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 1

Wrangler.849

49R.843

B Western.813

Silver Senior.794

Senior.785

Gun Fighter.755

Frontier Cartridge.743

Duelist.730

Senior Duelist.690

Elder Statesman.674

Frontier Cartridge Duelist .623

Junior Boy .616

Gunfighter Senior.614

Classic Cowboy.579

Frontiersman.563

Buckeroo.547

Cowgirl1

Lady Wrangler.911

Lady 49r.887

Lady Senior.875

B Western Lady.772

Grand Dame.703

Junior Girl.691

Lady Gunfighter.687

Lady Duelist.658

Lady Silver Senior .619

Lady Font Cart Duelist.593

Lady Frontier Cartridge.586

Buckerette.555

Classic Cowgirl.551

George Poovey

AKA “Good Deal”

SASS 30057