Our last scheduled 25m Rifle Clinic of 2025 was a very successful event. Despite the dreary, drizzly, chilly weather on Saturday, our 12 participants stayed focused and upbeat, shooting, marking, and pulling their targets even when they threatened to disintegrate at the slightest touch. Sunday was a better weather day, clear and sunny albeit somewhat cold and windy.
We had several veteran Appleseeders and two first-timers. With five instructors for the 12 participants, we were able to run the line and coach effectively and efficiently, helping the newcomers and our two youth shooters as well as the more experienced shooters to sharpen their skills. Many thanks to Mr. Clean, Wagon, led, and LittleTom for their contributions to a successful event, and a "get well soon" wish to ARgunner, who had signed up to instruct but had to stay home due to sudden illness.
Congratulations to first-time Riflemen Faith (227) and Ben (210), with special recognition to first-time Appleseeder Ben for using iron sights! Our high youth shooter was Isaiah with a score of 170, also using iron sights.
Congratulations to requalifying Riflemen Chuck (223), Dane (231), Cisco (237), and especially to Abby with a high score of 246! It was a pleasure to award Abby one of the new "Distinguished Rifle Score" patches. I hope to see the others who are "knocking at the door" of Distinguished status earn a patch next year, and also to be able to award my first "250" patch to Abby (I do keep one with me, just waiting for the occasion).
Other notable awards went to Wagon for his 25th event as an instructor, and to Mr. Clean for his 76th event! (We inadvertently missed #75 last time, because he had been instructing even before our system started keeping track). Thank you both for your persistence and dedication to keeping Project Appleseed active in Coeur d'Alene.
Finally, the high point of the weekend for me was the privilege of promoting LittleTom to full instructor. Every instructor knows the degree of commitment and dedication required to reach this point. He passed his full instructor progress check with flying colors, and we celebrated by shooting his IIT orange hat full of holes by volley fire, with the line called by his mentor Mr. Clean.
We hope to see all the shooters and instructors again next year, when we kick off the season in February with a Winterseed event!
It was very encouraging for me as an instructor to see the level of seriousness this group had in learning riflemanship. Also encouraging for me, to see a dad and son and mom and son on the firing line TOGETHER learning the art of the rifle. I "raised" my four kids coming to Appleseeds with me to hand on to them this tradition. This is why we do what we do, for posterity to inherit a nation with undiminished rights that we enjoyed.
I want that 250 so bad! ;D congrats wagon on 25th! it was a fun (rainy) weekend!
Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!