Practice Day
Jacob and I didn't leave for Kentucky until about 3:30 on Wednesday when he met me at work. When we began our journey, we navigated through some heavy traffic in the capital of New York, which made our trip a little longer than anticipated. We drove until about midnight and decided to get a room for the night since we had both been up for the better half of the last 24 hours.
After getting up and finishing our journey to London, we gathered our stuff and decided to shoot a few arrows. When I drew my bow on the practice range, I knew practice was going to be a train wreck, so I decided to go along for the walk and just get a look at targets while not paying attention to where any arrows landed. I was in no condition to shoot. When we finished shooting, I felt good about my numbers and ignored everything else, as you must have a short memory when examining practice after having no rest and driving 13 to 14 hours.
Day 1
When I drew my bow before the round, I felt strong and solid. I could feel my shot, and I stored away the feeling so I could try to replicate it on the range. After shooting a few groups of arrows, we headed to our ranges. I would be starting on Target 11 and hadn't spoken to anyone who was on the same target.
When I got to the target, I saw a coyote staring at me out of the darkness. Actually, I could only see the few white patches on the little critter and knew it was going to be a chore to judge it and shoot it due to the darkness.
After a few minutes, Scott Hamlin and John Irvine showed up on the stake. A short time later, groups were reorganized and we were moved to stake 12 to join Mike Sutter, who made four in our group. When I got to that stake, I looked down the lane and saw a bomb of a lynx. However, I've always found it easy to aim at the lynx and when we were told to "Shoot'm up," I drew my bow when it was my turn and began aiming. As I aimed, I realized I wasn't in my back. Instead, I was just sitting there aiming at the target without any engagement at all. Then, I relaxed a little and the shot fired. It landed squarely in the 10-ring, and my first ASA of the year had begun.
Before leaving the stake, I stored the first shot in my memory and made sure to tell myself that I would focus solely on my shot for the remainder of the day. If the arrows landed in the 10-ring that would be great, but if they didn't, I wouldn't care as long as I made the best shot possible. After the first 10 targets, I found myself on the leaderboard but paid no attention.
As I meandered through the course that day, I didn't have the best hold. I had a lot of jittery sight pictures, and a constant humming vibration while at full draw. However, the movement seen through the scope wasn't nearly as bad as it appeared on the outside. I stayed steady in my back and increased tension until it fired, making some of the best shots I've made in years. Although the day was a grind, the shots were rewarded when the arrows hit the targets.
After misjudging a black bear with a few targets to go, I knew I had to get a few points back and figured I'd gun at the few remaining targets. When I walked up on the coyote where I was originally scheduled to start, I pulled back, anchored and began pulling . When the shot broke, I knew I was executed perfectly, and I heard Scott say, "Perfect 12." With a sigh of relief, I sat on my stool and processed the last 15 minutes, realizing I was lucky to walk away at 1 down for the day but also knowing I could've easily been 8 up with just a few minor breaks. I had missed the few 8s's I shot by minimal amounts. At days' end, I found out I would be in the third group for Day 2, and I've seen plenty of people move out of Group 3 into the Shootdown Round.
Day 2
On Day 2, we were delayed an hour due to a passing T-storm, so Jacob and I hung out in the car and waited the storm out. When we gathered our gear to head to the range, we took our time walking to the down the road. Both of us had gotten a good night's sleep, and we were ready for the day, with Jacob having his plan and me having mine.
Since I shoot with the old guys, I figured if I could come off the range about even or a little up, I would have a chance to shoot five more arrows at the end of the day. However, I've never been one to coast and sometimes, I get big-eyed.
I was glad to see Loren Lohr would be in my group again on Day 2. Loren was in my group on Day 2 in Pipestem a few weeks ago, and I really enjoy shooting with him. Loren is a great guy who has tons of experience and he brings calm presence to every group he's in. He has more experience than almost everyone in our class and his experience is appreciated by everyone. I was also happy to see I was shooting with Jamie Drouillard. Jamie and I met on Archery Talk about 20 years ago when we were both about the same age and experiencing the same life difficulties. We became internet buddies, and I never imagined we would meet on the range and become friends. We both went through tough divorces, and we talked about our experiences. Jamie's dad and my dad were both great men who gave their sons everything they needed, and Jamie and I became friends with our dads in adulthood and shared many great memories. Although I had never shot well with Jamie in the past, he's just too good of a guy to not shoot well with. I've always rooted for him, and I think he has the best shot of anyone in our class. He makes it look effortless, and I make it look like I'm getting pummeled by Mike Tyson. However, we've both been fortunate to use our own styles to find a little success along the way. Jamie is always supportive, and he also roots for his competitors. Then, Don Krietemeyer filled out our foursome. I had never shot with Don, so I didn't know what to expect.
Once again, I would be starting on a bomb of an uphill lynx. Being fourth in line, I listened to arrows and gave it a full ride when my turn came about. My pin settled quickly, and the shot fired. The arrow landed in the 10-ring, and we were on our way.
With a slight grade uphill, it made it a little difficult to get the release to fire. I battled the entire day and made sure to remind myself that only good shots were acceptable. Although my hold was atrocious, the shots were good when they finally broke. I shot at a few 12 early and found a few 8s and 12s. After shooting over the 12 on a blesbok, I reeled it in and tried to remain slow and steady and take minimal chances, especially with a shaky hold. I shot so I could give myself a chance, but I didn't shoot directly at them. Instead, I played the odds and tried to get a few to rise into the 12.
As we neared the end of the day, I knew I needed one and thought I could get one on an uphill bear I had to lead off on. I had a great aiming spot due to a small glare on the target, so I went for broke. When the arrow hit, I thought I had shot a 5, but Jamie fist-bumped me and said, "Great shot." The arrow had kicked after hitting the target, so the nock was well above the 12. It made me nervous for a second or two.
After getting the 12, I knew I was on the plus side, so I decided to shoot 10's the rest of the way and hope for a rise. I felt like my numbers were good, so as long as I made good shots, I felt confident I could 10 out. On my last shot of the day, an uphill wolf, I made a good shot and the arrow landed a little low right of the 12 and I walked off the range at plus 2 for the day and plus 1 for the tournament. In my head, I thought that would be good enough, but having finished a number of times in 6th place, I just waited to find out. A few times I had coasted the last few targets when I shouldn't have and it cost me, so I hoped I had made the right choice this time too.
After handing the cards in, Destini told me I had made it in. Although I haven't shot very many ASAs, an ASA shootdown appearance has been eluding me and it has always gotten under my skin, especially having made IBO shootdowns regularly. It felt good to finally get that monkey off my back. It's kind of surreal when I look at this picture. Almost 30 years ago, I was on an MBO team with Ryan Jeffries and we won the First Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown, then there's two of the legendary 3D shooters of my era in the picture too, with Jeff Hopkins and Jack Wallace, with Mike Sutter rounding the group out. Going from Joe to Pro wasn't a hard choice, but in some ways I do wish I had done it as a younger man, but life had always gotten in the way. I'm glad I've made friends with these guys in my senior years and gained their respect. If you have the respect of your peers, I guess you can't ask for more than that.
Shootdown Round
I was relatively calm in the shootdown round, but I couldn't pull out any magic. My shaky hold from the last two days stayed with me, but this time my numbers didn't help me out. After shooting in the woods all weekend, I lost my numbers in the mowed grass field. I did the best I could, but I under-judged one and over-judged a couple. That's just the way it goes sometimes. I did walk away with one bonus ring. All but one shot was good, and the first shot was absolutely perfect, but landed a tad low of its intended mark. It wasn't a horrible shootdown, but it wasn't close to my best one. I guess I need to practice in the yard a little bit more.
Overall Thoughts on the Weekend
This tournament was a grind. It was far from my best shooting, but I found a way to grind it out and figure out a way to get to the finish line with what I had going on. I never looked back and I never got ahead of myself. I just kept my head down and ignored the shaky hold and focused on my shot. The shot from start to finish may have been choppy, but the execution stayed in line and didn't veer off track. I never shot a poorly executed shot throughout the qualifying rounds.
Although some of the shots weren't 10s on a scale of 1-10, they were still good enough to keep line and find their mark. I shot a lot of perfectly executed shots the first day. My shots were definitely better the first day than the second day, and I think some of that is because it was the first time I had shot this bow uphill for a lot of shots. It wasn't much uphill, but it was almost every shot, and that can wear on a person.
Back in the winter when I called Jacob after a few horrendous episodes of poor indoor scores and asked for advice, he told me to jack up the holding weight. I think that's what helped me more than anything this weekend. I'm currently holding 18.5-19 lbs. It took a bit to get used to it, but it has helped me execute crisper shots when I need them.
I was really lucky to have good, positive people in my groups both days. It's always easier to shoot when you get along with your fellow shooters and everyone roots for everyone else. I appreciate all of you guys, and I root for you too.
I was undecided about shooting this year. My life is a lot different right now and last year was my worst year in my shooting. However, things were very unstable, and I had a hard time putting one foot in front of the other, let alone breathing in and out. I feel a little more grounded this year, but I also know time is getting away from me. I'm close to 60 by the day, and it's hard to compete with the younger guys who are coming into the class. I've had health issues that have made that even more difficult and aged me more than most others my age. I just take it step my step and try to enjoy every second of every tournament.
When my peers learned I had made the shootdown round, many of them congratulated me and were truly happy for me, even at the expense of their misfortunes. Those guys are true friends and I would do anything for them. I appreciate all of them. Jamie had a rough go the last few targets and instead of focusing on the that and being a bad sport, he showed his happiness for me and was more excited for me than I was for myself. That's a pro's pro right there. Richard Teasley shot an 8 to end his day, and that is what put me in the dance. Instead of talking about that, he patted me on the shoulder and shoot my hand. He's a genuine good guy and I hope we can write his archery story one of these days. I think it's one that needs to be told.
I also appreciate Tony Tazza asking me if I needed him to stand in my box. Tony is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He's what pros are supposed to be, and I feel extra fortunate to have shared a stake with him so many times over the last few years. You could never ask for a nicer, more sincere guy. When he texted me a few weeks ago to ask me if I would be coming to London for the ASA, I told him yes. Since he's not shooting IBO this year, I knew it would be good to see him, and I'm thankful he offered his assistance.
It feels good to know I've been competitive again after the last year and a half of misfortunes and mental chaos. It also felt great to travel with Jacob again. I value his insight and advice more than any archer on the planet. While I have a few tidbits of wisdom to share with him every once in a while due to me being older, his advice is way more valuable than mine. I was happy for him this weekend. He deserved to have a big Day 2 and a great shootoff. If it weren't for a little wind drift, things may have turned out differently. Oh, and the arrow he ricocheted off in the 12 on Day 1 for an 8, which caused a 4-point swing. That's taking it on the chin and making the most out of a bad situation.
We had a good weekend without any outside noise, and it felt good. The Busheys and Sean Royster gave us good company at dinner and our laughs and conversations made the trip a memorable one. Hopefully, there will be more laughs along the way. Good luck to everyone out there and I'll see you on the trail.
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