-Bob Pian

2011 Iron Archer is in the record book as the largest field of archers since the first Iron Archer in 2002.  48 took part in the 18m x 600 qualification round on Saturday including archers from Illinois, Alabama and California.  The new BASF indoor range indoor restrooms and drinking fountain were a big hit.  No more port a lets!

The minimum qualification round score to make the cut to enter the round robin matches was 536.  The top twenty four archers competed in three flights of eight archers on Sunday.  Four matches took place in the AM.  Three matches took place after lunch.  All of the match periods went to five sets.  Multiple one arrow shoot offs were required.  New for 2011, each pair of archers shot for one dollar cash bonus to the match five winner .  Paseo Vista Archery Club x 3 , Precision Shooter JOAD x 2, Corner Kidz JOAD and Desert Sky Archers each sponsored $5 “feature match targets” during the last two matches.

The 2011 Iron Archer finished in spectacular fashion with a three way tie for the Gold flight championship between Zach Nicholson, Bret Moran and Walter Smith.  After the first shoot off, only Bret and Zach remained.  The second and final shoot off, the 2011 Iron Archer award cast iron skillets were awarded to:

Zach Nicholson, Gold flight champion

Walt Freese, Silver flight champion

Danielle Reynolds, Bronze flight champion (undefeated in matchplay)

Archer quotes:

• “This is fun…I like the format!”

•  “I had a great time. The head to head rounds were nerve racking. I hope to make it again next year.”

Congratulations and thank you Iron Archers!

Statistics:

BASF indoor range

• 13 target matts (12 for qualification +1 for para archer) (12 for matches + 1 for training)

• Day 1, 48 archers including 15 youth

• Day 2, 24 archers including 6 youth

Day 1 Saturday December 3, 2012

• Practice, 4 ends, 8:50AM-9:17

• 1^st 300, AB-CD,  9:31 to 11:03 (92 minutes)

• 20 minute break

• 2^nd 300, 11:25AM to 12:50PM (85 minutes)

• Announcement of flights, no shoot offs 1:30PM (40 minutes to turn in scorecards and check addition)

Day 2, Sunday December 4, 2012

• Practice 8:12 AM to 8:40, AB single line (28 minutes, seven ends)

• 1^st match 8:46, 3 matches one shoot off  (37min)

• 2^nd match 9:23, No SO (29 min)

• 3^rd match 9:52, 2 matches with one shoot off (37 min)

• 4^th match 10:29 to 11:03 with one shoot off (34 min)

Lunch Break  11:03 to 12:02 PM

• Practice 12:02 to 12:10 (two ends of practice)

• 5^th match, 12:11,  $1 each bale, three SO (36 min)

• 6^th match 12:47, SO, featured matches 3 by PVAC, 1 by DSA (35 min)

• 7^th match 1:22-1:55, SO featured matches 3 by PJS, 1 by CK (33 min)

Shoot-Off

• Three way Gold flight championship shoot off, 2:00

• Final Gold flight championship shoot off, 2:02

Awards

• 2012 Iron Archer cast iron skillet award presentation 2:05 PM

• Take down and return equipment to FITA range storage, done at 4 PM

Staff:

• Bob Pian, Technical Delegate, Tournament Director, COJ and DOS

• Janice Price, Website, Registration, Results

• Ranking round apprentice judge, Valerie Bullis

• Runners: Miscione, Swartzfager, Yamaguchi, Speck, Price

• Set up, take down:  Rick Bachman, Michael Speck, Desert Sky Archers.

Lunch via neighboring Carefree/I-17 road fast food restaurants and BASF main range hot dog stand.