It was an honor to be back in Saratoga NY for another sold out Patriot's Day event. Many thanks to SaraSpa Rod & Gun Club (https://sarasparodandgunclub.org/) for hosting us again.
We had a nice mix of first-timers and experienced Appleseeders on the line, and we were pleased to have three youth shooters joining us this year. We were treated to some beautiful sunny spring weather on Saturday, and we made the most of it. Shooters worked diligently to master their Steady Hold Factors and the Six Steps to Firing a Shot, while becoming familiar with finding and adjusting their Natural Point of Aim. During breaks we gathered in the main club house, where our orange hats shared the stories of April 19, 1775. We ran a little longer than intended on Saturday, but it was wise to take advantage of the nice weather and we were able to get everyone an initial run through the AQT at the end of the day.
Sunday's forecast called for 100% rain all day, and we even got a bit of snow. But Project Appleseed had the entire club to ourselves on Day 2, and we were able to get shooters parked near our 25m range. We did a fairly good job staying dry and taking breaks to warm up in the club house, and the rain had lightened up a bit by the afternoon. During lunch, Dude broke out the battlefield maps and books to cover the critical movements and strategies which made the Northern Department a deciding factor in the Revolutionary War. It's awesome to hear this history in a region that was so pivotal to the American victory.
After discussing the techniques needed to engage targets out at longer distances (the 'Rifleman's Quarter Mile') we split up into two teams, with the first group returning to the 25m range for our Parker's Revenge fun shoot and an AQT, while the other team headed over to the 100yd range to calculate their come-ups and engage a few steel targets. Afterward the teams swapped ranges/activities. I believe it was Matt & Dan who came up the big winners on Parker's Revenge - congratulations gentlemen, nice shooting!
Congratulations also to Anthony for nailing 210 on the dot - and he was game enough to let us 'anoint' him with water our volunteers had collected from the North Bridge in Concord MA. Anthony, I hope we can get you down to Glen Aubrey later this year to qualify with your centerfire rifle.
I'd like to thank everyone who stuck around on April 19 to take part in our solemn memorial volley to honor the patriots who bravely sacrificed their lives for our freedoms 251 years ago. We shared the story of Prince Estabrook who was wounded on Lexington Green that fateful morning, but went on to serve bravely in multiple campaigns throughout the duration of the war.
We saw amazing progression from our new shooters on Sunday as folks started getting comfortable with the techniques and leveraging their NPOA for tighter groups. I believe many of you are now within striking distance of a Rifleman patch at your next event, so I hope you persist and come out to join us again this season.
Our next event will be up in the Adirondacks on June 27-28 (https://appleseedinfo.org/location/?locationid=974&eventid=11189). We have a very special LadySeed event taking place back at SaraSpa on August 8-9 (https://appleseedinfo.org/location/?locationid=31&eventid=11190) (please help us spread the word!), and then we close out our season in Glen Aubrey NY the weekend of Oct 3-4 (https://appleseedinfo.org/location/?locationid=1128&eventid=11474).
Thanks to all of our shooters, to SaraSpa, and especially to our dedicated volunteers in NY who made all of this possible. Happy Patriot's Day, everyone!
LINK TO EVENT PHOTOS (https://photos.app.goo.gl/dwq4p4SnFFzXtLXS9)
(https://i.imgur.com/W5zhXXn.jpeg)