I'll have to write up a proper bio for this page, but writing about yourself is probably the hardest thing to do. For now I'll just do a quick synopsis.
I started shooting IPSC in 1991. My first gun was a Beretta 92F and I took the IPSC Canada Black Badge course with it. I was using a Safariland Tactical thumbreak holster (6004 I think) which had to be about the toughest combination to use and pass with. I did however pass and used it for that first year of competition (I removed the thumbstrap shortly after the course). I was bit by the competive bug and wanted something better. I traded the Beretta for a Glock 17 and grabbed some Ernie Hill leather. I dry fired endlessly. I wanted to be good! Now, while the Glock was good, it had been reworked by one of the early pioneers of Glocksmithing, Brian MaGee, and the Ernie Hill leather made me faster, I wanted more. I was competitive, but if you wanted to get to the top, you had to shoot a Racegun. These were the days before Standard or Production classes and in a heads up match, you had to go full race. I ordered a P9 racegun from Don Irvine at ICE. I'd have to sell the Glock and another gun to pay for it, but it would be worth it, I'd have the latest and greatest gun. Doug Koenig had won the worlds with it and Team Springfield was using it including Rob Leatham. Of course I learned a valuble lesson, things change. Before I picked up the new gun I shot the '92 North American Championship at my home club. I was so excited to be getting my new gun, but found out pretty much everybody had already switched to the new HiCap frames. Jerry Barnhart was shooting the new McCormick frame (not the STI/SVI frame) and Team Springfield was shooting Caspian framed guns built by Jack Weigand. The P9 was already passe.
I received the P9 that fall and forged ahead. Don had built some interesting tricks into it and it was an great shooting gun. despite it being "outdated" I won a number of trophies and matches with it. It got some revisions along the way, but it kept me competitive for a number of years. I was really enjoying the sport and had the opportunity to attend some of the biggest matches at the time. I competed at the Bianchi Cup in '92 and '94 using an "open" revolver. I'd shot some PPC up to this point so switching to the revolver for an Action Pistol match was not a stretch. Despite shooting well and winning a trophy, some cash (side event) and a gun, I was not smiiten with Action Pistol. I still enjoy shooting Action Pistol matches, but my personality just didn't suit the repetitive courses of fire, it's the same reason I didn't persue PPC, I shot it well, I enjoyed shooting the matches. But in order to do well, you have to practice the exact courses of fire over and over. I prefered shooting, or more precisely, I prefered practicing for IPSC. I could make up my own drills, practice sessions, or courses of fire, tear them apart and look for better way to shoot them. It was a problem to be solved and I could look for my own solutions. Everyday was something different.
Over the years I changed gear, shooting P9, Para Ordnance, Caspian and now STI/SVI frames. Shot some matches with revolver, single stack .45, Limited/Standard .40's. Tried various holsters, optics, and other gear. I shot some of the best matches around, from AWARE, to the Area Championships as well as the US Nationals, North American and Pan American Championships. I placed in the top 5 several times at the Canadian Nationals, including a very close second to my friend Derril Imrie (actually we didn't know each other up until the results were posted after that match, but became good friends afterwards). I was able to shoot on the Super Squad at some of these matches and shoot with the best shooters in the sport. I have been so fortunate to meet so many good friends and great people over the years, that this sport attracts.
In 2002 I stopped shooting, I still don't know completely why I faded away at the time. I know that I needed something different, or a new focus. The writing had been on the wall. In 2001 just before the US Nationals, I got the chance to sit down at a bar with Todd Jarrett. I had planned on picking his brain about where I needed to go next to get to the next level, but nothing came to me. I didn't even know what questions to ask. The next year I just stopped.
A good friend of mine introduced me to Autocross at this time. I was never all that interested in cars up to this point, shooting had been my life. But if anything is close to IPSC, this was it. Every event was different, a new course each time. You get to walk course, then go out and drive it. True to my competitive nature, I tropied a few times that year, winning a third place in the Rookie of the year battle as well as taking my first class win (shockingly enough, on a course laid out on an oval track, likely the only time I'll ever run on one). However, also true to my nature, it wasn't enough...I wanted to go road racing. I got involved in various types of auto sports, trying out Solo I, Solo II, Ice race, Navigational Rally, tested an open wheel car, then finally applied to be observed (as opposed to taking a school) and got my Road Race licence. I found the podium in my third race, won Rookie of the year and had a blast. But there was a nagging voice in the back of my head. It was whispering "IPSC"
I had still shot a few matches in the mean time, doing well at Area 2/Desert Classic in 2004 and winning the odd Level II. It seemed however that I had some unfinished business with this sport, the itch was back.
I've had a fairly successful year this year, placing third last year and fourth this year at the Triangle Level III, a 9th at the Provincials (my first since 2001) and a few top 3 finishes at Level II's. I'm a bit rusty, but the skills are there. I've discovered along the way the questions I need to ask of myself and what I need to work on to continue to improve.
So here's the warning, I'm back and I'm going to be winning again. Count on it.
DVC
Pat
