We’re moving on with coverage of the second of the 2009 Back to Back USPSA National Matches, with interviews from the Top 3 Women in Revolver Division…
3rd Place – Echo Hester
WoUSPSA – Congratulations on your 3rd-place finish, Echo! How many Nationals have you competed in?
Echo – Just two.
WoUSPSA – Annette Aysen told us you shoot primarily for fun. How often are you able to practice throughout the year?
Echo – I only practice at local matches.
WoUSPSA – Going into the Nationals, what was your strategy for the match?
Echo – Look cute, shoot straight and don’t DQ!
WoUSPSA – I like that strategy! Can you describe your performance on Day 1 for us?
Echo – The Maryland Bullshooters wore their Green Shirts. Attitude was positive and the stages were simple, fun, and challenging.
WoUSPSA – How about Day 2?
Echo – The Maryland Bullshooters wore their Red Shirts. The exercise received walking from stage to stage was not bad in the morning. Stages were again simple, but challenging.
WoUSPSA – And how did the last day go for the Maryland Bullshooters?
Echo – The Maryland Bullshooters wore their Red & White Shirts. Looking good, shooting straight and staying out the ricochet line of fire.
WoUSPSA – Sounds like you shoot with a great bunch! Describe your best stage, and why you think you did well.
Echo – Stage One was my favorite, it represented shooting in the desert, well decorated, great ROs. It’s just a shame someone screwed it up for all of us.
WoUSPSA – Which stage was your most difficult, and why it was difficult?
Echo – Stage 9. I did not like the ROs and I choose not to shoot the stage.
WoUSPSA – We’re so sorry to hear that, Echo. What did you think about the rest of the stages?
Echo – They were great Revolver Stages.
WoUSPSA – Would you like to say anything else before we go?
Echo – I think most of the Revolver Shooters are the best of the bunch. They are all friendly and not at all cut throat.
WoUSPSA – Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us. Congratulations again on your USPSA Nationals finish, Echo!
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2nd Place – Sue Irish
2009 USPSA Area-5, 6 and 8 Revolver Champion
WoUSPSA – Congratulations on your 2nd-place finish! How many Nationals have you competed in?
Sue – Thank you. This year’s Nationals match was my first.
WoUSPSA – We welcome you and certainly hope you enjoyed it! Now, you won a few USPSA Area matches this year. Were the Area matches a part of the Nationals “preparation plan”?
Sue – No. The Area matches were for fun, like all of my matches.
WoUSPSA – We know you have a job that keeps you very busy (TechWear, USA). How often are you able to practice throughout the year?
Sue – I guess you could say I shoot matches as practice. I don’t have a practice or dryfire regimen.
WoUSPSA – Going into the Nationals, what was your strategy for the match?
Sue – To do the best I could do and have a good time doing it; really no particular strategy.
WoUSPSA – Can you please describe your performance on Day 1?
Sue – Day 1 was pretty much an average day. I was satisfied with how I did on at least half of the stages that day.
WoUSPSA – How did the second day go for you?
Sue – Day 2 was a struggle. I had to pull myself up after a tragic time on “the star”.
WoUSPSA – That’s unfortunate, Sue. More than a few of us had trouble with that spinning star. Was your final day of the match better?
Sue – Yes. Day 3 was by far the most enjoyable and also the day I was most satisfied with my performance.
WoUSPSA – That’s great that you came back! Can you describe your best stage, and why you think you did well?
Sue – Stage 5 “Which Way” was my best stage and I think I did well on it because I was able to keep to my plan.
WoUSPSA – Which was your most difficult stage, and why was it hard for you?
Sue – Most definitely Stage 7, “Spinnin’ Star”, was my most difficult. I saw I had shot a no-shoot at the start, so I had to do a reload to make that up (not a problem with anything but a revolver on this stage). All the reloads had to come off the shelf, so that messed me up right from the start. Then I went to the star and just couldn’t get my timing down. It took a lifetime to clear that star, but I wouldn’t give up on it.
WoUSPSA – Good for you! : ) Is this a good time to ask what you thought about the stages?
Sue – For the most part, the stages were enjoyable. I think I would have liked a higher round count.
WoUSPSA – Do you have any comments that you would like to finish with?
Sue – As a revolver shooter, you just can’t beat being on a squad with lots of other revolver shooters!
WoUSPSA – Great ending thought! Thanks for taking the time to be with us, Sue. Congratulations once again on your 2nd place finish!
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USPSA Ladies Revolver National Champion – Annette Aysen
3-Time USPSA National Revolver Champion, 2009 IRC Champion, 2009 USPSA Area-2 Revolver Champion
WoUSPSA – Now that you have had some time to take it all in, how does it feel to have won your 3rd USPSA Nationals?
Annette – It is such a great feeling of accomplishment at this point in my life. If someone, even if it was ten years ago, would have said to me that I would attend a match on the National level, I would have had to argue the point.
WoUSPSA – Going into the Nationals, what was your strategy for the match?
Annette – At this match, I planned to shoot at my level and speed at which I could achieve the best score (especially with all of the no shoots that were used, as you well know). That is usually how I can place in the upper half of the finishing.
WoUSPSA – Did you know you were in position to win going into the last day / stage? If so, how did this affect you?
Annette – No, not really. There are not many lady revolver competitors that I’ve seen shooting USPSA matches. My goal is usually to place as high as I can against the male competitors.
WoUSPSA – Can you describe your performance on Day 1?
Annette – Yes. Like any other match, I play it safe on the first few stages. I don’t ever want any mikes [misses] or no shoots.
WoUSPSA – And on Day 2?
Annette – I really started to enjoy the match. Maybe just a little too much – two mikes. Silly ones at that. Had some good stages. Shooting 70% or above with this group is great.
WoUSPSA – Finish up your match by telling us about Day 3.
Annette – It was good. I was really paying mind to the job at hand. The star stage was our last one. I took a few extra shots at the star – more than I would have liked.
WoUSPSA - Can you describe your best stage, and why you think you shot it so well?
Annette – My best stage was Stage 9. I shot 78% on that one. It was a good feeling. The lay out of the stage was made for my way of shooting. Reloading between arrays, full targets and, of course, the swinger being there at the right time for me to shoot.
WoUSPSA – How about your most difficult stage. Why was it hard for you?
Annette – Shooting 58% on Stage 3 was my worst in the match. It wasn’t that it was difficult for me. I didn’t go into the stage with the right frame of mind. There were shorter distances between arrays for loading and I was not watching my front sight. My overall total points were low.
WoUSPSA – What did you think about the stage designs in general?
Annette – I enjoyed the stages. In my oppinion, there were too many no shoots. You can still have a competitive match with out all that white.
WoUSPSA – You shoot regularly with Team Smith & Wesson. Do you think you have an advantage being able to train with a team that pushes you to be better?
Annette – Yes, it is an advantage to be a part of such a well trained team. I have always believed to practice with someone equal to or greater than your own ability.
WoUSPSA – What do you admire most about your teammates?
Annette – I would have to say their support. I can go on and on about what the team has done for me.
WoUSPSA – Do you have any comments about the match that you would like to add?
Annette – I would like to try to get more revolver shooters participating in the Nationals. This weekend, I’m attending a revolver IPSC charity match in Memphis. There are going to be over 70 shooters. The Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championship (ICORE) this year had over 200 shooters. This year at the Nationals we had 33 competitors. Why is this? I would welcome the chance to compete against more shooters in the coming year, both man and woman alike!
WoUSPSA – Thank you for your time, Annette. Congratulations once again on your 3rd USPSA National Revolver Title!
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Stay tuned for coverage on the next division, Limited-10!
June 5-7, 2009 the best revolver shooters in the world met to compete in the 18th Annual Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championships (IRC) in sunny San Luis Obispo, CA. The match consisted of 12 challenging courses of fire all with wheel guns, of course!
In iron sight revolver divisions, Annette Aysen has been synonymous with Ladies Revolver Champion for years in several shooting sports including ICORE, USPSA, Steel Challenge and American Handgunner. It was no surprise when she once again dominated at this year’s IRC. Annette placed 21st overall in Limited and 5th place A Class. Her total score of 359.34 seconds was over 11 seconds faster than 2nd Woman, Lisa Farrell – a revolver champion many times over herself.
Rounding out the Top 5 Limited Ladies:
- Annette Aysen
- Lisa Farrell
- Sharon Dickey
- Tabatha Averyt
- Molly Smith (Junior)
Making her debut at the IRC, Julie Golob competed in the Open Division. Shooting a full 25 seconds faster than 2nd Place Lady Beate Sexton, Julie added Women’s Open Revolver Champion to her list of many titles.
Rounding out the Top 5 Ladies in Open:
- Julie Golob
- Beate Sexton
- Rhonda Skelton
- Janae Sarabia (Junior)
- Janet Leach
We’d also like to extend congratulations to the upcoming junior ladies talent Janae Sarabia, Rachel Crow and Molly Smith! Way to go, girls!
USPSA
