Match News

 NORTHEAST REGIONAL 2010

The “Biggest Shoot in the Little Northeast 2010” is History!

The outlaws gathered in Northampton, MA to ride and shoot for three days. Fri. night’s “Outlaw Roundup” had 40 riders runnin’ and gunnin’ getting’ those horses used to the indoor. Us Northerners usually shoot out in the weather on grass or sand or gravel. The excellent footing of the indoor with motionless balloons was great! Ron Differ, Maria Downey, Randy Delano, Marty Luffman, Judy Otto and Charlie Otto traveled long distances to the North to take part in the biggest weekend of our season. The team of Ron Differ and Shifty took the top spot. Second went to Vanessa Kuzmitch and Lexi.                   

Targets were changed as fast as they were shot thanks to the two inflation stations provided by the MA and CT clubs and the speed and stamina of the East Granby, CT Cheerleaders, Jessica Lindner, Nicole Violette, Josh Whalen and their friends Missy Kulik, Olivia Korte, Morgan Winzer and Brendan Gillespie.
 
The main match started nearly on time Sat. morning followed by rifle and cavalry. The balloon runners were Granby 4H kids who set the targets with lightning speed. Thank you, Beth, Laura and David Irwin, Tess and Devin Jacques, Ryan and David Hodder, Nate Hayes, Layne Cramer, Holly Keaton and Hayley Barrett.
 
After four stages of the main match, the arena exploded with the largest rifle class of any Northeast match so far. Seven cowboys and one cowgirl ended Sat. competition with adrenalin pumping, shells flying and balloons scattering everywhere! Ron Differ was the winner, and Roger Dinsmore was second.
 
The Italian dinner put together by Ali Forsyth and prepared by Lite N Up of Granby was fantastico! The chicken, red potatoes, pasta, meatballs, eggplant parm, salad, bread were followed by strawberry shortcake!
 
Roger tried to eliminate some of the competition with his “Unmounted Mounted Shooter Versatility Contest.” He had lots of creative help from Diane Schena, Bill Riel and Emma Reichart. In the end, Joe Mugnai earned the top spot and the cash with his blazing speed and agility.
 
Sunday started with inspirational Cowboy Church led by Carolyn Stearns.
After 52 riders shot the six stages, Randy Delano claimed the title of Northeast Regional Champion for 2010. Top Cowgirl was Paige Whitt of Alabama by way of Massachusetts.
The Cavalry class was dominated by Dick Moody with Randy Delano second. 
Dy and Mark Rizzo were chosen best dressed. They dressed in the “Spirit of the West” for the entire weekend.
 
We have a special thank you for Carolyn Stearns for all her time and effort spent putting the sponsor booklet together. Thanks to all the Six Shooters and Renegades who collected sponsor dollars. Thanks to all the businesses and individuals who bought space in the booklet. This helped pay for the facility and keep the entry fees low.
 
We want to thank all the volunteers for helping to make the match successful:
- R. B. Curtis and Jill Davis for recruiting and transporting balloon runners Fri.

- Carolyn Rogers for recruiting and transporting balloon runners Sat. and Sun.

- Judy Carpenter and Jo-An Boehm for keeping score and setting up  hospitality table

- Cindy Karp for entering scores into the computer

- Carolyn Stearns for announcing and conducting Cowboy Church

- Tom, Dorcus and Kurt Forsyth for bringing the Sat. Dinner to the arena

- Kurt Forsyth for providing Sat. night music

- Sue Calef for assisting balloon runners

- Al Calef for building and donating two balloon stick holder stations
 
 
We want to thank all the riders who found energy and time to help before, during and after the matches:

- Roger Dinsmore, Match Director, Site Manager

- Lisa Dinsmore for organizing mountains of bookkeeping, managing the barn and computer

- Bruce Tolhurst for recruiting and scheduling several Range Masters

- Gus Carlson, Bruce Tolhurst, Cindy Karp, Steph Shaw, Mark Rizzo, Steve Roy, Joe Mugnai for being RM

- Ali Forsyth for arranging for and getting the Sat. dinner set up

- Kiersten Walker for 9 hours of music on her iPod

- Laura DeMaio, Mags Campbell, Richard Karp for providing rider water

- Cindy and Richard Karp for campground supervision

- Heather Hicks for managing the banners and computer

- Lee Shaw for selling 50/50 raffle tickets

- Gus for picking up shavings and towing the club trailer both ways

- All the Renegades, Six Shooters and others who helped with set up and clean up.

SPRING BREAKOUT MARCH 28, 2010

Connecticut has finally started the 2010 season!

Pic on right is Heather Hicks on Arwen.

After a successful morning clinic, several women and men who had been anxious to be cowboy mounted shooters finally got their chance. Twenty-nine riders came out on a cold, but DRY Sunday to satisfy their need for the rush of gunfire and speeding horseflesh. Of the ten Ladies in L1, five were first-timers. The three men in M1 were all riding in their first match. Several horses made their debut as well.

We all hope Joe Mugnai’s broken arm heals quickly. His spectacular Western movie finish to the first stage will be remembered for a long time-the drag, the reigns flying, the boot release, the victory dance, and then the reality of pain. To bad he probably doesn’t remember the five medically trained women who came to his aid tending him until the ambulance arrived.

TOP TEN

After four stages, Micah carried Mark Rizzo to a first place finish.

KC took Allison Forsyth to second place.

Cherokee brought Joan Davis to third.

Annali and Lisa Dinsmore were fourth and the only team to shoot CLEAN! (Pictured above)

Fifth-Booger and Roger Dinsmore

Sixth-Boon and Pat Aresco

Seventh-Poco and Bill Milroy

Eighth-Manny and Leslie Kaminoff

Ninth-Duke and Rich Glover

Tenth-Blue and Virginia Hoerle

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CONNECTICUT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 2009

Thirty-one riders sped through each of six stages to demolish the balloons, stir up the dust and race to the finish. Mark Rizzo and Pete stopped the clock in unbelievably short order! They ran stage 40 in 11.841 seconds! Mark won three stages, and Karl Bauer of New Jersey won three. When all was tallyed, Karl won the match by .006 seconds!

Karl Bauer was first riding Duke.

Mark Rizzo was second riding Pete.

Brandon King of New Jersey was third riding Snickers.

Roger Dinsmore was fourth riding Booger.

Joe Lauzon was fifth riding Ghost.

Bruce Tolhurst was sixth riding Pete.

Joe Mugnai was seventh riding Logan.

Allison Forsyth was eighth and Top Cowgirl riding KC.

Joan Davis was ninth riding Cherokee.

Richard Moody was tenth riding Rheuben.

Karl Bauer earned his move-up to M2.

Heather Hicks earned her move-up to L2.

Roger and his reliable long gun continue to dominate in the Rifle match-with Booger's help!

Photographers took full advantage of the beautiful weather and colorful costumes at the Governor's Horse Guard facility in Avon, CT.

Check out www.dianehortonphoto.com.

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NORTHEAST REGIONAL               Aug. 23, 2009

Thirty-four riders from CT, MA, NY, NH and New Jersey churned up the sand in the new arena at the First Company Governor’s Horse Guard in Avon, CT. The excellent footing allowed for many smokin’ hot runs. The Guard sold food, and Bluebird Meadows Farm set up their rolling tack store. Beautiful shade trees shielded the spectators and competitors from the blazing sun. A few rain sprinkles were very welcome cooling the balloon runners a bit. The scorekeepers were very comfortable in the multi-level gazebo.

The top ten finishers were: 

First and Overall Champion was Bruce Tolhurst of CT riding Pete

Second- Mark Rizzo of CT also riding Pete!

Third- Roger Dinsmore of CT riding Booger!

Fourth- Joe Lauzon of MA riding Ghost!

Fiffth and High Cowgirl was Allison Forsyth of CT riding KC!

Sixth- Richard Moody of NH riding Reuben!

Seventh- Joan Davis of CT riding Cherokee!

Eighth-Joe Mugnai of NY riding Logan!

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 SUMMER SIZZLER

July 12, 2009

After the delay to let the blazin’ sun dry the field, the Summer Sizzler lived up to its name. As the day heated up, so did the competition. The top two riders finished only .499 seconds apart! The third and fourth place riders finished .186 seconds apart!

Since we were on Lisa and Roger’s home turf, they favored everyone with some stunt work. As Booger slid down at the barrel during warm-ups, Roger expertly landed on his own two feet! Lisa finished a stage with a well executed roll as two six guns flipped through the air and her Palomino, Annali, bucked with exuberance!

Of the 24 entered, only one rider shot clean for the day. That was “Outlaw Jimmy Wales” aka Jimmy Passarela from Long Island. He was the only junior in the match and rode Mary and Joe Mugnai’s very adaptable horse, Logan.

The top ten teams were:

1) Vanessa Kuzmitch and Lexi

2) Mark Rizzo and Pete

3) Joe Mugnai and Logan

4) Roger Dinsmore and Booger

5) Steven Roy and Rufus

6) Cindy Karp and Pecos

7) Allison Forsyth and KC

8) Joan Davis and Cherokee

9) Tim Marchand and Arrow

10) Gus Carlson and KC

To teams entered the rifle class. Booger and Roger won with Joe and Logan following close behind.

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BATTLE FOR THE RANCH May 23-24, 2009

Riders came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and England for a weekend of shooting at the Roundtuit Ranch in Enfield, CT owned and operated by Jen Seymour. Some folks camped, some stayed in a motel or B&B while their horses were made comfortable at the Ranch. The Granby Mustangz, the 4H Horse club guided by Lisa Dinsmore and Carolyn Rogers hustled the balloons and rustled up grub to keep the matches moving and the riders fueled both days. Sat., the Mass. Sixshooters hosted 29 riders and ran a smooth match.

Top ten were:

1. Dick Moody and Reuben

2. Roger Dinsmore and Booger

3. Joan Davis and Cherokee

4. Stan Newton and Cinco

5. Joe Mugnai and Logan

6. Cindy Karp and Pecos

7. Richard Karp and Pecos

8. Ali Forsyth and KC

9. Vanessa Kuzmitch and Lexi

10. Joe Lauzon and Cash

New MA rider, Joe Lauzon, won M1 for the second time in two matches and moved up to M2!

Sun., the CT Renegades hosted 31 riders who had to dodge THREE thunderstorms throughout the day. But we got ‘er done! Sheltering together during the storms had its benefits. Conversations strayed from “how are you going to run this stage” to learning more about what people do in their real lives.

Top Ten were:

1. Mark Rizzo and Pete

2. Dick Moody and Reuben

3. Roger Dinsmore and Booger

4. Joe Mugnai and Logan

5. Ali Forsyth and KC

6. Vanessa Kuzmitch and Lexi

7. Joe Lauzon and Cash

8. Lisa Dinsmore and Anali

9. Cindy Karp and Pecos

10. Bruce Tolhurst and Pete

New CT rider, Pat Aresco, won L1 for the second time in two matches and moved to L2! Steve Roy of MA moved up to M2, and Mary Mugnai of CT moved up to L3!

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SPRING BREAKOUT CLINIC AND MATCH April 5, 2009

It was a long and eventful day! It started with a clinic for ten new riders and/or horses. The experienced shooters tutored the greenhorns in gun handling. Then the experienced herd convinced the new horses that the noise and smell of gunfire were harmless and tolerating it would lead to delicious cookies!

Two of the new riders with new horses felt confident enough to enter the match. With twenty-five entries and double points at stake, the focus was on speed and accuracy. The speed was sure there. However, no one earned the title of Sharpshooter. No one shot clean. Some riders are breaking in new mounts or getting acquainted with new guns or gun leather. As the season heats up, look for more excitement.

Congratulations to Gus Carlson for moving up to Level 3!

The top ten finishers were:

1. Dick Moody and Reuben

2. Roger Dinsmore and Booger

3. Joan Davis and Cherokee

4. Bruce Tolhurst and Pete

5. Mark Rizzo and Maverick

6. Gus Carlson and KC

7. Ken Forcier and Red

8. Joe Mugnai and Logan

9. Lisa Dinsmore and Annali

10. Tim Stearns and Scout

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SMOKIN' GUNS * FIRST MATCH OF 2009 *

Mark Rizzo and Maverick took the lead in the first stage and kept it for the remaining three to win shooting clean! Bruce Tolhurst and Pete outran Ali Forsyth and KC by only .314 seconds to take second place. This was an exciting start to the club's fourth season.

The top ten finishers were:

1. Mark Rizzo and Maverick

2. Bruce Tolhurst and Pete

3. Ali Forsyth and KC

4. Joan Davis and Cherokee

5. Roger Dinsmore and Booger

6. Lisa Dinsmore and Annali

7. Gus Carlson and KC

8. Joe Mugnai and Logan

9. Mary Mugnai and Logan

10. Tony Manzi and Maverick