Rebecca T. Jones is no stranger to the winner’s circle.  She’s a former USPSA Open National Champion and is always a top contender.  Rebecca was kind enough to write about her first major match of the season, the USPSA South Carolina Sectional.  Are you just starting up your match season?  Even a champ like Rebecca can feel a little rusty after a long break.  Read how she handled the pressure and what she focused on to claim yet another ladies title.

This was my third time shooting the South Carolina State match and the folks at Mid-Carolina Rifle Club delivered another great match. The stages were a blast. I had awesome squad mates and fantastic weather topped it off. Other than a couple of local club matches earlier this month, this was my first match back after last October’s USPSA and IPSC Nationals. Taking time off from shooting this winter was good for me, but I enjoyed getting behind my gun again now that the southeast has finally thawed. However, I found myself quite rusty at the SC State match! Little things did not “click” for me as they normally do – drawing, reloading, hitting my set-ups, etc.

This match had a little of everything and I learned a lot as the day went on. I noticed I had to really concentrate on my sights harder. Breaking down the stages also took me longer, but I suppose that also could have been because most of the stages at this match were trickier than they initially appeared! We had a good variety of close and far shots, difficult set-ups around props, partial targets, and shooting on the move. We even got to go prone – something I have not done at a major match in several years!

I got to shoot with Sarah Irish, who also shot Open. Sarah kept me on my toes with her athleticism and fast trigger finger! She won High Junior and was even 8th overall on a stage!

Even with being out of practice, I felt pretty good about my performance overall. A few too many points down and a little sluggish, but I managed to shoot 78% of Chris Tilley and came in 2nd in A class, which I was happy with. I shot with a great group of guys and girls, and enjoyed being in the company of my IPSC friends once again.

Thanks again for taking the time to write about the match, Rebecca. Even though you felt a little off your game, congratulations on winning yet another Ladies Open Title!  For all the ladies results, please visit Women of USPSA on Facebook.

The 2009 Rio Salado Desert Classic / USPSA Area 2 match this year was probably one of the best matches I have seen this club put on.  This is always a fantastic match with stages that rival the best of the matches.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to shoot his match, you should make the opportunity.  Or, maybe not … it only makes it harder for the rest of us to get in at 370+ shooters!

This was my first Area Championship Lady’s Win, so this was a very special win for me.  I was able to shoot with a fantastic group of people … Debi, Steve, Frank, Pete, Jeffrey, Ross, Matt, Phil, Alan, Spence, Jerry, Dave, and two more that my memory is failing me, so I apologize.  Squad 22 Rocks!

The stages this year were very physical, and among them a few mentally challenging areas.  With the exception of one stage, the stages required lots of movement, a few stages full out sprinting, a handful that forced the shooter to move laterally, and many, many awkward shooting positions.

Target placement at times was deceivingly easy, some up close and personal, while others were pushed out there with hard cover and no-shoots.  Then they followed up with the 20+yard stop plates, the handful of pesky poppers tucked behind barrels, and the notoriously tough Rio swingers out in full force, don’t blink!  All in all, it was a job well done by the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club.

My favorite stages???  Stage 2, which had a Texas Star and two tiny plates from the last position, and Stage 8 which had two swingers, that were activated by cross-over poppers, and could have been shot any number of different ways!

I would like to thank:

• The ROs for their efforts at running the stages as smooth as they ran.  Every one of them worked their stage with a wonderful attitude and the professionalism only this match can draw. They are the best of the best!
• Polle and her hard working staff who ran the stats – There’s nothing that can be said except superb job and they deserve a huge applause!
• Scott Carnahan and Safariland for resolving a long time gear problem with their fantastic loop-over under belt.  My gear now stays tucked in to my body, even at a sprint. I LOVE IT!
• Angus Hobdell for the training and insight that I finally listened to and applied at the same time!
• Kandi, Tasha, Debbie and Kippi for your support.
• Last, but definitely not least, I would like to thank my husband, Russell, for giving me new inspiration for the sport and all of the encouraging words and advice that he gives me.  He puts himself second at these matches and always makes sure I have what I need.  He is my best friend, my partner in life, and a fantastic human being.

Eva Micklethwaite
2009 USPSA Area-2 Champion

November, 2009 – We were excited to publish our 1st Women of USPSA survey regarding USPSA Special Categories (all of them – junior, senior, super-senior, women, military, & law enforcement). 

Historically, special categories have been a topic of heated debate … and some things never change.  Regardless, it’s been many years since the topic has been broached, so I guess we’re stirring the pot!  : )   It will actually be interesting to see if / how opinions have changed with the growth and demographic shift in USPSA membership. 

I, personally, would love for our sport to have the participation, membership, support, media coverage, sponsorship, acceptance & work force to host separate events for all categories.  I think it would be wonderful if we could compete and be recognized as entities of our own (like golf … PGA, LPGA, Junior PGA, Senior PGA).  Wouldn’t that be awesome? 

But since we’re not there yet,  : )  we just wondered what other USPSA members thought about the topic. 

If you missed your chance to respond, we would still like your feedback!  We probably won’t tally results until early 2010.  Please feel free to share the survey with ALL fellow USPSA shooters.  

If you have no special interest in special categories – that’s even more reason to complete the survey! 

Follow the link below to participate:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZYT3PW2

Thanks for your time!  We’ll update you with results once we take the survey off line and compile responses!

Kippi Leatham – TY7600

We’ve been doing our best to bring you live coverage of the USPSA Nationals. Unfortunately cell service is at best spotty on the range so streaming video is hit or miss.   Who’s winning?  It’s to early to tell at this point.   We just checked the USPSA website and there are no results posted yet.

We’ll keep trying our best to stream video but in the meantime, enjoy two videos from Squad 9 of Maggie Reese (Open) and Jessie Abbate (Production):