Thread: Ruahine NZDA Hunter's Biathlon 2017

I will be there for sure! Looking forward to this event. Its really awesome. @GWH should be going also!

I've offered to help out at one of the stations and do some spotting for you guys as required. To be clear that means in this case confirming where shots have hit. It will be good to put some names and faces to forum handles.

Originally Posted by Puffin

I've offered to help out at one of the stations and do some spotting for you guys as required. To be clear that means in this case confirming where shots have hit. It will be good to put some names and faces to forum handles.

Good on ya @Puffin

And all the organisers and helpers.

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by Puffin

I've offered to help out at one of the stations and do some spotting for you guys as required. To be clear that means in this case confirming where shots have hit. It will be good to put some names and faces to forum handles.

Freakin AWESOME @Puffin!! Cheers very much.
We'll sort out which marshals get posted where on the day. I'll throw in my spotter for the longer target stage but normally a pair of binos and a rest for them will be all a spotter needs - most of the targets can be watched without binos but if you want to be able to call corrections then binos are great. Bring some warm gear and something water and wind proof.

You can't miss me on the day - I'll be the person running around like a chicken without a head with about ten things to do that should have already been done...

To the competitors - do not be overly concerned with being slow (unless you significantly hold up another competitor - then I need to get involved) because if the absolute slowest competitor last year had hit all their targets they would have finished up in the top 5 competitors (i.e. most people could shoot better). The last couple of years the top competitors have picked up their game and to win it means you need a damn near perfect shooting score and also a reasonably fast time. Comparatively the fastest competitor who doesn't shoot well will need to be fastest on every course (and by a reasonable margin) and if they are lucky will come in the top ten.

Our swinging target will be back again. I'm bringing our newer spinning target and I have been toying with the idea of putting a bonus target behind the spinner for those competitors shooting a larger caliber. Also expect one "hostage" target set up and then a longer range set of targets getting progressively smaller to add a good precision stage. We try and make sure not all the shooting is prone and so expect a reasonable portion of the shooting to be some sort of positional. Most of the shooting is supported somehow though (tree stump, barricade, bipod/day pack, etc.).

Spectators are fine on the day but they can't help competitors and they will be subject to the same safety requirements (ear protection and sticking to the course) - also competitors should get priority at the BBQ!

Only a week away now!

Originally Posted by Gillie

To the competitors - do not be overly concerned with being slow (unless you significantly hold up another competitor - then I need to get involved) because if the absolute slowest competitor last year had hit all their targets they would have finished up in the top 5 competitors (i.e. most people could shoot better). The last couple of years the top competitors have picked up their game and to win it means you need a damn near perfect shooting score and also a reasonably fast time. Comparatively the fastest competitor who doesn't shoot well will need to be fastest on every course (and by a reasonable margin) and if they are lucky will come in the top ten.

Our swinging target will be back again. I'm bringing our newer spinning target and I have been toying with the idea of putting a bonus target behind the spinner for those competitors shooting a larger caliber. Also expect one "hostage" target set up and then a longer range set of targets getting progressively smaller to add a good precision stage. We try and make sure not all the shooting is prone and so expect a reasonable portion of the shooting to be some sort of positional. Most of the shooting is supported somehow though (tree stump, barricade, bipod/day pack, etc.).

Spectators are fine on the day but they can't help competitors and they will be subject to the same safety requirements (ear protection and sticking to the course) - also competitors should get priority at the BBQ!

Only a week away now!

If the weather is the same as today you're going to want a fast time just to keep warm!

Originally Posted by kiwijames

If the weather is the same as today you're going to want a fast time just to keep warm!

And it's looking like it will be...

Can't wait!

Originally Posted by kiwijames

If the weather is the same as today you're going to want a fast time just to keep warm!

@kiwijames

It was almost sunny in Takapau this afternoon.

Although if the predicted snow dump arrives and the wind picks up like Gillie ordered then, hyperthermia is on the cards

Cheers
Pete

@Gillie

For us first timers,

How do we get there?

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by P38

@Gillie

For us first timers,

How do we get there?

Cheers
Pete

PM sent Pete.

Originally Posted by P38

@kiwijames

It was almost sunny in Takapau this afternoon.

Although if the predicted snow dump arrives and the wind picks up like Gillie ordered then, hyperthermia is on the cards

Cheers
Pete

I call bullshit on that. Mind you, "almost sunny" anything west of Waipukurau is still good enough for Noah to launch the Ark.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

I call bullshit on that. Mind you, "almost sunny" anything west of Waipukurau is still good enough for Noah to launch the Ark.

Well it was not raining or wet, it was trying hard to drizzle and it was bloody cold.

I road my push bike from Norsewood Hotel to Takapau school on the back road.

That first hill nearly Buggered me, ran out of granny gears and had to get off and walk the last 100m to the top.

The 20km distance took me 56 minutes.

Getting fitter, hopefully I'll be right just in time for the spring hunting.

Cheers
Pete

Event is this coming Sunday - weather is looking entertaining! Those coming should be prepared for cold and slightly wet weather. THERE ARE OVER 30 COMPETITORS REGISTERED AT THIS STAGE! Assuming they all turn up this will be a great fund raiser for the branch - two years ago they got a club PLB, last year the shouted a bunch of juniors a trip to get their first deer each. Extra competitors means I have updated or slightly modified a couple of details below.

Originally Posted by Gillie

The 2017 Ruahine NZDA Hunters Biathlon will be held on Sunday the 16th of July (Safety briefing will be 9am at the cow shed - do not be late!). This event combines movement speed with field target shooting and is a good event, with some great people and there are prizes to boot. The course scoring is heavily weighted towards shooting so it doesn't really matter how fit (or unfit!) you are though - if you want to win then you will need to shoot well and keep moving!

A few entry requirements:

• $30 entry fee,
• Two courses, both courses are about 1km in length and typical course times are about 15-20 minutes,
• Targets between 20m and 350m,
• 40 shots required,
• No full length magnums (if you are using a light load in a full length magnum talk to me and I may allow it DO NOT JUST TURN UP expecting it will be fine),
• Any rifle with any scope,
• Bring your hunting gear as you will be expected to compete in it (day pack, boots, etc. if you turn up in running gear then expect that the organisers will handicap you in some way e.g. expect to be given a weight to carry!).
• Bring gear suitable for the weather - expect cold, wet, and windy and so anything better is a surprise! The weather would have to be particularly bad for us to cancel we have shot this event in some pretty crap weather! Gale force winds and a gentle shower that almost took the roof off the woolshed!

We will be changing up the targets and stages again this year. Courses will be the same but we'll see about the targets and stage props...

So there are limited entry spots available and I will confirm who you contact to confirm your entry (Ruahine NZDA branch - talk to me and i'll pass you their details). Spectators are more than welcome and there will be a BBQ and refreshments at the end of the day.

Any event questions get in touch with me and i'll either answer them or put you in touch with someone who can.

I've packed my No1 Swazi rain coat and Snow Shoes

Cheers
Pete