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!