Most SASS matches are the relatively small monthly club level matches that the 80,000
plus of us shoot and enjoy on a regular basis. From a purely mathematical standpoint –
this is where most of the fun in SASS resides. Each club’s annual “big match” is a big
deal for that club. Many of those, due to the efforts of the sponsoring club have become
mini regionals. That’s good. Shooters get to play with more cowboys and cowgirls and it
is relatively inexpensive. State championships are also within the time and money
limitations of most of us. That said, there is one commonality to these matches, there are
few surprise winners. Let’s face it, those young eyes and young hands are hard to beat.
Even if you leave out the race guns most of us cannot afford, unless you shoot 32’s or
38’s with two hands, you are probably not going to win, even at your local club. But,
there is a way to level the playing field and even increase the fun and widen the
competition.
I shoot either Classic Cowboy or Senior Duelist, and as such I usually shoot against just a
handful of guys even at the regional level. Wouldn’t it be more fun, challenging, and
motivational to shoot against everybody! I think so, here is how. It’s called handicapping,
but with a SASS twist. On the old cattle drives, herds from several outfits were often
combined into one large herd. A trail brand was often applied to be used at the final
accounting in the stockyards. Let’s “trail brand” our scores. As a firm believer in in the
KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle, I do not propose 80,000 handicaps, too much,
too hard to keep straight, too easy to sand bag, just too much. How about 31 – for all of
us. One for each shooting category. Under this system you would have to win your
category to win the match, but that is only fair. If you are still with me, read on and all
will be revealed.
To get those trail brand numbers, I went to the gatherings of the best of the best, EOT and
Winter Range. The scores for 2009 were used. The plan is to update annually. Starting
with the top ten in each category (if available) I soon found that except for the real speed
classes, the times took a big jump after 5th or 6th place. This would have loaded the
numbers in favor of the slower categories – not leveled it out – so I went with the top
five. This seemed really to be the best of the best in each category. I do not claim to be an
expert number cruncher, but I think the numbers I arrived at are fair to all concerned.
Please folks, I am not proposing a rule change or something for a Territorial Governor’s
vote. This is just an idea that individual clubs might want to try. I just think that there are
enough good Duelists, Frontier Cartridge and Gunfighters of all ages out there who
would love to have a chance to take on Mr. or Miss Speedo and, some Speedo who would
work harder with more competition. All for more fun. With trail Brands, you could have
posse winners too – more fun all day. Caution – if you do this please tell your shooters
BEFORE the match and explain it to them.
This is where it ended up after blistering my fingers for days. The numbers are based on
the average speed per stage of the top 5 shooters in every category at 2009 EOT and
Winter Range. This allows application to the total match time no matter how many stages
were shot. Got that? OK all you do is multiply a shooter’s total time by the trail brand
number for each category. This year Cowboy and Cowgirl are the fastest so their number
is 1, no math required for them. Simple yes? That’s it. Play with it. Try it. Talk about it.
See what you think. Is it an idea whose time has come for your club or match?
Personally, I would love to see an advertisement for a club annual or territorial match that
includes “This match will use the Trail Brand handicapping system to determine overall
match and posse winners.” “A Top Ten Fastest Gun side match will follow the main
match.”
Cowboy
Wrangler
49R
B Western
Silver Senior
Senior
Gun Fighter
Frontier Cartridge
Duelist
Senior Duelist
Elder Statesman
Frontier Cartridge Duelist
Junior Boy
Gunfighter Senior
Classic Cowboy
Frontiersman
Buckeroo
1
.849
.843
.813
.794
.785
.755
.743
.730
.690
.674
.623
.616
.614
.579
.563
.547
Cowgirl
Lady Wrangler
Lady 49r
Lady Senior
B Western Lady
Grand Dame
Junior Girl
Lady Gunfighter
Lady Duelist
Lady Silver Senior
Lady Font Cart Duelist
Lady Frontier Cartridge
Buckerette
Classic Cowgirl
1
.911
.887
.875
.772
.703
.691
.687
.658
.619
.593
.586
.555
.551
George Poovey
AKA “Good Deal”
SASS 30057