2007 3-D Nationals near Barrie Ontario (Utopia)

[obwon]

Well we made it back. The rain held off for us, temp was hot & the humidity wasn't as high as the locals say it could have been. The courses were 27/27/ & 26, which made for a longer day of shooting, but they had some good tunnel shots, (dark ones as well) & good challenging ones, which we had to keep focused. We had fun & met some great people.

For next year the Canadian Nationals will be at Dauphin Manitoba. From what we have heard, the courses are to be the same type of format as at Utopia Ontario & not on the August long weekend, but the weekend before. We'll have to keep an eye on this as a lot of people did not like the 27/27/26 format & say they will not attend due to this? FCA rules say 4 courses of 20. (3.3.2 Format - in rule book). We'll see how this one turns out.

[WOOKIE]

So, how did the Bowzoners shoot? I have been looking for results, but have not found them yet!

[obwon]

due to the 401 being extremely busy, we left before they got the results done. The locals told us not to be one the 401 much later than 1-2 because it could be a 3 hour drive not the 1 it took us, as long as there is no accidents. As soon as I get the results I notify you.

I shot a 744 & Dean shot a 743. (poor Dean..lol) I think Doug C. shot a 746. This is out of 800. It was close between us.

[wndsurfr]

yep 27/27/26 just killed me! , those extra targets just did me in, my scores after 20 targets were good -192 -192 -196. it was the extra 7 shots that i had a hard time with focus and lack of energy ( all the red bulls i drank did'nt help) shot with some great guys three from quebec. and chris from bc, the cources were good, and like obwon said there were lots of dark tunnel shots. one shot that i (and chris) would want back was the gator on C6, when we got to the target the wind was just blowing a gale, it was so hard to hold on target and shooting a carter evo was'nt the best combo, all in all we had a good time, but glad to be back home in alberta, to many people and cars for me.

[Duggernaut]

Like Dean said, what a relief to be back home. In the BHOM, Remington finished 26, Dean 12, Al 11, me 10, Jimbo 5. In the M50 Dan David was silver. M60F Linda Johnson gold. BHOF Linda Hewlett silver. Ann Neumeyer bronze.

Alberta archers that were there. Doug Carlson, Dan David, Dean and Cynthia, Eric and Al, Rod and Linda and Jim Johnson, Linda Hewlett, Ann Neumeyer, Remington and Bev Dietzen, Gord Este. Forgive me if I forgot someone.

Jim Johnson came in second in the Grand Prix Shoot Off to Andrew Fagan of Ontario. What a show. I should have had a video camera.

There are some great shooters out east. The french guys were cool and I learned some new swear words from them. Alain Cadieux and Paul Loisell, you guys are top notch.

[Duggernaut]

The results probably wont be posted untill the FCA can verify all the competitors and scores and stuff. So give it a week or so ish.

[GPhunter]

Good Job Guys way to represent the province

Hope to go next year all you guys wil need something to keep you loose. GOOD JOB again

[willyqbc]

Initially I thought that I would like the 26/27/27 format but it would appear that it got the better of me, like dean my scores after 20 targets were great, but suffered at the end of the day....oh well, same for everyone! I had the good fortune to get flighted with Dean for the first 2 days and we had a blast with a great group all around. Sunday I got lucky again and got flighted with Douger and Obwon and had another enjoyable day!

I am sorry to hear that Manitoba will not be holding it on the long week-end, also heard from our rep that the FCA is going to pass a rule that all kids cadet and younger will now have to be accompanied by a non-shooting chaperone??? If these folks are trying to kill attendance they are certainly doing a good job of it, if these 2 changes are made and they stick with the 26/27/27 format next year I predict nationals attendance will hit an all time low...not that it has all that far to fall as the attendance on ontario was 260 at most. Attendance is allready falling and these things mentioned above will certainly not help.

On a positive note....of the 8 team members B.C. sent we brought home 5 gold and 2 silver. We also picked up another gold and bronze from non team members! Way to go guys!!

Chris

[obwon]

If they have the 27/27/26 format for next year, & not on the Aug long weekend, (not set in stone, just a rumor at this time?), it's about 65% say they would not attend going from the people we've talked to, but that could change?? A lot of people rely on having the holiday monday off to be able to make the shoot for traveling time. I heard more against the 3 round format, than I heard "for" the 3 rounds.

If they do change the format as Chris says for the kids, I believe it could take attendance away because it's the kids that's the future, & we need to have them enjoy it now, not be upset as some were in Utopia.
It should be that the younger kids can go with or without a archer shooting the Nationals, because I know when my boys were younger & could not be with me, they would "not" go.

There was 242 shooters at Utopia, (according to the results), far shy of the 500 + they were expecting, & about 27 were crossbow shooters.
I heard there was another shoot taking place, how much this had effect on the attendance, hard to say ?

So for next years 3-D Nationals, all of us will have to wait a see if these rumors are true, & take it from there.

[jhooey]

According to the FCA rules there has to be 4 courses of 20 targets and it is a 4 day event.


"3.3.2 Format

The Canadian National 3D Outdoor Championships will be comprised of four (4) courses of twenty (20) 3D targets for a total of eighty (80) targets.



3.3.4 Schedule of Events

Except as approved by the FCA Executive, the events will be scheduled as follows:

Day 1, Friday

Registration

Voluntary Equipment Inspection

3D Board Meeting

Day 2, Saturday

Registration

Voluntary Equipment Inspection

Opening Ceremonies

Round 1

Day 3, Sunday

Rounds 2 and 3

Banquet and Entertainment

Day 4, Monday

Round 4

Grand Prix Shoot-Off

Medal Presentations and Closing Ceremonies"

Unless the rules were changed at the 3D Reps meeting in Utopia, Dauphin will have to follow these rules. I don't know why they weren't followed this year.

I think the 3D VP should encourage Dauphin to do it on the long weekend.

Why would they expect Cadets (14 & 15 year olds) to have a chaperone? When we held Nationals, we only had the Precubs shoot with parents. The Cubs at 12 & 13 know the rules and should be responsible enough to shoot on their own. I can see maybe sending a chaperone per group of Cubs.

What happened in Utopia that they felt that this is necessary?

Jude Hooey

[Mikey]

Jude you know ontario ... they think they are the center of the universe ...

I heard from some I know out that way... that the land layout did not allow for a 4 course layout ....
Personally I cant figger out Utopia was allowed to win the bid if this was the case .... But I dont know anything of the bid process ....

[bigbulljoe]

I hope that the 3D committee in Dauphin and the FCA really take a hard look at the set up and scheduling for Nationals next year and honestly assess whether or not it is promoting the participation of families and Youth shooters while still providing an atmosphere and venue that is consistent with a National Championships.

If they are going to require non-shooting chaperones for Cadet division and under, then they better be prepared to be providing TRAINED ARCHERS as chaperones and have enough for ALL the Youth groups - otherwise it WILL hurt attendance and participation.

As an example this year my son -PreCub- was not allowed to shoot in my group (1st time in 4yrs) he was put in a group with two 10yr olds who had never shot Nationals before and didn't know many of the rules, etiquette, protocols. Although we were told they would have a Chaperone they did not - if it were not for the things my son learned from the past (see next paragraph) who knows what would have gone on in that group.

The worst thing about this idea is that it robs the children of the mentoring process where they learn rules, course etiquette and tournament protocol from (sometimes) more experienced and competitive adults. It also robs the adults of the opportunity to enjoy the kids and the sport of Archery and remember what it is all about.

If they want to encourage and promote Youth participation then they should seriously look at whether or not they charge the same registration fee for Cub, Pre-Cub and PeeWee, especially PeeWee.
Ditto for the Banquet, I am all for supporting the host club and mingling and meeting others at the Banquet, but its hard to justify paying the same for kids under 12 as you do for adults.

7am starts are not condusive to family and/or Youth participation especially the morning after the banquet.

This is not a rant or a slam on this years host club or the FCA, just honest personal observations as a competitor and parent who has been at the Nationals for the past 5 yrs as to a few things which may make the event more Family and Youth friendly.

[jhooey]

I have not heard what went on at the 3D Rep meeting at the Nationals, but I will review the minutes when they are done.

The 2006 Nationals had 317 competitors. This year, I counted 246 and 27 were Crossbow shooters. That is down 90 archers because there were no crossbows in Lethbridge. In Lethbridge, there were 64 kids under 18, but, in Utopia, there were only 30. That is disturbing.

I do not believe that PreCubs should shoot on their own. They need to shoot with their parents. Cub groups (each with a non-shooting chaperone) should be learning to become independent. Cadets and Juniors should be independent. I don't think that 14 - 17 year olds need chaperones. If they do, I would question their commitment to the sport and to Nationals.

I have been told that the Dauphin organizing committee couldn't get the venue on the long weekend in August and had to go with the weekend before. However, if they publicize it well in advance, people will be able to make plans and take holidays.

How long did it take to shoot 27 targets?

Someone told me that he thought 27 targets was a good idea. With one course per day, everyone had a chance to recover for the next day. (I told him he sounded like a FITA shooter!) The rules say 1 round the first day, 2 the second, and 1 the third. It seems to me that there is more rest time this way because only 20 targets are shot per round.

I'm thinking that the Grand Prix must have been held late in the afternoon. Was it?

[bigbulljoe]

Because of the 7am start on Monday the round was finished by 11 am and the Grand Prix started around 12:30-1ish.

I don't think the 3 course format would be my first choice especially if the courses had a little more terrain than they did in Utopia, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be either.
They could have moved the Banquet ahead a couple or 3 hours on Sunday that would have decreased the long wait after the round and made it an earlier night especially with the 7am start.