bcy expands its range of halo serving - National Field Archery ...

als?” Unless we missed somebody, it appears that
we have a tie between Don Will of Illinois and Rosie
Pridgen of Oklahoma. Both Don and Rosie have
shot in every National Outdoor Championship from
1972 through 2006 —that’s 35 years!
Don Will and Rosie Pridgen have attended 35 consecutive
Outdoor Nationals
The following paragraphs summarize the day-byday
highlights for all seven days. With the “mulligan”
provisions offered to the five-day shooters,
however, it was difficult for this reporter to assess
the closeness of many races until the last day, Friday.
Under the standard five-day format, if a top shooter
happened to have a bad Monday or Tuesday, he
could very well be out of the Championship, and
would be shooting for “funsies” the rest of the
week. Now, by taking his mulligans for his low Field
and Hunter rounds, he always has a chance to catch
up. Moreover, since there is no mulligan for the
single Animal round, it puts more pressure on the
top shooters to have their best day on Wednesday.
SATURDAY, JULY 22ND
Last year was the first time that a NFAA National
3-D Championship, either Marked or Unmarked,
was held in conjunction with the Outdoor Nationals.
The word must have gotten out that this was
a good idea because attendance at the 2006 Unmarked
3-D Championship was a record, and nearly
40% greater than last year. With Dakota Archery’s
21st Annual Whitetail Classic, held at the same time
on the same venue (Missouri and Rushmore ranges),
total attendance at the two-day 3-D events was over
400. [The Whitetail Classic doesn’t require NFAA
membership, but knowing Bruce Cull, most of them
probably were.] Total registration for the three tournaments
was well over 900 ... a sure indication that
the National Outdoor and Unmarked 3-D Championships
will return to Yankton in the near future.
Top score Saturday was a great 338 (out of possible
360) by Tim Gillingham, last year’s Male Shooter
of the Year. Second highest score was an equally
National Outdoor & Unmarked 3-D CHAMPIONSHIPS
LEWIS & CLARK RECREATION AREA YANKTON, SD JULY 22-28, 2006
great 321 shot by AMBHFS Mark Wagner, with fixed
pins and no optics. Pro Michael Braden and AMFS
Bill Lewis both had 320’s, while Pro Tipton Cook and
AMFS Stan Harmon followed with 316’s. Pro Linda
Owen, last year’s Female Shooter of the Year, lead
fellow Pro Alicia McHenry 307 to 304, while PMFSL
Rodney Huffman led defending champion Charlie
Owens 309 to 302.
For those wanting to reminisce with world class
bowhunter, author and publisher Doug Walker, as
well to pick up some equipment tips from Pro Dave
Cousins, there was the free seminar at Dakota Archery
Saturday evening. Doug played a videotaped
interview with Fred Bear, secretly made during their
last bowhunt together.
SUNDAY, JULY 23RD
Sunday’s agenda was essentially identical to
Saturday’s, except there was a 9:00 am shotgun
start rather than Saturday’s casual start (back-ups
are more prevalent in a casual start).
Tim Gillingham continued to pour it on by
shooting a 340, for a 678 ... bettering runner-up
Michael Braden’s 642 by 36 points. In PFFS, the
results were closer: Linda Owen finished with a 621
to Alicia McHenry’s 612 and Ginger Morehead’s
610. In PMFSL, Rodney Huffman dropped two
points to Charlie Owens, but held on to win by five
points, 617 to 612. The AMFS championship race
was also close. Bill Lewis (307), Stan Harmon (308)
and Scott Kamrath (307) were essentially equal on
Sunday, but with Bill (627) winning by three points
over Stan (624) and six points over Scott (621). In
AMBHFS, Mark Wagner dropped 35 points from
Saturday’s score, but won by three points, 607 to
604, over Brad Wolf. Mark Hand’s 603 was a close
third.
Complete results for the 2006 Unmarked 3-D
Championship are listed elsewhere in this issue, as
well as on www.fieldarchery.com.
Cubs shooting Sunday’s 3-D on the Dakota range
LEWIS & CLARK RECREATION AREA YANKTON, SD JULY 22-28, 2006
The Unmarked 3-D Championship awards were presented
by renowned bowhunter and writer Chuck
Adams at Minerva’s in the Best Western Sunday
evening. After the banquet, Chuck led a seminar on
“Hunting America’s Largest Antlered Animals.” The
evening was capped off with the presentation of
NFAA’s Compton Medal of Honor to Chuck Adams
by NFAA President Bruce Cull.
The legendary Doug Walker at the 3-D Awards Ceremony
NFAA President Bruce Cull presents Chuck Adams the
prestigious Compton Medal of Honor
MONDAY, JULY 24TH
Although their word wasn’t binding, about 15%
of those registered indicated that they would shoot
from Monday through Wednesday only. About 4%
said that they wouldn’t start until Tuesday, and even
a smaller percentage opted for Wednesday through
Friday. Therefore, about 80% of the Field shooters
decided to shoot all five days. A few of these 5-day
shooters, however, decided to take their mulligans
on days they weren’t feeling feel, or just wanted a
rest.
Some very good 28-Field scores were shot today.
Maybe it was because some 5-day shooters were
thinking, “Relax. I can always take my first mulligan.”
For example, Pro Jesse Broadwater was only
one point off perfect with a 559, while Rob Morgan
in AMFS shot 555, Pro FSL Rodney Huffman a
National Outdoor & Unmarked 3-D CHAMPIONSHIPS
Shooters start to gather to hear the Monday morning announcements
535, and Bill Hakl in AMBHFS had a fine 540 — all
better than last year’s first round scores.
The 3-day/5-day format was somewhat confusing
to many scoreboard watchers. Although it was easy
to see, “who’s leading on Monday,” it didn’t mean
that they were leading the tournament. One must
remember that some shooters hadn’t shot the Field
round yet, while others would be discarding their
Monday score.
The talk among the barebow (Barebow, Bowhunter
and Traditional) community was the decision
made by 11-time National Champion David Hughes
to return to the under 55 AMBB ranks. [He won the
SMBB title here last year.] After nearly a ten year
layoff, and the return to 500+ scores, Dave decided
it was worth a try. He even talked fellow senior Tom
Daley into joining him and challenging defending
AMBB Champion Rick Stark. Although Monday
scores weren’t all that outstanding (Dave and Rick
took mulligans), Tom led the threesome with a 486
to Rick’s 484 and Dave’s 480. As you will see, the
virtual lead changed throughout the week.
Monday morning’s practice line
CONTINUED on page 9
6 Archery Magazine October/November 2006 Archery Magazine October/November 2006 7