The Evil Princess and I just finished up a great fifty-year reunion of shooters from the early days of practical pistol matches. Hosted by Bill and Joyce Wilson at their Circle WC Ranch in Texas, it encompassed two days of shooting the old-fashioned way: 1911 pistols, in the kind of holsters we wore half a century ago, and fixed time events because back then we didn’t have electronic gunshot timers. The shooters were divided into segments based on age: I was in the 70s bracket, separate from those young kids in their 60s.
In the picture are Joyce Wilson, who presented the awards. From left to right, first place John Shaw, former national IPSC champion; gun writer Patrick Sweeney, winner of last year’s national Pin Shoot; Bill Wilson, me, and Jim McClary, in order first through fifth place in the septuagenarian class.
Age 50 in the International Defensive Pistol Association puts you in Senior class. Hit 65 and you’re in Super Senior. I think people my age deserve our own Superannuated classification.
John Shaw!, he introduced us AMU service pistol and service rifle shooter/instructors from MTU1 to 3 gun back in 1988 at Fort Benning with his assistant Jethro. John was running a Sig 226 and one very fast 870 as in faster than an 1100 could cycle. We had the then new M9s, the new M16A2s and the slow and awful Winchester 1200s with plastic butt plates. They took some very accurate soldiers and made us smooth, fast and accurate in a great week of training. Good to see him and all of you on the green side looking hale and hearty, Mas!
lol, I like the sound of “super senior!” I can relate, but I quite can’t shoot as good as you.
But, I still have fun, and keep training those youngsters (this weekend, they are a lot younger than 60).
John Shaw and I were fraternity brothers at Ole Miss in the early 1970’s. We shot a few
handguns back then.
We need more pictures, Mas!!
A real good shooter at our club said there should be a handicap when you get older.
– What are you thinking?
— can’t keep up with these 20 somethings
– How old are you?
— I’ll be 32 in two weeks
– . . . . (two 70+ looking at each other) ..pause… Are you still driving?
I’ll be joining your superannuated class in a couple of months. Congrats on a a respectable finish in a distinguished group of shooters. Well done sir!
I’m so impressed. Mas, you never disappoint!
I will become Superannuated next Saturday, June 20th. An interesting journey thus far, but I feel like it’s all passed way too soon. Still working 3 days a week building cabinets, but admit I’ve slowed down a bit.
Flexibility, coordination, speed, agility, cognition, eyesight, lack of arthritis, are taken for granted by youth. My competition is only with myself now at 73. Be safe, have fun, and maintain skill level.