A seemingly unlikely combination of events – one is an aerobic activity (skiing or running) which requires strength, speed and endurance; the other is a passive activity (shooting) which requires concentration and a steady hand (difficult after you’ve been skiing, running or walking all out!). After a great and well attended '09, we are ready to begin Pemigewasset Valley Fish and Game Club’s fourth season of Biathlon with five events this summer (2010). We recently acquired ten of the Devin BT-500 "real" official biathlon match targets, each with a bank of five bullseyes and when the target is hit a white paddle comes up and covers the black! They reset with the pull of a nylon rope and can change from the prone ("small") to the offhand ("big"), also with a pull of the rope. Scoring and shooter satisfaction is much enhanced with these targets! The ten steel Devin-100 Practice Targets purchased with a generous grant from the NRA Foundation will still be used for practic sessions. The Summer biathlon season at Pemigewassett Valley Fish and Game Club will get started on Saturday,June 5 (tentative, hard dates announced soon). There will be teams registered as “Match Teams” or as “Sport Teams”. The “Sport Team” is designed for novices/beginners/youth and they will shoot at the larger targets prone as well as offhand and they will run/walk shorter distances. The Harvard Sportsman team from Harvard, Ma has bowed out the two-state league competition, guess they couldn’t take the country hicks from the north country beating them three years in a row! We are looking into developing a league with a Vermont team. The earliest known reference to hunting from skis goes back to Norwegian cave paintings dated 2000 years ago. The first known biathlon with firearms was held in Scandanavia in the mid 1700’s. Biathlon was adopted as an Olympic sport in 1955. Well-known local competitive skier, Jack Armstrong, visited the club at our first event in '07 and told us about being on the United States team in the first World Biathlon Championships held in Saalfelden, Austria in 1958. This was the US introduction to winter biathlon competition and the training ground for the US participation in the first Olympic Biathlon which was held in Squaw Valley, California in 1960. Olympic Biathlons use the same caliber rifles on the same-sized targets at the same distances as we will be using here at the Pemi competitions Summer Biathlon grew naturally out of Winter Biathlon as a means of keeping in shape for the whole season. Cross-country running is the most popular form of Summer Biathlon in the U.S.A. and Canada. In addition to the Match Class for experienced biathletes, we offer a Walk Class, a Beginner Class, a Novice Class and a Youth Class where the same or alternative distances are walked or run. This allows everyone to take part in this sport! In addition, we initiated a Mountain Bike Biathlon for our last event in 2007. This event was very well received and will continue to be among our offerings. NEW IN "09: The Pemi is proud to now also offer a WHEELCHAIR CLASS at all events as well as alternative Adaptive classes. These are in cooperation with New England Disabled Sports headquartered in Lincoln, NH. For information on NEDS, contact Rob Mueller, Managing Director, at 603-745-6292 Ext 5663 or email to robM@NEDisabledSports.org There are 2 shooting positions: prone and standing (offhand), using 45mm (1.77 inch) and 115mm (4.53 inch) diameter “bullseyes” of steel targets. Both however present black bullseyes that are 115mm diameter, and both positions are shot from 50m (54 yds. 2 feet). The Pemi purchased has 10 of the official steel targets with funds from a generous NRA Foundation grant, thereby eliminating the frustrations with the paper targets we experienced in the past! Men will run 4 km (about 2-1/2 miles) and women will run 3.5 km in the Match Class. Both men and women will shoot 20 shots and run an additional 100m (109 yards) per missed shot. All rifles must be bolt-action (or Fortner) with iron sights and either single-feed or four 5-shot clips. All ammunition must be .22 LR lead only and sub-sonic (below 1150 f.p.s.) Rifles will be stored in a rack between shooting bouts. The winner is the participant with the shortest total elapsed time. The clock keeps running continuously from start to finish. There are 5 parts to the match for the Match Classes: Start Part 1 – run 800m shoot 5 shots prone, run penalty loops. Part 2 – run 800m shoot 5 shots prone, run penalty loops. Part 3 – run 800m shoot 5 shots standing, run penalty loops. Part 4 – run 800m shoot 5 shots standing, run penalty loops. Part 5 – run 800m Finish If 5 finish the winner of a race gets 5 points, second-place gets 4 points, etc., match teams taking their points first, then everyone else (Match and Sport). Races are held rain or shine, but will be cancelled if thunder is heard from the property during a race. Rifles may be protected from rain by clear plastic garbage bags, if necessary. The dates for the ‘09/’10 winter events (cross country ski and shoot!) are: Saturday, December 12 Saturday, January 16 Sat, Feb 6. Biathlon practice/training session. For match class biathletes and those who have participated in at least one event or persons with cross country skiing and also shooting experience and wishing to merge the skills. Sharpen the the skill of zeroing the rifle (sighting in), range procedures, and biathlon skills. Contact Ang Baroni, biathlonskier@comcast.net Saturday, February 13 In the Winter Biathlon, a classical or Nordic cross country event is held first with three loops of approximately 2K each with two 5-shot bouts at the steel biathlon targets at 50 m, one prone and the second offhand. For info on these, contact Angelo Baroni at biathlonskier@comcast.com This will be followed with an event for the Beginner, Novice (not ready for prime time!) and the Adaptive classes. For information on this session, contact Fred Allen, 603-968-9944, fredallendvm@myfairpoint.net or Dennis Whitcher, 603-630-4561, whitch@metrocast.net Consult the Event Calendar for details on times and fees. For winter event info, contact Angelo Beroni at biathlonskier@comcast.com The 5 dates for 2010 Summer Biathlon events are: Saturday, June 5 Saturday, July 17 Saturday, August 28 Also, on September 18 there will be “Fun Shoot” at the Pemi in Holderness: introductory instruction, some shortened courses of fire, a biathlon clinic by veteran biathlete Kevin Brooker, "pickup" teams with prizes and just a fun, family time including dogs and burgers and fixn's! And, on Sunday, October 3 there will be a Mountain Bike Biathlon where biking is done rather than running! Registration for the Pemi Summer Biathlon events will take place at the clubhouse from 8:30 to 9:30 AM on the day of the event. The safety & range briefing and the sight-in period will be at the range starting at 9:15 a.m. Matches will be scheduled to start at 10:30 with the Match Class first followed by the Beginner, Novice and Adaptive participants. All events are open to the public, ages 12-99. Ages 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult parent or legal guardian. Some club rifles may be available: best to request one at least 2 days in advance. Also, eye/ear protection is required. If loaners are needed please request these at least 2 days prior to an event. Races are held rain or shine, but will be cancelled if thunder is heard from the property during a race. Rifles may be protected from rain by clear plastic garbage bags, if necessary. For further information see the Event Calendar or contact Fred Allen, 603-968-9944, fredallendvm@myfairpoint.net or Dennis Whitcher, 603-630-4561, whitch@metrocast.net Map to club grounds.