WHERE THE OLD WEST STAYED YOUNG – 2011

Over Memorial Day week-end the Northwest Colorado Rangers staged their 26^th annual “Where the Old West Stayed Young” cowboy action shooting match.  Due to the presence of a terrific crew, set-up on Friday was complete by 3:00PM.  Many thanks to Dick Tyler, John Jepkema, I.B. Oneeye, Annie Thrax, Colorado Hank, Desperado James, That Away Gal, Black Mtn. Cat, Sagebrush Burns, Lefty Rhodes, Red River Wrangler and Sweet Lil for their hard work and efficiency. 

Saturday started out cold, windy and raining.  Burns promised it would stop raining before main match shooting commenced and (surprise!) it actually did.  The four posses, led by Red River Wrangler, Badger, Banzai Bill and Cinch, fired four stages then broke for lunch at 12:30PM.  Shooting resumed at 1:30PM with nine side matches which were completed by 5:00PM when the range closed for the day.  Sunday broke sunny and windy; shooting commenced at 9:00AM and was done by noon.  After a break for lunch, everybody pitched in to break down the props and targets and put everything away back in the barn.  Talk about a fine crew!  The work was finished in an hour and the barn looks better than it before.  Big thanks to all!

After clean-up it was time to present match awards.  All shooting results are posted separately, but there are a few awards meriting special mention.  The “overall” winner was Badger.  Two shooters, Banzai Bill and Gutshot Don, earned clean match trophies.  This year three “spirit of the game” awards were presented:  Red River Wrangler & Sweet Lil and Badger & Jinglebob Gerri  in thanks for many years of dedication and service above and beyond the call of duty in putting on this match; Sagebrush Burns & Black Mtn. Cat for their efforts in staging the match.

Thanks to all who made the match a success – shooting participants, club members, work crews, and families.  We’re looking forward to another good time over Memorial Day week-end 2012.