GA: Are You Experienced? – October Smallbore Match Report

by Dennis Lindenbaum

Tommy Steadman

After discharge from the army in 1961 following an injury, paratrooper Johnny Hendrix was free to resume his passion for marksmanship competitions and became a regular fixture at River Bend smallbore matches. Although reclusive and rather idiosyncratic in his approach to the game (there was nothing orthodox about his position shooting a left-hand stock right-handed), he was generally well-liked and respected by his peers who often sought his advice on how to read the difficult conditions that typically characterize the spring and fall months at this range.

On one particular October day 50 years ago, it was particularly hellish conditions with swirls, switches and bewildering impact points when shots were spied through scopes after their impact. Most people were heard to grunt, curse or stomp their feet in frustration after seeing the disappointing results of their failed efforts. Not so, however, from Johnny who usually shot off to himself at the end of the line. Johnny, who could usually read through the haze as well as anyone, didn’t swear or carry on with brief tantrums like the others. Instead, there was a chanting type of lyric heard half-way through the match from his firing point at the end of the line that grew in rhythm and volume as the match unmercifully continued.

Not many people shooting at River Bend today were there for that match some 50 years ago. Jim Hinkle is one who does remember because he was calling the line then as he does now for most of our matches. He also remembers because it was the last time that Johnny ever shot a smallbore match. Nobody knew it at the time, but he was done and started a rapid decline into drugs and self-neglect that ultimately killed him. I asked Hinkle recently what it was that he was chanting that day. Hinkle can only recall the following words, “The wind cries Mary”.

It wasn’t all bad. Johnny, who changed his name to Jimi, started a successful music career before his untimely demise. He toured the world and his rendition of the anthem on solo guitar is often played at the start of our monthly matches at 8:57 am just prior to the three minute preparation period.

Such was the case on October 20, 2012 before the start of our last sanctioned smallbore prone match of the year, a 120 shot anysight affair using the international metric targets. The Dewar match began the day’s activities followed by the 100 Yard and 50 Meter stages. In keeping with tradition, the temperature at game time hit 40 degrees on the nose and it felt brisker than that due to the hot summer months just behind us and the increasing velocity of the wind as each shot was fired.

Eleven dedicated shooters (i.e. people with no meaningful lives outside of shooting) paid their match fees and thawed their ammo for the opportunity to feel frustrated and generally inadequate about their capabilities to decipher the mixture of confusing wind and seemingly shrinking ten rings. Woe to those who added insult to injury by strapping on iron sights instead of something much more useful like glass optics.

Classes were divided evenly with five in the combined Master/Expert division and six making up Sharpshooter/Marksman. With the difficult wind conditions, scores were low all day and the matches were generally very close. Dennis Lindenbaum, who saw Jimi Hendrix in concert in 1968, won the Dewar match with a 386-15X by a few X’s over Steve Hardin. Bruce Young took SS/MK with a 385-8X. Tommy Steadman stepped up with a trouncing victory at 100 yards posting a 385-10X over Don Greene who was 6 points in arrears. Doug McNash captured SS/MK with a 383-10X.

The drama of the final match was set up as less than three points separated Steadman, Lindenbaum, Greene and Hardin after the first two matches. Steve Hardin mounted a come-back charge scoring 388-18X to win the 50 Meter match over Steadman by two points. McNash again won the SS/MK class by three points over Dave Rabin who was lurking close to the class winners throughout each of the three matches.

With the targets flapping loudly from their pinned positions at the end of the range, Linda Steadman ran the calculations on her PC while the competitors broke down the range one last time putting all the bits and pieces in their designated locations. When everyone gathered for the results, Match Director Steadman first announced that Dave Rabin scored the SS/MK honors by a single point over Doug McNash. He then awarded the First Expert medal to Steve Hardin who closed strong and almost managed the match victory. However, it was Tommy Steadman himself that closed out the well-deserved win by a one-point margin over Hardin. The victory is especially notable given some recent health challenges and it is gratifying to see this outcome. Congratulations Tommy! I’m sure Jimi was checking you out from somewhere along the watchtower.

This was our last sanctioned match for 2012. We have the date saved for a non-approved match the third Saturday in November pending weather. Keep an eye out and we will shoot if we can.

Complete match results: 2012-ga-oct-match (PDF, 20KB)