there was a building with three rooms to attack one day and
defend the next.
The rain was never far away during both days of the main match, shooters
more than once had to scurry to shelter out the worst of the showers.Come
4-30 on Saturday and all shooters had completed the fourteen stages of
the main match.Saturday evening and time for the formal banquet. As in
previous years our local French chef Pierre exceeded expectations with
his culinary repertoire. Inside the marque it was warm and inviting while
outside it was wet and wild with thunder and lightning just for good measure.Many
shooters were still telling yarns well into the small hours. Sunday morning
and the whether still looked threatening, however the Quarry Gang members
got the long range rifle events underway, while on the other ranges the
speed events were being fought. Lunch time was followed by the presentation
of prizes and results.
presentation
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Ladies:
Schofield Sue,
Miss Ruby,
Silver Rose, |
Senior:
JEB Stuart,
Hawk,
Black Ace, |
Frontier:
Bald Eagle,
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Modern:
Rooster Cockburn,
Tuscon,
Buckwheat, |
Duellist:
Sam Balin,
Doit Daily,
Doc Cummings, |
Traditional:
Hannibal,
Kento Kid,
Payden Kash, |
Speed Rifle:
Payden Kash,
Joe Kidd,
Kento, |
Speed Pistol:
Kento Kid,
Payden Kash,
Cro, |
Speed Shotgun:
Payden Kash,
Winchester,
Joe Kidd, |
Long Range Rifle,
Single Shot:
Goldie,
Trailboss,
Kento Kid, |
Long Range Rifle,
Rifle Cal.
Doc Watts,
Schofield Sue,
Goldie, |
Shooting
Results
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The kiwi's win
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Now the one that everyone was waiting for, which country would take
the magnificent Fredrick Remington trophy for the next twelve months.
In a closely contested battle New Zealand came through as the winners.
Sam Balin from Australia handed the trophy over to Kento Kid who received
it on behalf of New Zealand. Many new friendships were made and despite
the whether it was a great occasion to be part of. The Duel Down Under
will no doubt continue to grow in support from both countries and I'm sure
will one day soon be the biggest cowboy match in Australasia. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank all those shooters who did so much more
than what is normally expected to enable this match to be completed.
Also thankyou to the R/Os, they do the extra so that the rest of us
just have to shoot.
Sudden
Come see
some shooten
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