420 Pro/Am Tournament 2013:

               
                             Another saga for  The 420 Target  and its acceptance. Three years ago in 2010, the NFAA decided to sanction our 420 Pro/Am Tournament as a five point event for the NFAA Pros. This was a major for  The 420 Target , and Christie Colin (she is a true archery ambassador) was the person who helped it come about. The NFAA had a four page promotional article on  The 420 Target  and the 420 Pro/Am Tournament in their magazine. Then, at the 2011 Nationals in Louisville on Saturday night The NFAA Pros and their guests were supposed to be shooting  The 420 Target  at their Pro/Am. At Nationals, Diane Watson and Christie apologized to me, because they were not aware of the agreement between Bruce Cull and Mapleleaf Press. Mapleleaf Press, sponsors the NFAA Nationals and wouldn't allow them to use  The 420 Target  because they didn't print it. It is our belief  that  The 420 Target  brings challenge to the Pros without hurting the amateur shooters, and this is why we have worked so hard promoting  The 420 Target  as "Bringing the CHALLENGE BACK to Archery" for everyone. Mapleleaf Press has a contract with NFAA stating, if they don't print it the Pros don't shoot it. Most all the Pros shoot 60X 300's and are bored with the normal target. We have had Pros shoot the tournament every year, including this year, of the 420 Tournament. Ricky Smith shot a 377 on Friday including a 5 Inside "X" round for 35 points,, with 2712's and he will shoot again on Sunday, if you care to see a great shooter in action.  The older 420 scores and World Records,  are posted in the Information Form above. We have had nothing but good comments on the target by all that have shot it, and this year will be our 4th Annual 420 Pro/Am. Last year we had 51 shooters who won $808.00, which includes $400.00 from ELITE ARCHERY which has always sponsored The 420 Pro/Am. Contingency money from ELITE ARCHERY is available again in 2013.
The  The 420 Target  has been a big step on Creekwood's trip to "Shoot Em' In The Middle"
.

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 It's Thursday Jan. 31st the day before the Tournament and we are ready.    -    All we need is the shooters.
                                   
                                               The banners are up and the tree is still lit.

                        The sponsors are in place to make the shoot better than ever.
                                                                                
                                                                                        Dan Kubit, Pres. M & T Bank, Hilton, NY

When you purchase an ELITE BOW this is the man that owns the company, Peter Crawford. He
is fun, honest, caring, loves perfection and on top of that, is my friend. Pete has sponsored the
420 Pro/Am from day one.
                                       
Go get yourself an ELITE BOW and next year, win some money and get an extra $200.00 from
ELITE by winning with 5 or more shooters in your class. The 2014, 420 Pro/Am will be Jan. 31st,
Feb. 1st & 2nd, which is not on Marcia's birthday.

                     Names & Targets are up, clipboards are ready - Bring on the shooters.

                   The scorecards are ready


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 The Friday 6:30 Line

                                       
             Don't you dare tell me Amanda and Julie don't have fun helping at our 420 Pro/Am's.
                                                It would not be the same without them.
                                       
                                               Your support is very much appreciated.

The young lady in the dark vest above is Alexis Penna. A week before this Tournament,
Alexis was shooting at a Western NY Sunday shoot at Creekwood and I said to her, are you
nervous?, she said, yes I am, I'm the only kid out there. I said, yesterday in your league you
were pounding the middle, you get your butt out there and start pounding "X's". If you get 10
"X's", I will buy you a horse. Notice the blue horse hanging on her quiver. She got 12 "X's".
Alexis moved to 20 yards this year and has the transition under control. This girl excels in a
lot of things, but I'm not supposed to talk about her.

Paul Shaver, above has a new app. for his tablet, which keeps score, keeps track of where his
arrows are hitting and he could program for the 420 scoring. This modern age is something.

The young man in the black & orange shirt above, Brandon Ward, took a 2nd Place in 2010,
and then went into a 2 year retirement. This year, he got the itch again and took a 1st Place in
the youth class for 2013. Nice job Brandon, and this kid can hunt, does hunt
          
This young cub, Dan Berg, (The Bergermister) can really shoot. This is his first year shooting
competition, and once he settles in, I think he will be untouchable.

Why so many pictures of Ricky with his 5 Inside "X" round? Well because he did it with 2712's,
and they don't fit so good inside. Jesse Broadwater and Shane Wills both shot back to back 5
Inside "X" rounds, but they did it with 23's. Nice shooting Ricky!

One click to the left on his sight and they would have all been dead center. Ricky works hard
at his shooting and it shows. He missed the cut by 2 points at Lancaster. Next year he will be
in the shoot off. If the opportunity ever presented itself, I would adopt this kid.




These yellow fletched arrows belong to Alexis Penna. As you can see, she doesn't need any
help shooting. When she is focused, she is dead on.

This nice group of arrows above, belong to Lauren Goodrich, our 12 year old who won not
only States last year, but also Nationals in Louisville KY. She is a finger shooter and she can
put em in the middle.



                                      Who is that old fat curmudgeon with the skunk outfit on?






Matt MacDonald                                          That's the guy over there that made the BIG CHECKS.
Actually the story of the pictures above is the 420 sticker would stick to his head, but not his
bow case. Darn that Armor-All.
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 Saturday 9:30am Line









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 Saturday 1:00pm Line




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 Sunday 9:30am Line

The guy on the left in the pictures above is Dan Kubit, President of the local M & T Bank one
of our main sponcers for The 420 Pro/Am, four four years running. Thanks Dan. Maybe we can
get you and Ben to shoot it next year.


I really like my new Hoyt Matrix Snow Bow. It shoots better than I do.
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 Sunday 1:00pm Line


Sue Ludwig (above) from, "Points to the Cross", had a bunch of recurve shooters here from
her club. Last year she shot the 420 twice, so she's not behind YET. Sue loves working with
the kids.

The young man on the stump looking up in the air is Kasey Kennard. If he is talking to God it
worked out real well, because he took a 1st in the Cub Division. He and his dad Jeff shoot in
our Adult/Youth League on Saturday afternoons. They are both real good shooters.


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 Awards:
The adults win dollars in their pockets. LIFE  IS  GOOD !

The kids win 1st Place Trophies and then Medals.
                          
     Yes, this is the back of my shirt.       Putting on this Tournament is a ton of work. Now it is
                                                                    over and even though it kicks our butts, it's worth it.

Kasey is a top notch shooter.

                             When you shoot arrows like this you win a Medal like this.
                           Alexis Penna shot 260 + 4 X's + 4 IX's = 268, 2nd Place Youth.

The Bergermister gets the job done.

Caleb Lendeck took 5th Place in the Cub Division with a 254 + 4 X's + 3 IX's = 261 - Last year
at our League Party this kid took me for $6.00. This kid can shoot.

Nick Esposito took 4th Place in the Youth Division with a 242 + 5 X's + 1 IX's = 248 - Nick is
having fun with his archery. You could always find Nick on lane 1, up against the wall, but
this year he is moving out in the world and will shoot anywhere.


Chrissy, Ricky's wife helped us with the Tournament, shot the Tournament and is helping us
out on Saturdays. She is shooting Marcia's old target bow she won States with and is doing
quite well.

Paul Shaver - 3rd Place Freestyle - 299 +  37 X's + 18 IX's = 354 - This is Paul's personal best
on this target at a Tournament. LIFE  IS  GOOD !
                                        
Ricky Smith won Freestyle with a 300 + 56 X's + 21 IX's = 377 - just one point shy of his
personal best in a 420 Pro/Am. Ricky was shooting 2712's, which is not the best shaft for
getting Inside X's. With smaller arrows he definitely would have shot his personal best in
The 420 Pro/Am. Great shooting as usual Ricky.


                                        
Jeff Kennard, 5th Place Bowhunter Freestyle 296 + 23 X's + 5 IX's = 324 - Jeff and his son
Kasey shoot Creekwood's Adult/Youth League and are both good shooters. Kasey took 1st
Place in the Cub Division.

I didn't get a good picture of Garrett yet, so this one from a 2004 Bear hunt will have to do.
Garrett is on the right, Peter Crawford, center and me with a bear I took in Quebec. Garrett
Armstrong VP of Elite Archery, a sponsor of our 420 Pro/Am for four years running, took 1st
Place in the Bowhunter Freestyle Class with a 300 + 33 X's + 7 IX's = 340 winning $46.00 from
the Tournament plus $200.00 from Elite Archery for a total of $246.00, which he refused so I
moved the 1st Place money to 2nd Place and so on down the line. When I get a picture of
Garrett with his BIG CHECK, you will see it here. Maggie his bride was his coach at the shoot,
so maybe I'll get her in the picture also. Good shooting Garrett. (Behind every great man,
there is a great women).
                                          
Speaking of great women, here she is now. Garrett was setting up for there Winter Cam
Classic at MCC when I went to Elite, so I got to hug his wife, (Good Hugging)his coach at the
420 Pro/Am. This is the first year our two Tournaments wern't on the same weekend. I really
wanted to shoot it, but my shoulder said it didn't want to play. Next year Garrett, be the good
lord willing.
                                        
Bruce Meyers, 2nd Place Bowhunter Freestyle 293 + 27 X's + 14 IX's = 334 - Thanks to Garrett
Armstrong, VP of Elite Archery, for refusing a 1st place check, Bruce gets the 1st Place
money. I moved all the winnings down one place.                        LIFE  IS  GOOD !
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 This is The NFAA Pro information on the 420 Target

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                I believe in Ladies before Gentlemen, so here are the PROS in that order.
Christie Colin 2010 -  300 + 53 X's + 25 IX's = 378  Pro Female Freestyle Record
Christie Colin 2010 - 300 + 48 X's + 24 IX's = 372
Samantha Neal 2011 - 300 + 46 X's + 12 IX's = 358
Samantha Neal 2010 - 300 + 41 X's + 12 IX's = 353
Samantha Neal 2010 - 299 + 33 X's + 9 IX's = 341
Jesse Broadwater 2011 -  300 + 59 X's +  42 IX's =  401  Pro Male Freestyle Record
Shane Wills 2011 - 300 +  60 X's (They are little)  + 31 IX's = 391
Ricky Smith 2010 - 300 + 49 X's + 29 IX's = 378
Mike Pollard 2011 - 300 + 47 X's + 22 IX's = 369
Jeff Human 2010 - 300 - 50 X's - 13 IX's = 363 Pro Male Bowhunter Freestyle Record
Jeff Human 2010 - 300 - 48 X's - 15 IX's = 363
 
Christie Colin, has the Female Freestyle record of 300 - 53 X's - 25 IX's = 378 which won
her a check for $335.00 in 2010. Christie is a real competitor with class, she has four
world records and is a great ambassador for archery.
Part of being a Pro is to come down
and shoot with the amateur shooters like me and she is one of the few that actually does
that. Since she moved to Pennsylvania, I miss her and her hubby Terry who owns, World
Record Strings a whole bunch. He had to name his business that, because Christi set all
her world records shooting strings Terry made.
     
Samantha Neal won $500.00 in 2011 with a score of 300 + 46 X's + 12 IX's = 358. Sam,
her mom & dad have competed thru WNYFAB at Creekwood since she was in her
early teens. Her dad, Tracy made the 420 Pro/Am stickers that so many of you have.
Sam not only shoots em in the middle, but she is a super nice person, works hard at
her archery and growing the sport of archery.

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Jesse Broadwater, has the Male Freestyle record of 300 - 59 X's - 42 IX's = 401 which
won him a FIRST PLACE check for $750.00 in 2011. In 2010 Jesse & Shane were
coming and they both got snowed in. The snow was so deep, his mini-horses just
walked over the fence and got out. Shane was buried even worse than that. Both
Jesse & Shane shot 5 inside X rounds (picture below) and you talk about ball busting.
These guys are best friends who just love to push each other and have a great time.
It's who shot the first 5 inside X round and then who shot the most 5 IX rounds, and
then it was, yes but who missed an X, followed by who had the most IX's. It is a
HOOT to be around guys like this. COMPETITIVE SERIOUS FUN!     LIFE  IS  GOOD !

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Jeff Human is now on the PSE Pro Staff and the reason he is, he wins a lot. He
shoots Bowhunter Freestyle. Two years ago he started coaching so if you want to
improve your game, there is a local person that you could work with. He knows how
to teach the mechanics, but more than that he is a mental - mental - mental shooter.
Archery at his level is about 97% mental and if you listen to Jeff, you might learn
something.

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Chuck Cooley had been a Pro for a couple of years and this was the first time he had
ever won as a Pro and he was excited. Chuck was here with his daughter who is a
Cheerleader in Watkins Glen, and a good little shooter herself. He won with a score
of 300 +  48 X's + 21 IX's = 369. Chuck brought on-line video to our NYS Indoor
Championships and is now the spokesman for all the NFAA Pros at their meetings.

Chuck is a Optometrist and owns Feather Visions located in Ithaca, NY. Feather
Visions is a innovator in optics in the archery industry.
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Ricky worked at Creekwood for many years, just recently graduated from college
and plans on spending more time with his bow now. Before Ricky went to Vegas
last year he decided to turn Pro. Many years ago Jimmy Despart was seriously
looking at Ricky to be a shooter for Martin Archery, but back then he wasn't going
to the big shoots and Jimmy went off to Albany and opened his own shop Flying
Arrow II. Ricky is now married to Chrissy his bride, has bought a house and has a
good full time job.
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If you want to compete for the money, have your name associated with the Pros
listed above, keep the   first weekend in February, 2014, actually Jan. 31st, Feb. 1st
& 2nd, open in your calendar but remember to bring your game. When shooting  
The 420 Target
, it separates the shooters from the shooter want to bees. The 420
Pro/Am may be in multiple venues next year so if you register early, you might find
out you don't have to travel as far as you thought.                              LIFE  IS  GOOD !
                                   
         
Matt MacDonald made the file for the BIG CHECKS. Like always we gave away the
checks as awards plus the $476.00 in cash.
                                    
 

                                    LIFE  IS  GOOD !
         AND SEE YA! IN 2014
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This was billed on our web site as the best thing Creekwood has ever done, and
it was. Now it is the "THE BEST  THING WE EVER DID", more than three times.

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