WILDE ‘est OF WEEKENDS
The annual Big Sky Open – Grand Junction - 2007

By Tootie Brabec

As the small American flags fluttered over the colored targets, competing archers from 19 states focused on the distance they were about to compete from in hopes of scoring well and taking home prize money from the annual Big Sky Open – Grand Junction tournament, June 8 , 9, 10. The fun was just beginning!

Because the archers were getting very adept in cleaning the clay pigeons in the “GoForIt” Team Shoot, it was decided to “up the ante” by having the championship entrants shoot only the mini clays all the way through. So Friday evening at the start of the team event, binoculars were everywhere as they stared at a small spot from 65 yards that looked like a fly had landed. That did it! No perfects were recorded by any of the pro’s, but one open shooter came close with a 48 -- Kerry Baird from Idaho!

That was Friday! On Saturday Benton Christiansen (also from Idaho) decided enough was enough and taking deliberate aim with each arrow and shot a perfect 50. Christiansen’s perfect was the only perfect shot during the three days of competition. So does this mean that Christiansen and Baird (the Idaho Duo), are going to be the hottest team members for the rest of 2007 and on into 2008? And the phones will just keep ringing.....

Christiansen adds his name to the list of those who have shot a perfect on a clay pigeon round: Becky Pearson, David Cousins, Tony Clem, Logan Wilde, Mike Grell, Tyler Tenbrook, Tim Gillingham, Cotty Hayes...

Because it was basically a new round with the mini clays, Gillingham set a new record with a single score of 46. The championship team “Mathew’s Pro Gold Tip” team with Gillingham & Tony Clem set a team record with a score of 83, while the Champ/Open team “Easton Slayers” (Gillingham & Christensen) recorded a high score of 89.

At the end of the first day of the individual competition on the colored targets, Erika Anschutz was ahead of Jamie VanNatta by five points. It was no surprise to anyone that it was going to be a strong fight to the finish. Becky Pearson, who had just gone through some surgery and is generally one tough lady to outscore, was clearly not at the top of her game and ended up trailing her competitors.

In the Seniors, Frank Pearson was ahead of Dee Wilde by a mere 3 points. But it was the “boys with the 80’s” (Gillingham, Reo Wilde, Jeremiah McConnell, Dave Cousins, Zak Kurtzhals, Charlie Owens and Logan Wilde, respectively) who were set on playing mind games to try and secure first place. Sunday was promising to be a very long day.

Little things of interest keep happening at the Big Sky Open –Grand Junction. Bob and Karen Jacobsen every year, spends their wedding anniversary with the archers at the Big Sky; Trina and Mitch Holmes, instrumental in helping work the tournament, rushed home from their honeymoon just to help out; Terry Ragsdale decided to pick up his bow again and entered the competition, although he injured himself in Yellowstone National Park on the way to the Big Sky; Dave Cousins came back after three years absence to try and win top prize money; the Big Sky Open had a shoot-off which hasn’t occurred in years; and two Robin Hoods were shot by Lisa Tenbrook and 10 year old Dugan Denton! It’s amazing how those Robin Hoods cause such a stir, especially among the local news media! However, both archers were proud of their Robin Hoods, but not the fact they had somehow just ruined an arrow!

So with Sunday’s “best” lined up to complete the competition, the sound of arrows making distinctive “thuds” as they hit the targets were the final sounds of the weekend. That and the conspiratorial whispers amongst the “80’s boys” trying to outdo each other to win the Big Sky. Gillingham, on the edge at the final target, was seen staring at the ground and shaking his head in disbelief that he failed to shoot the final winning score he was capable of. Reo was beaming and wiping sweat from his brow when his score revealed he had won first. Cousins managed to take third place from McConnell and Logan Wilde went from 7th to 4th. Kurtzhals tied for 10th and Owens came in 15th. The final day can be related to a barometer. Anxiety makes the temperature rise, but a cool head combats the oncoming storm!

From all the energy going on in the Mens FreeStyle Championship division, Dee Wilde, competing in the Seniors, picked up 20 points over Frank Pearson and won this division for the first time. All three 2006 Champions – Gillingham, Anschutz and Pearson – came in second place for 2007. Gillingham made the comment “that he used to be happy with second -- but not anymore!” The two-point upset had that effect when he murmured, “I just blew it!”

The big “buzz” that Terry Ragsdale created amongst his rivals could have changed the arena of winners had he been able to pull his bow the first day. But just to show how tough and determined both he and Becky are as accomplished professional archers, Becky fought off fatigue, shot with her competitors and did well. Terry created some magic on his arm and came back the second day to shoot a 551. You just can’t keep a good archer down!

In the Mens FreeStyle Limited division, Randy Brabec placed first with a strong lead over Clyde Whyte and Tim Driscoll. “Having a lead bothered my concentration”, he commented, “and I didn’t shoot as well as I would have liked.” However Brabec outshot his old score for a new record in this division. Jamie VanNatta broke Michelle Ragsdale’s old score from 2002 while Dee Wilde set a new record as well as Lana Lynde.

Oh yes, the shoot-off! Ramie Haines, one of Wyoming’s finest archers and Kurt Geist of Colorado, managed to tie up their scores in the Mens Champion BHFS division. Now how do you do that? By Ramie shooting one-point better than Kurt on Saturday, and Kurt shooting one-point better than Ramie on Sunday! Wa-la, a shoot-off and everyone wanted to watch. Now that could make any archer nervous! However, after two ends of sudden-death, Kurt pulled through and was number one!

Contingency money from HOYT was earned by Reo Wilde, Dave Cousins, Jamie VanNatta and Erika Anschutz. Becky Pearson, Tim Gillingham and Dee Wilde earned contingency money from MATHEW’S, INC. (Browse their websites for pictures) These two bow manufacturers have the finest line-up of Staff Pro Shooters in the country and both work hard to make sure their staff shooters are well taken care of. Thank you Hoyt and Mathew’s for rewarding your top archers at the Big Sky Open – Grand Junction.

Another year gone by (27 to be exact) and still no perfects have been shot at the Big Sky Open. Amazing and yet if an archer ever happens to do this, will certainly make a name for him/herself. The outdoor conditions are not bad; it will mainly be an act of focus and mental condition that will do it!

The Juniors and Cubs had their own range this year, something that has not been done since the 90’s and out of this competition, Dusty Weaver, Ut and Tanner Clem, CO reigned as champions respectively. The Intermediates shot with the adults and Chris Brunstch, CO and Amber Pingle, CO claimed highest scores to win the Fuoco Motor Awards in their divisions.

The 2007 Big Sky Open – Grand Junction was dedicated to two very fine archers we lost this year: John Chesnick of Wheatridge, CO and Fred Marks of Cody, WY. While Fred was a good friend and mentor to many in archery, he was also heavily involved in organizing archery in that state. John, too, was a friend of many, a proponent of money tournaments and a manufacturer of archery accessories. Both are missed greatly.

With the close of this tournament, we are looking forward to the Big Sky Open – Mesquite scheduled for November 2, 3 and 4 in Mesquite, Nevada. For more information and registration, look for our website www.bigskyarcheryopen.com The Big Sky Open – Grand Junction is scheduled with the DoubleTree Hotel, June 13, 14, 15, 2008.

Thank you to all our sponsors: SPORTSMANS WAREHOUSE, MATHEWS, INC, HOYT, MARTIN ARCHERY, ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOWSTRINGS, JAKE’S ARCHERY, SPECIALTY ARCHERY, GOLD TIP, INC. US ARCHER magazine, FUOCO MOTOR COMPANY; and the DOUBLETREE HOTEL. Thank you to all who gave door prizes and took Bale Ads. A great big thank you to Myron & Ann Peters, Linda & Jeff Cell, Mitch & Trina Holmes, and our Referees, Mike McDonald and Tommy Younger, for helping us put the Big Sky Open on. Everyone is so appreciated!

The United States, what a great country to live in and be blessed with the freedom to shoot in a competitive sport that we all love! It is an honor to be able to put on a tournament for those who like to compete on the colored targets. It is also an honor to have so many fine archers come to the Big Sky Open to compete. There are no losers, there are only winners – winners in each and every archer who has the determination and the desire to challenge the elements outdoor archery has to offer. There can be no finer way of shooting a bow & arrow.