A Super Senior
Hi,
I’ve been regularly shooting IDPA for over four years, under the excellent direction of Jim Till, North Whidbey Sportsmen’s Association, Whidbey Island, WA. I recently turned 82 years of age, and got to wondering how many older IDPA members we have who are regularly involved in our tactical sport? At each match I continue to learn more about tactics and defense shooting. Understandably, with slower reflexes my times are usually not competitive with many younger shooters. Nonetheless, I enjoy the training and competition. If there are a significant number of IDPA members over 70 or 75 years of age I wondered if perhaps IDPA might consider a classification for these "ancient" ones - perhaps a "Super Senior" category?
Regards,
Roy Van Riper A24704
ESP MM

Mr. Riper,
Thank you for writing. IDPA has a number of members such as yourself and I appreciate your continuing to participate in and enjoy IDPA. We do recognize our older members with a Seniors sub division. That is any member that is ages 50 - 64. We also have a Distinguished Senior sub division that is for members that are 65 and older. We do not force clubs to recognize any sub division at local matches or sanctioned matches. This allows the clubs to modify what sub categories that will work best for them. We do recognize all sub categories in the National Championship. A list of those can be found on page 64 in your rule book. We hope that you are able enjoy shooting IDPA for many more years and maybe we will meet on the range one day.
Editor

New Logo
It looks very nice. I will be buying a shirt for my wife (who is a school teacher) when they become available.
I have no problem wearing the other logo, but the new one is a little more conservative and would go well on a polo shirt I could wear to church without drawing too much attention.
Keep up the great work!
Karl H. Decker A34623

Karl,
I am glad you liked the new logo. Most people liked the new logo but a few did not. A few letters we received were even down right ugly. I guess it is true, like momma used to say "you can’t please everyone." We hope that our members enjoy the opportunity to be able to choose which logo works best for their needs. We feel the new logo helps provide that choice. Keep an eye on the Pro Shop as new shirts will be showing up soon.
Editor

Winning Spirit
I have a question about shooting in IDPA with an ambulatory disability.
In my particular situation, moving requires the use of both hands to propel my wheelchair. In an IDPA scenario, this necessitates a safe re-holstering, movement, stopping, and then drawing and shooting. This adds a lot of clock time, but I’ve "won" if I’ve addressed the scenario to the extent possible within my limits and shot safely and accurately. My personal challenge is to adapt to CoF’s to the extent possible and to shoot safely and well. To be clear, I want to adapt to the CoF’s, not have the CoF’s adapted to accommodate me.
This brings me to a question about Strings 1 and 2 in Stage Two of the Classification Match. Has anything similar to my situation come up? If so, is there a standard approach?
I recently shot in a classification match. I advanced one- half way to the forward fault line in String 1, then drew and fired. Then in String 2, I retreated one-half way from the 5 yd. line to the 10 yd. line, then drew and fired. This seemed a reasonable means of addressing the scenario.
I’d appreciate your sharing any thoughts or experience you’ve had in this or any related matter.
Warm regards,
Glenn Friar A36671

Glenn,
We have several members that find themselves facing the same challenges that you do. As each case varies, it is difficult to give a hard and fast rule on what each person should do. I think that the manner that you describe in completing the string of fire is completely reasonable. All match directors should be aware that sometimes what they want a shooter to do in a CoF may not be possible. In these situations a quick talk with the competitor will usually result in a method that will work. The shooting sports are one of the few sports around that is truly open to everyone. Good luck in your next match and I hope you have a great shooting season.
Editor