Authority and a Lavatory

Yes, from the title you must have guessed this is going to be quite the story.

A little over a year ago Prez and Range Master J inducted me into their school of "how to be a range officer". From a competitive viewpoint it was a great opportunity to learn the ropes and the rules of the game.

At that point I wasn't expected to do anything special, just observe and discuss. Until one particular Saturday early last year when the range got real busy with new members and it was all hands on deck. Ready to help I was deputized and dawned the neon safety vest.

At the end of several hours on duty, I took off the vest declared quite loudly that I was not putting it on again. This was met with a few looks of surprise, concern and finally the question why. I continued, "I will not become a range officer until you give me a bathroom"

Time went on and I continued to gripe about the bathroom situation...often! There were talks of a port-o-potty and jokes of private buckets in the bush.  I took them in good stride but held firm to my convictions of a proper toilet. Finally the bathroom was approved but the logistics had not been agreed. Towards the end of the year good ole Ales (aka Bob the builder) began building.

The bathroom project would take a few months to complete. Simultaneously Bob in his  role as regional director for Cayman was organising for Cayman to become a member of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) and for us to have special training to become certified international Range Officers for IPSC.

By the time the hustle and bustle of the holiday season was finished, so was the bathroom. And just in time for the arrival of our instructor, Al,  from the Jamaica Rifle Association for a two-day training course on the range.

At the end of an intense weekend I was certified as Cayman's first female International Range Officer for IPSC.

My fellow officers and I were excited to try out our new skillset and declared a competition the following weekend.

After working a successful day's competition I went I to the club house to cool off.

As I slid off the neon vest the memory of my yesteryear's declaration came rushing to mind. I laughed to myself and thought, "well how do you like that?" They got me to become RO and I got a bathroom. It couldn't have been more perfectly timed.




Now I'm not going to say that it happened all because of me as this was in the pipeline for some time.  But I love how things happen to fall together like that. ;-)

Sunshine & Gunpowder

When I originally decided to take a vacation to our southern neighbour, I was only planning to attend the Jamaica Invitational Pistol Tournament (JIPT) as a spectator. What a mistake that would have been!

It all started with a courtesy phone call to Al, the Regional Director for IPSC Jamaica, letting him know that I would be in his neck of the woods. Apparently my ability to say "no thanks" were at a loss for Al's persuasion and Jamaican hospitality because before I knew it I had agreed to shoot the pre-match and work the match as an Range Officer. #Sucker #TwistMyRubberArm

I wasn't planning to have my first overseas competition until June and my late entry to JIPT meant that I wouldn't be able to arrange to take my firearm of choice.  What had I gotten myself into?

But at least I wasn't alone. Bright and early that Thursday morning our Regional Director, Ales (aka Bob the Builder), and I boarded the flight and an hour later were in sunny Kingston, Jamaica.

Upon arrival we were met by Al and made our way to the Jamaica Rifle Association (JRA) for a tour of the range. After seeing the multiple pistol ranges and complex stages with tunnels, bridges and ropes (oh my!) I was super excited and yet again found myself wondering what I had gotten myself into.

  

But it was all good and I was in good hands.  The JRA team kept me fed and busy. And there was plenty to learn and see from super shooters like Robert Engh, Frank Garcia, Eric Grauffel, Lesgar Murdock, Chris Stump, Chris Tilley and Andrew Yap just to name a few. Everyone I came across was so friendly that I forgot I was at a competition...until the guns came out. Unlike in some other situations that just meant we were really ready to have some fun.

Just hanging around hitting some steel

I won't sugarcoat it, this was a tough match - 10 stages, approximately 300 rounds in the extra hot Caribbean sun.  It was more than I'd ever done - it was a marathon. Although I was lucky enough to find a very similar firearm to what I was used to, it just wasn't the same as shooting my Mae West. To add to that, my eyes were so tired that I couldn't wear my contacts which cost me a lot points. I was hot and frustrated. I wanted to quit and at some points even wanted to cry. Yet it was the best trip ever and here's why.

1. It got me over the first time jitters of competing away from home. The bonus was that it was a friendly competition so although there was pressure it wasn't as intense as it can get at other international comps. Those who have competed can related to the feeling of relief that comes with just making it through the first stage without incident (accidental discharge, misfires, jams or worst of all being disqualified.) My first stage, "A Quick Black and White Affair" was actually my best stage and that set the tone for me going forward. I placed 17th. I may have very well done a happy dance.

Cheers to surviving day 1

2. I now know what I need to put in place for the next trip. I now have a new appreciation for the importance of eye drops and magazine loaders. 

3. I got to learn a lot as a range officer. The stage I assisted with had a lot to offer in terms of understanding the science of shooting. Our ability to identify whether I shot actually hit the target first or was a follow through or ricochet after hitting a hard cover was of extreme importance because we then had to stand by our calls and explain it to the shooter. We also had to keep control of our course and make up for time that may have been lost on other stages.  Our team at stage 6 ran such a tight ship our competitors all left happy and we made it look easy.

With Andrew, Marc and Damian at Stage 6

The super squad preparing for Stage 6

4. I got to meet some amazing people. I'm not just talking about the world class shooters which is an experience in itself. I mean the many guys and gals at the JRA who make this all happen. Having that many stages with moving parts The Als and Andrews and Pauls who make sure the courses are all set up and running smoothly. Rudy who makes sure the Red Stripes are extra cold for when you're done a hot day's shoot and serves your bun and cheese with the friendliest smile.

And I can't forget my new Trini friend, Hoppy, who taught me the value and art behind custom molded ear plugs.

Me with Eric Grauffel :)

Hoppy making molds

Ales, Frank Garcia and me :)

Last but certainly not least were these two gems, Jalise and Justine Williams. At ages 12 and 10 they've only been shooting pistol for a year and this was their first competition outside the US. I'm not sure that they are at an age where they can fully appreciate what an inspiration they are to other females in the sport but nevertheless I have the utmost admiration for them. Not because they are little and cute but because they are passionate, talented, disciplined and displayed the such sportswoman like behavior. They also reminded me that at the end of the day we were there to have fun doing a sport we loved. That allowed me to let go of the mistakes I was holding on to about my performance. They truly embrace what it's like to shoot like a girl - giving their best regardless of their gender and age, all while have a good time. Plus, they purposely chose to go head to head with Eric Grauffel in the steel challenge and held their own proving even more why it's awesome to shoot like a girl.

#5. This trip made me appreciate how much I love my range family. I was fortunate enough to have a handful of my CISSA family there to support me in person.  Levi and Andy McB helped me load magazines because I'd forgotten my loader and my thumbs were on fire by half way through the match. They cheered me on and pushed me through those final stages. And those who couldn't be there supported me over instant messaging. 

I was particularly proud when my Andy McB came through my stage. He scored the most double alphas I'd seen all day on that stage and claimed second in his class overall. 

In closing, I say a big thank you to Al & Tanya Stewart, Andrew Gardener, the JRA team and all the 2015 JIPT participants for making my first away trip a great experience. See you all same time next year if not sooner!

1 shot, 2 shots, 3 shots.....more!

Intro to the IPSC action shotgun course this weekend. Loading 10 rounds at a time into a semi-auto shotgun and going as fast as you can really gets your heart pumping. 

So impressed that I got the flying pop up clay like a boss. But still lots of work to be done.

2016 will be the year of the shotgun.

Welcome to my world!

Related post: Breakfast of Champions 

Making CISSA "Herstory"

On 22 March 2015, I hosted an event at the Cayman Islands Sport Shooting Association range entitled "Safety On And Ready: A Woman's Guide To Firearms" as a fundraiser for my training and participation in competitions abroad.

My perception was that there was a significant interest from women to learn how to shoot but for some reason or another it was difficult for them to find their way to the range.

I will clarify, particularly for those of you reading this outside the Cayman Islands, that Cayman has strict gun control laws and CISSA is a members only club that has existed for over 30 years.  Despite the recent efforts to increase membership, there was still a very low number of female participants even for what is known to be a predominately male sport.

This made me curious and my gut reaction was that holding an all women's shooting event at the range would be a unique event that mutually benefited my fundraising efforts as well as CISSA's desire to have more female participation.

As I began to promote the event amongst my female friends the responses I got varied. Some loved the idea while others, who I mistakenly thought would enjoy it, informed me that guns were not their thing and politely declined.

Of course I knew that firearms are one the most controversial topics ever and I didn't expect everyone to love shooting the way I did but I was profoundly curious why this wasn't "their thing".  Was it because they felt that guns were bad? Did they think that they couldn't handle something they saw as being very powerful? Or was it just anxiety about being around a bunch of male strangers with firearms? I wanted to know!

After some thought and research I decided that this event had to be about so much more than a fun fundraiser. It needed to be inspiring and meaningful. It needed to get up close and personal with how women felt about firearms. It needed to give women the opportunity to have a safe and comfortable experience to draw their conclusion of like or dislike from. One that would leave them feeling more knowledgeable and empowered regardless of their views.

So with that in mind I wrote a message on my event blog stating that I completely accepted each woman's views about firearms and invited them to come out anyway. I also promised them that whatever view they walked in with, by the end of this session they would take away something valuable from this experience and have a better understanding of firearms and their place in our community.

On the big day, we had 24 women attend including Her Excellency, Governor Helen Kilpatrick. The participants ranged in experience, age and views, wrapped up with a flurry of excitement and anxiety.

After a brief presentation we split into groups. While one group was shooting under the care of CISSA's certified Range Officers the rest of us were engaged in conversation as to what they hoped to gain from the experience and learning about other women's experiences with firearms as well as some frivolous photo ops.

By the end of the day I had learned so much about the women in my community and they had learned so much about themselves. Some women had had negative experiences in the past and used this opportunity to face their fears. Other's while being nervous to begin with left with a new feeling of empowerment. There were also a few who were unsure of how they felt but allowed themselves to experience a something new and explore a new part of themselves. These women were all very brave and I thank them for allowing me to share this experience with them.

I know that if these ladies decide to apply for membership at CISSA or want to visit a shooting range in another country they will have some exposure and won't feel as anxious next time. Or if for some reason they find themself in a room with a gun they can safely get it out their way. And if they decide that guns aren't their thing after all they know exactly why not.

So in the midst of international women's history month, what started out as a simple fundraiser to assist me in realizing my dreams turned into something extraordinary. 

On 22 March 2015, with the help of my CISSA family, my immediate family and a couple of friends, we made history by making CISSA her story.

Special Event: Safety On And Ready - A Woman's Guide To Firearms

I can't tell you how excited I am about the women's event I am hosting on the range next weekend 22 March 2015, Safety On And Ready - A Woman's Guide To Firearms. 

I want my fellow females to be armed with knowledge and confidence about the topic of firearms. For more info click here.

Those who know me, know I'm about great things and making a difference.  This my friends is different. There has never been an event like it at CISSA.

The feed back has been so encouraging and I can't wait to see you all.  Space is limited and on a first come basis.  Click here to buy your ticket now.

Breakfast of Champions

You know you're addicted to range life when you come there at 8 am on your day off to have breakfast, train and by chance observe some shotgun science.

We are lucky to have an enthusiastic member who is genius at building and designing fun courses and props for our competitions. I have affectionately dubbed him our resident "Bob The Builder", which he hates and makes it all the more fun to tease him with. 

Bob was also there that morning working on a course design and needed to do some research on the spread/pattern of the pellets that is formed when using different shotgun chokes. While I was waiting for the others to arrive to start target pistol training, I took in my breakfast and a lesson.

Meanwhile, Bob set up a series of cardboard targets at 10, 18 and 30 yards down range. Then he went at them with the modified and full choke tubes to see what would happen. The results were self explanatory...

I have to admit that my nerdy side found this fun. It was great for me as a shotgun novice to understand the effects of using a choke. (Choke tubes are short inner tubes of various diameters that are inserted into the shotgun muzzle.)

There are various size choke tubes between using the just the bare barrel with no choke and using an extra full choke tube.  The basic point is that the closer you get to full choke the tighter the pattern for a longer distance.  (There is lots of info online but I found this site particularly quick and helpful if you're looking to learn more http://www.briley.com/understandingshotgunchokesabriefexplanationbybriley.aspx)

Additionally, the particular shooting event will determine what type of pattern want to achieve and which choke to use. For a tactical shotgun course with still clay targets placed close together at about 15 yards away, we went with full choke for accuracy.

Now, the whole purpose of this excercise was to determine what would be safest and best way to use the shotgun in the three gun comp that was days away.  Therefore, it would have been remiss of me not to have spent a little time with the semi auto shotgun... after all I was there to train, right?

All I can say is that those babies are sweet. Talk about a breakfast of champions.  :)

I love range life.

Related post: 1 Shot, 2 shots, 3 shots...more!

My range family

It's hard for some to understand how I can spend hours upon hours at the range each week.

Sure I have a rigorous training schedule but that's not all there is to it. Nor is it that I get to try out all the cool new stuff but that's always a plus. Nope, the #1 reason is my Cayman Islands Sport Shooting Association (CISSA) family. For me, and many others like me, coming out on range days is about the comradeship.

My fellow members have become my extended family. We try things, buy things, tease each other and teach each other. We push each other to be the best we can be and hold each other accountable.

We are our own little community.  Some have even called it a secret society. But it is no different than any other well established organisation that brings people together on a common ground. You either like it or you don't. You either fit in or you won't.  And you figure that out pretty quickly.

Despite what people think about the club's exclusivity, we are a diverse bunch. Our membership crosses cultures, ages and genders. What always amazes me though is how people naturally find their roles and things to do within in the club...and there are always things to be done. It is the type of environment that encourages leadership as well as a balance between team work and independence. Whatever positive contribution you are willing to put in, it is received with great appreciation.

So what is it like being a woman in a male dominated sport?

It's totally awesome!

It's a lot of testosterone with a splash of estrogen. It's having a band of big brother watching out for you. It's bragging rights when they get beat by a girl. But most importantly it's respect in its truest form.

I have heard that women don't want to come out because they feel it will be uncomfortable. I never felt that way but then again, I am not the average woman.

That said, man or woman, you can't be thin skinned and you better darn well know how to hold your own because at the end of the day it is a competitve environment and no place for sissies.

Sure, as a woman, I have days when I'm emotional or in a bad mood and want to burst into tears for the littlest things. Those are the days I shoot my very best. And when I am done kicking butt I bring out the pineapple upside down cake and all is right again.

I have been told by many a comrade how having more female participation in the club has been a welcomed change to the dynamics. I can only wonder if they know how welcome a change their support and fellowship has also been to my life.

Shooting aside, I love that on a typical Saturday afternoon I can go home to the range and my CISSA family where I reign as range momma and glock queen.

Journey to Jersey - Island Games 2015

In mid 2014, I expressed an interest in competing internationally.  The next major competition that team Cayman would be competing in was the 2015 Island Games.  

At this point I had been exclusively training in the IPSC style of shooting which was practical and required more movement and strategy.  However this discipline, although internationally popular, was not a viable  option for women’s individual competitions in these particular games.  As such, in September 2014, I decided to open up my options for competing internationally by learning a new discipline, 25m sport pistol with a .22 calibre. Yes it was back to where I had started with that .22 Smith & Wesson.

There was a lot of work to do in 8 months. Switching from the powerful, fast paced, two handed IPSC discipline to the one-handed, refinery of the more delicate .22 took more than a little patience. I had to start back at the beginning, feet placement, body positioning, breathing and with the target so close it was insulting. Not to mention it was painstaking to have to keep my hand up there unsupported and steady.   

After a few  months I got the hang of the awkwardness and found my comfort zone.  With support of coach Eddie and my team mate Michaela, I was able to move my target back to the 25 meter mark and steadily increase my accuracy from  66% to 83% (see progress chart below).  Now we were having fun.  My goal between now and June is to increase and maintain my accuracy up to at least 90%.  All while still participating in IPSC events regularly because no part of me is giving that up!  

 

 

Finding "home" on the range

About three years ago something incredibly life changing happened to me.  I became a member of the Cayman Islands Sport Shooting  Association (CISSA).

I have been intrigued with shooting ever since I played duck hunt on my Nintendo gaming console as a child. While the skill it takes to handle an orange electronic gun is far from what is necessary for handling a real life shot-gun, rifle or pistol it is the embers upon which my passion for shooting was ignited. 

For years I'd heard about this gun club by the airport but for some reason could never seem to find the way there. That said, it is hard to avoid your destiny. My time came via an invite to an impromptu Christmas barbecue where I met up with a CISSA member. Somehow the topic drifted to something gun related (as it always does with us) and after expressing my interest I was invited to come out to the range.

I remember that perfect Saturday afternoon, driving down the short semi secluded dyke roads feeling as though the secret path had been revealed, the draw bridge lowered and the gates opened to receive me. As excited as I was, I was also nervous.  But once I pulled the trigger on that .22 caliber Smith & Wesson - BANG! My life would never be the same.  I'd found a piece of my that had been missing; I'd found myself home on the range.