All I can say is "you should have been there!".......man, what a shoot! This is one that, if you ever go once, you will be back!

This year wasa little different for me--the first time EVER I didn't spend even one dollar on a novelty shoot--I was too busy! I went up early and built a selfbow (had a lot of adult supervision--this was my first). I shot in the "Iron Man" (longbow, selfbow, and recurve), plus the "Selfbow Challenge" (compete with the bow you made that weekend). Only 40 targets each round, but the terrain (hills, rocks, hills, hills, hills, rocks, hills) made it one heck ofa challenge--especially for a fat guy with a bad hoof.

Went in thinking I had a decent shot in longbow, selfbow, and the Iron Man. I came in second in longbow and selfbow last year (didn't shoot recurve last year), plus there's not normally that awful many folks willing to put themselves through trying to shoot that course three times in one weekend. Figured I didn't have a chance in the Selfbow Challenge, because I never made a bow (figured it would blow up on the third shot, if it lasted that long), but I wanted to give it a try just the same.

Well, I've been struggling at tournaments this year--not sure what the problem is. I want to blame it on switching to a tab this spring, but I really don't think that is it. Anyhow, whatever I've been doing wrong really bit me in the butt the first three rounds--shot like I'd never picked up a bow. My best round was with my recurve, that I almost never shoot except for bowfishing--and it wasn't impressive at all.....

Every joint in my body was sore from just walking the course, my fingers were about raw from shooting, I was worn out fromonly sleeping a few hours a night (too much going on to waste time sleeping), I seldom even sat down from the time I got up until I went to bed......but I could enter one more time--what the heck? It wasn't like I could do any worse........

Long story a little shorter, I won the selfbow challenge with a 206--way better than any round I shot with my other bows. (scoring was "5" for a kill, "1" for a body hit, plus a few bonus shots that really helped my score). A "perfect" round, without bonuses, was a 200--but if you hit all 5 bonuses (nothing but a kill counted--no body shots) you could get a 295. I think the highest score on the course was in the 240's, maybe 250's. I hit 4 of the 5 bonuses--that's all that saved me. At four stations, you had the option of shooting the regular shot for regular points, or the bonus target--but not both. To win at this one, you have to hit some bonus targets.

I got a beautiful cedar plaque shaped like the state of TN with a self nocked arrow and flint point hafted to it, plus a full set (minus issue #2--hasn't been available for a couple of years) of Primitive Archer Magazine. Whoo-hoo!!!!!

The best prize is my new bow. She's 69" nock to nock, made from pignut hickory with buffalo horn tip overlays. Money can't buy a bow like this--even though I haven't had time to get all the finish coats on it, or even a wrap on the handle, she's a beauty--and I made it! Shoots almost as fast as any bow I own, hand shock is very low, and it will kill anything I care to shoot at. I forget what the final draw weight was--around 60#--I'll weigh it again soon and find out for sure. I wasn't really concerned about that--when the tiller was right, I didn't care if it was 45# or 85#.

I also picked up an ASAT leafy suit from a dealer who was set up there, and one of Rod Jenkins new "Safari Tough" quivers--can't wait to try those out!

I've said it before and I'll say it again--it doesn't get any better than the TN Classic at Twin Oaks. Make plans to be there next year--you won't regret it.

Chad