Thursday, October 29, 2009

Smokeout In The Hills

The Tn./Ky. Black Powder State Championship, Oct. 23-25 2009 hosted by The Highland Regulators at Possum Trott.

Sheriff Frank Canton, Marshall Red Stockburn, Papa Dave and Randy Saint Eagle caught the early morning Stage in Middle Tn. and headed to Smokeout In The Hills. Shortly after noon we met up with, Will Reilly, Blackwater Desperado, Shotgun Schoolmarm, Blue Boy and Imis Twohofon, the rest of The Wartrace Regulators who made the trip to the Best Black Powder Shootout that I know of.

We arrived just in time to check into our cabin, sign in and have lunch (which was included in the price of the shoot) and shoot the afternoon side matches (also included). If you've never been to Possum Trott you've missed the "Ringers Humdinger" side match. 10 guns, throw a spear, throw a tomahawk and cover a lot of ground. My only complaint was I needed an oxygen bottle by the time I got to the end (Ringer said he'd try to work on that for next year).

We finished in plenty of time to check out the vendors and shoot the breeze with some pards we haven't seen in a while before dinner (also included). There was a Chili Cook-off which became part of dinner. There was also a best Home Brew contest, a Best Liars contest and a Pumpkin Pie eating contest, won by our own Blackwater Desperado.


Possum Trott '09 Saturday

Saturday Morning ,after breakfast (also included), saw a drizzle of rain for the first of 6 Main Match Stages. The stages were good but on a few you had to think and count, not one of my strong points. The rain moved out by lunch (also included, do you see a trend here?) and by late afternoon we saw some sunshine.

The shooting was over in plenty of time to clean guns and clean up before dinner ( you guessed it).
Blackwater Desperado and Milkbone provided the entertainment for the night, and if you've never seen this band you've missed a really good show. There was plenty of adult refreshment to go around also.


Possum Trott '09 Sunday

Sunday morning started with Cowboy Church, for those who got up in time ( I confess I wasn't one of them). Then breakfast (yes) and the final 4 stages. Sunday morning also brought sunshine, not so good for those of us starting on stage 9 and getting to stage 10 just as the sun came over the hill and right in our eyes ( but now we know what it is like for the folks who shoot black powder all the time). After finishing the last 4 stages we had time to pack up the covered wagon and have lunch (included) while they finished up the scores.

In case you didn't realize it yet, after paying your entry fee and cabin rental the only place you could spend money was with the vendors, everything else was included, plus everyone got a door prize. WHAT A DEAL!!!!!!!!

The Top 10 shooters were 1. Little Wing, 2. Ringer, 3. Black Tom, 4. Silver City Rebel, 5. Tall Drink A Water, 6. J.D. Brooks, 7. Copperhead Joe, 8. Shaddai Vaquero, 9. Isom Kid, 10. Black Jack Beeson.

Wartrace Regulators made a good showing and for the first time when I've been at a shoot everyone from Wartrace won an Award. The Smokeless shooters were not scored with the Black Powder.

Blue Boy 1st Smokeless Elder Statesman

All the rest are Black Powder Categories:

Will Reilly 1st and Tn. State Champion Duelist, 11th Overall
Randy Saint Eagle 2nd and Tn State Champion B-Western, 19th Overall
Papa Dave 1st and Tn. State Champion Elder Statesman, 23rd Overall
Marshall Red Stockburn 2nd and Tn. State Champion Classic Cowboy, 29th Overall
Sheriff Frank Canton 2nd and Tn. State Champion Senior, 41st Overall
Imis Twohofon 2nd and Tn. State Champion Josey Wales, 52nd Overall
Blackwater Desperado 5th and Tn. State Champion Frontiersman, 67th Overall
Shotgun Schoolmarm 1st and Tn. State Champion Ladies 49r, 72nd Overall

Congratulations to all who made the trip to Possum Trott. If you're looking for a really fun and cheap shoot , put this on your calendar for next year. If you want to rent a cabin talk to Tn. Triple B now to find out what you have to do. http://possumtrot.org/

Many thanks to all the Highland Regulators who make Possum Trott such a great shoot.