Vintager Gunners Cup 2016
 

I am posting this in response to Opening Day asking about the Vintagers this past weekend.

Please don't make this about comparing one shoot to the other/ etc/ etc.
Just reporting my experience.

This was a very good shoot. Well run/ great targets/ fantastic grounds. Hopkins has a fantastic facility.
I believe there were a total of 117 to 120 individual shooters. I don't know number of reshoot/ reentry/ number of events shot etc. But 117 to 120 people shot.

Venders were good. (I am not a good person to ask re: vendors)

Two courses for prelim events. (small bore and large bore) then totally separate course/ totally different ground for 100 bird main. Great flurry, two practice five stands. Trappers on each station and at each event all weekend and they knew there stuff. All were very experienced trappers.
Targets were great. One of the best sub gauge courses I have ever shot.

Great weather. Hot on Friday but low 70s Sat and Sunday. Sunny nice breeze.

Also heard good things re: the rifle competitions/ events.

Overall a great restart for the Vintagers/ Vintage Gunners Cup.

Hotels about 15 minutes away. Fair prices for hotels/ fair eateries.

Cant wait til next years event.

John,

Do you have any pictures to post?

Harry

No sir. I don't but Morris Baker took a ton of pics and there are some on facebook for Hopkins.

Just back from the Vintage Cup. It was a nice weekend and the vendors all seemed to be reasonably pleased with how things went. There were two tents and plenty of guns to look at and of course plenty of accessories as well. I am not sure how many shooters there were but I would guess it was closer to 100, maybe more. I was tied to the Julia table for the weekend and couldnt get away much. I will say that the event is going to make a comeback and that next years event will be larger, for sure. I am not on the BOD anymore but I would suspect the PGCA will have a formal organized presence at the Vintage Cup next year.

Guns of note in the Parker line up included a near mint VHE 12ga Skeet gun, Parker AAHE, and many others -

John, I hope this event and Rock Mt both make it. What concerned me was the planning of this event even though they knew about the shoot at Rock Mt. Let's hope next year there will not be a conflict with the two events, there is no reason for that to happen and it shouldn't. Hopefully someone will post some pictures.

I, and many other PGCA members, won't be going to the Vintage Cup as long as they insist on having the shoot on the same weekend as the Northern SxS Challenge and Expo. The Vintage Cup organizers knew when they announced their date that there would be a conflict and they just didn't care. My allegiance is to Mike Koneski and Rock Mt.!

Scores are up on winscore online

117 individual shooters per winscore

Eric I agree with you. However, it seems the two events are scheduled the same weekends again next year. So we have another conflict.:banghead:

IMO this does nothing to help anyone. It only hurts us all. I don't have an answer to the issue, I don't have a dog in this fight and I wont take sides. It is not my place and I have too many friends on each side. I hope both events do great and wish them both all the best and hope they grow and become awesome.

It has always been my thinking that the side by side community was like one big family. At least I always felt that way. I hate to see battle lines being drawn but I do understand and respect everyones loyality and commitment to their cause.

I wish I had the answer. As of now it seems the two events will take place at the same time/ same weekends again.

All my best to everyone,

John

2 of the 3 vendors, that I spoke with, who attended the vintage cup said they were disappointed with the attendance.


Regarding the conflict, this year it was the vintagers fubar by double booking. But now Mike has announced his date after the vintage cup has for 2017 and they are on the same weekend again...!

Dont know what is going on here... One time is one thing, but twice???

I would wonder why the Northern isnt looking at dates in late August or something.


I did not look at what the Vintage cup was charging for vendor spaces, but if it is anywhere near their historic $800 for a booth, i will stick with Mike's $200 and Ernie's $350. the little guy just can't justify costs that high to attend these events.

With all due respect John, I've shot Hopkin's course and the course at Rock Mt. is far more interesting. You are correct in that the SxS community is like a big family. But why would someone set up a family reunion at two different sites on the same day separated by 200 miles?

And as far as the PGCA having an organized presence at the vintage cup next year, my vote is to keep our presence at Rock Mt., and I would hope the Smith, Lefever, and Fox organizations do the same. There is no reason for them to leave for a johnny-come-lately.

105 shooters vs 117 shooters. You cant say based on the numbers that one event was much smaller than the other by way of turnout.

And remember the Vintagers with their name grabbed most of the Big name vendors and still the turn out was about the same :corn: I have talked to a few that shoot at Vintagers and a few at the Rock and it sounds as if the Rock was more the fun place to shoot and Vintagers more not sure how to put it, uptight no that's not it just not as easy going as the shoot at the Rock. Both would be great shoots if they could figure out dates that don't conflict :cuss: Why are we forced to choose sides....................

Don't make it a decisive issue. You just need to decide which event to go to; much like deciding which movie to see when two you like play simultaneously. "Choosing sides" creates problems and that never results in the best out come. Choose one of these great events and enjoy yourself. Let normal economics resolve the scheduling issue naturally, as I am sure it will.

Robin, I totally agree and I will go to the fun shoot everytime. The problem is when both have shoots on the same date you just split the vendors and that's a problem. Because when I am not shooting I like to go window shopping.....:D

Why not do both ? My wife and I made a four day road trip out of it. We left western PA Thursday morning towards the Vintagers, had lunch along the docks by the Bay Bridge, stopped at any winery or brewery along the way, then checked into a B&B Thursday evening. We spent Friday morning at the Vintagers then headed north towards the Rock, stopping at wineries and breweries along the way( do you see a pattern hear?). We spent Saturday morning at the Rock, then .... repeat. We arrived home Sunday afternoon , picked up our dog, then rested from the grueling weekend . We're looking forward to next year.
Dave

When you come from central Michigan it's already a road trip:eek:

No more conflict in dates gents . . . on the Fox collectors site Mike Koneski moved the dates for The Northern SxS up to Sept. 14-17, 2017.

That will conflict with a shoot here in Mich. The Tunnel of Trees in Petoskey. You can't please everyone:nono:

Great news Mike - that is the act of a true gentleman!





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Thanks, Mike. Your post eliminates a lot of misunderstanding.

This is good news. For those that have the time, there will be a good selection of double gun events next year.