2008
PRIMITIVE BIATHLON REPORT
By T. Welch
It was a year to remember at this years NYSMLA Primitive
Biathlon held at the Saratoga Biathlon Club in Day, NY.
Mother Nature showed us all her moods as on Friday, set
up day; it was sunny and close to 50 degrees. Saturday,
the first day of competition, brought with it much less
desirable conditions. The first half of the day was damp
but bearable compared to the latter half, which
consisted of temperatures hovering around the freezing
mark and an increasingly steadier, harder rain. The most
remarkable thing about Saturday was, we had close to
twenty participants run the course, and some of those
were flinters!
Tough breed these Biathlete's. As it
continued to rain for the rest of the evening with
thunder and lightning, sometime before morning the
temperature dropped, the wind picked up and it turned to
snow. Although it was breezy with light snow, Sunday
turned out to be a good day with much deserved sunshine
and a larger turnout.
The attendance at this year's event did not come close
to the record showing of last year but all things
considered, we did well. It was good to see all the
familiar faces and reassuring to see new ones as, from
what I gather,
this is one of the fastest growing winter sports in the
Northeast.
A new category offered this year was the Cruiser Class.
It is a non-timed event with 3 shots per station,
instead of the 2 shots for the other classes, with a
tiebreaker target shot first. Many folks took advantage
of this category Sunday. The majority of these
competitors were new to the sport so they didn't have to
concern themselves with snowshoes, which were optional
or needing CPR before they got to station 2. A few ran
the course in a timed event then did the Cruiser Class
for a leisurely stroll, as did Philip Byron, winner of
the Senior class, and his wife Johanna of Phoenicia, NY.
Many people turned out for the volunteer help that is
crucial to pulling off an event of this magnitude. With
the "Caroga Boys" taking command of Station 1 and the
Saratoga Biathlon Club, our hosts, covering Station 2
"manning the posts" was an easier duty for the
organizers. Many thanks to Caroga Fish & Game Club and
the SBC. Ken Schultz, the visionary and motivation for
this NYSMLA event, was on hand for consultation (most
often by the woodstove). Giving credit where it is due,
we have to thank Chris Smith for holding the fort at
registration, and Steve Van Zandt for his attention to
duty at the finish line. John Petrie, the current NYSMLA
President, and his predecessor Eric Bratt, co-organizers
of the biathlon, worked diligently in many ways to
make this a success.
When the shooting is over and it's time to pack up and
go home I always feel like it's been a worthwhile
endeavor. The participants of this event are such a
special group of people; ever courteous and ever
appreciative of the folks that make an event like this
operate. It almost makes me wish winter could stay
around all year long. Well.....maybe not.
NYSMLA FALL SHOOT- TOWN OF OHIO, NY
AUGUST 30 & 31, 2008
There will be a Pork Barbecue dinner provided by the
NYSMLA on Saturday. We request that you bring a dish to
pass. The membership meeting will convene following dinner.
.
2008 Biathlon
Scores in PDF
