Hi everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment to address he recent VA State match. I have had the opportunity to speak with both the Match director (Mark Riehl) and the Area Coordinator Joe Paige.

Both of these people have already stepped up here and admitted they made a mistake. I appreciate their willingness to do so and their stated intent to make sure that these issues do not arise again in the future.

There was a simple oversight with the carbine. Bubba makes a compelling argument as to whether or not it is a pistol but ultimately (to steal a post) it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. Sorry Bubba, I usually don't disagree with your well thought arguments. The guys at the match were willing to try and correct that by dropping this stage and buying new plaques. I have advised them that match scores stand “as is” after the protest period and awards are given out. Unfortunately they had already deleted that stage in preparation of ordering new awards. If they can retrieve that info they will and post it. The awards as given will stand.

To the other issues raised here on the forum about the match, we covered those as well and Mark has committed to making sure that there will be no issues at future matches. From the other posts on this forum, Mark and his crew did a fine job. After speaking with him I am confident that he is dedicated to making a fun, challenging and enjoyable match for any future sanctioned events held there.

HQ response to the questions raised on pick up guns will be addresses elsewhere in this forum as well as the clarifying the awards language. The AC’s have already started discussing possible rules on pick up guns for future sanctioned matches. Thank you all for your time and I hope you all have a great shooting season.

Robert Ray
IDPA HQ

"This soldier, I realized, must have had friends at home and in his regiment; yet he lay there deserted by all except his dog. I looked on, unmoved, at battles which decided the future of nations. Tearless, I had given orders which brought death to thousands. Yet here I was stirred, profoundly stirred, stirred to tears. And by what? By the grief of one dog."

~Napoleon Bonaparte, on finding a dog beside the body of his dead master, licking his face and howling, on a moonlit field after a battle. Napoleon was haunted by this scene until his own death.