Temperatures started off at 51° and only rose to 55° but it was comfortable. There was no wind at first but it built to 4 mph from the East by the end of the match. Barometric pressure was 29.93 in Hg. So it was a nice day. Only the humidity was high, at 97%, which gave some people issues with fouling.
To everyone’s excitement and joy Schutzenmeister Sherkus brought in wonderfully executed, beautifully detailed new targets for the event. Because it was cloudy and the sun wasn’t high in the sky the light was poor. Wettbewerbsaufseher Sucher decided that all targets would be shot at 25 yards.
It should be noted that the high humidity was giving Art Twichell some difficulties. He had brought his matchlock to shoot and the burning slow match wouldn’t stay lit. Jim Ellis finished the match early, with good scores, probably because with all the black powder around he wanted to get away from Art as quickly as possible.
The first new target was a wondrous Crow sitting on a Skull for three shots. At some point in the match JP Sherkus cut his trigger finger on the sharp edge of a percussion cap. That didn’t prevent him from scoring 29 and taking First Place. Jim Ellis was in Second Place with a 28. Frank Niccoli took Third Place with 28 and Tony Sucher took Fourth with 22.
The next new target for 3 shots was a detailed Storm Trooper that would do George Lucas proud. JP Sherkus (injured finger?) took First Place with 27. John Marhefka was Second with 26 while Tony Sucher took Third with 25. Jim Ellis was Fourth with 24.
A revised Gargoyle (II) was next for 5 shots. Pete Hansen won First Place with a 38. JP Sherkus and John Marhefka both scored 36X but JP took Second with hits closer to the X. John finished Third. Fourth place went to Jim Ellis with 34.
A plumpky Pumpkin from Elm Street showed up for 3 shots. With three eye shots JP Sherkus took first place with 30X. Jim Ellis got Second Place with a 28X . John Marhefka took Third with 27X while Tony Sucher was Fourth with 27.
A Pirate Skull (Davey Jones?) was the final target for the day for 5 shots. John Marhefka took First Place with 48. JP Sherkus was Second with 46XX, probably due to that cut finger. Tony Sucher was Third with 43X and closer to the X than Jim Ellis with 43X for Fourth Place.
In the Pistol Competition Art Twichell scored 43 on the Big Bull. JP Sherkus scored 43 on the Big Bull and John Marhefka scored 43X on the Big Bull.
On the Small Bull JP Sherkus scored 46 but Art Twichell scored 46X and John Marhefka scored 40.
So First Place went to Art Twichell with 89X. Second Place was JP Sherkus with 89 and Third Place was John Marhefka with 83X.
The Top Shooter for the day with a score of 168XXXX was JP Sherkus. John Marhefka was next with 159XX. Jim Ellis followed with 157XX then Pete Hansen with 155. Tony Sucher had a 150 and Frank Niccoli had 141. Then came Joe Sturiale and Art Twichell.
Tony