This is a notable event for shooters in New Brunswick as this is the first time that a major competiton held anywhere in Canada has been scored without target markers and entirely by electronic marking. The system used in this APM is designed and manufactured by Daniel Chisholm and his associates and relies on the sound of a bullet, travelling above the speed of sound when it cuts through the target. Our experience so far has been very good even though some minor frustrations were experienced during the match either from our inexperience with the e-readers or from an issue with the system.
First of all, our thanks are due to a number of people without whose work this match would not have happened.
- The competitors who came from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and of course, from New Brunswick.
- The Organizing Committee consisting of Daniel Chisholm, Don Coleman, Matt Wolf, Conrad Leroux, Mike Lutes, Paul McIlveen, and John Holleran Each of these guys did a lion's share of the work to make the match a success.
- The Range Safety Officers Mike Lutes and Steven Stewart who gave their time to stand in the hot sun to make sure we would have a safe and smoothly running match.
- The Statistician, Conrad Leroux and assistant Don Coleman, who provided the results right after the match so that awards could be made on the range.
- All the guys who worked behind the scenes to construct targets and target faces, who put up and took down targets and electronic gear, who made sure we had water, who put up and took down flags etc. etc. I lost track of it all but thank each of you very much.
- The guys, including John Holleran, Ash Pardy, Ron Mason, and Alex Hamel who gave their time and expertise to help those of us who had some trouble with the e-readers and tablets.
- The Match committee members from Nova Scotia - Al Mutch and from PEI - Dale MacLeod.
- Bob Kierstead, President of the RNBRA, who brought and presented the Governor General's Medals.
- Last but not least, Daniel Chisholm who provided the electronic scoring equipment, made sure it was running well, solved any problems that occured when it wasn't and who was always available for advice on any of the decisions that needed to be made about the match.
The Winner's List is available here: Winner's List - APM 2013
Please note that several results are not available but will be added later.
The John Gibson Memorial Match - 300M
TR - Daniel Chisholm; FTR - Bert deVink; FO - Leo d'Amour
The T. Eric Snow (First Stage of Prince of Wales) Match - 300M
TR - Daniel Chisholm; FTR - Matt Wolf/Gord Holloway; FO - Raymond Turcotte
The George Burge Memorial (Second Stage of Prince of Wales) Match - 500M
TR - Daniel Chisholm; FTR - Matt Wolf; FO - Marius deChamplain
The Prince of Wales (Third Stage) - 800M
TR - Alexandre Hamel; FTR - Paul Bastarache; FO - Marius deChamplain
The Alban Emery (First Stage) Match - 500M
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Bert deVink; FO - Marius deChamplain
The Alban Emery (Second Stage) Match - 600M
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Bert deVink; FO - Marius deChamplain
The Al Lockett (Governor General's First Stage) Match - 600M
TR - Daniel Chisholm; FTR - Dale MacLeod; FO - Leo d'Amour
The Andy Gunter (Governor General's Second Stage) Match - 800M
TR - Daniel Chisholm; FTR - Bert deVink; FO - Marius deChamplain
The Governor General's Final Stage Match - 900M
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Paul Bastarache; FO - Leo d'Amour
AGGREGATES:
The Prince of Wales Match (Total of 300, 500 and 800M)
TR - Daniel Chisholm; FTR - Paul Bastarache; FO - Marius deChamplain
The Alban Emery Match (Total of 500 and 600M)
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Bert deVink; FO - Marius deChamplain
The Governor General's Match (Total of 600, 800, and 900M)
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Paul Bastarache; FO - Marius deChamplain
The MacDonald/Stewart Grand Aggregate (all matches except 4c)
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Bert deVink; FO - none
The Parker/Hale Midrange Aggregate (all 500 and 600M Matches)
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Bert deVink; FO - Marius deChamplain
The DCRA Aggregate (all shots fired and DCRA Member)
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Matt Wolf; FO - none
The Moe Norman Long Range Aggregate (800 and 900M Matches)
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Paul Bastarache; FO - Marius deChamplain
The MacGillivray Memorial Aggregate (GG 800 and 900M Matches)
TR - Don Coleman; FTR - Paul Bastarache; FO - Marius deChamplain
contact bertdevink@gmail.com if there are any errors
Friends
ReplyDeleteI attended the RNBRA annual prize meeting at Gagetown on Saturday and Sunday
last weekend.
The RNBRA used an electronic target marking system instead of target markers
for scoring targets. They said this was the first time in Canada a
provincial championship competition had been electronically marked.
The principle of the system is to attach sensors on each corner of the
target. The sensors detect the pressure wave of an incoming supersonic
bullet. A calculator then determines where the bullet struck the target and
sends a message to a display by the shooters side on the firing mound. The
reply is very fast and the result is normally shown within a second to the
shooter and the scorer.
Bert deVink briefed all the shooters immediately before the shoot started on
Saturday morning, telling the shooters what to expect. The RNBRA had asked
us before the shoot to bring iPad's or readers. The association had a number
of "readers" on hand for shooters who had not brought devices. The display
face of the RNBRA devices was about 4 inches by 5 inches. They were bright,
clear and quite legible in the bright sunlight.
Some of us had iPad's or other electronic devices. My iPad was barely
adequate in the bright sunshine although the display of the shots seemed to
come up a bit more consistently than the RNBRA readers. I would not take my
iPad again. I would buy a reader or borrow at the shoot.
Someone connected my iPad to the RNBRA WiFi system. The RNBRA were using
five targets and the shooter had to be sure that the device was reading the
right target when the shooting started.
I was scoring for a shooter on Saturday. He fired and his shot was not
displayed. It was gone forever into the beyond! Nothing could recover the
information. There were at least 5-6 of these incidents the first day.
The solution to the problem was announced before the start of the second
day's shooting. If this scenario occurred, the shooter was to fire another
shot to replace the lost one.
This situation happened to me twice on the second day. In one of the
incidents, I was the right hand shooter on target 6. The left shooter on
target 7 was immediately next to me on my right. We fired at almost the same
time. His shot showed, mine did not. The sensors had picked one of the two
shots to display. However, by this time, we knew what to do. I fired a
provisional; and we went on.
SECOND PART OF COMMENT
ReplyDeleteI am sure that this would be relatively easy for the association to solve
and I do not expect it to be a problem again.
There were only three TR shooters at the match. Too bad!
This was a wonderful shoot, well run and I am very glad I attended. The
fellowship was great. RNBRA are splendid hosts.
Incidentally, the display device also displayed the velocity of each bullet
as hit the target.
What do I see are the disadvantages?
The capital cost to set up the system. Each target is certainly going to be
a four figure number.
Someone has to know enough about electronics to set up and run the system.
I found the pace of shooting a bit frenetic. Everyone seemed to be caught up
in shooting as fast as they could. Mike Lutes and I discussed this later and
agreed that the process needed to be slowed down. Personally, the next time
I shoot at electronic targets I intend to take my normal time, run my plot,
watch the wind and enjoy.
What do I see as the advantages?
Speed. The system really speeds up shooting. There were four ten shot ranges
scheduled on Sunday, a 600, two 800 and a 900 and all were completed by 2
PM. I would guess that another 900 range could have been fired in another
hour.
The system was working in this manner. A shooter would fire. The shooter,
the scorer, and the third on the mound would see the shot location and value
displayed on their devices within moments. Most of the time delay was
likely the time the bullet took getting the 900 meters to the target.
The scorer would then call the shot and the shooter would confirm it. In
most instances, the third on the mound would be ready fire and the cycle
seemed to only take a matter of seconds.
Challenges were eliminated.
The problem of target markers trying to find shots on the big 6 x 10 foot
targets was eliminated.
Not having to pay markers probably saved $500 per day for a five target
competition.
There is no butts officer in the at the target end of the range and no one
to pay!
We were shooting 3 people to a target. The shooting seemed to go so fast
that I had no fatigue at the end of the day.
I pass this along for your information.
Al
I came in last!....oh well - I had a blast.
ReplyDeleteI ended the shoot on a high (my 900m relay being my best placement in FTR class) - so I'll take that as a personal win.
See you all at a shoot again soon.
Cheers