The first EFT Grand Prix Florida was held in early December, 2023.
A total of 31 shooters participated in this first Extreme Field Target competition east of the Mississippi. Sponsored and organized by Atlas Airguns and Airguns of Arizona, there is no way it could have happened without them – as you will read!
Tristan from Atlas Airguns takes up the story…
It was a snow storm! But wait, that wasn’t the case at all, was it? It felt like that for us Floridians: 73° in Central Florida! Now that is cold 🙂
Arriving at the Ares Training Facility in Leesburg, Florida at 11 am, it was hard to believe that this moment had finally arrived…
Twelve months prior, even before becoming an airgun dealer and opening Atlas Airguns, I casually mentioned the idea of an EFT Grand Prix Florida to Lauren Parsons. That was during a brief conversation at the 2022 Extreme Benchrest.
Fast forward two months to December 2022, during a visit to AoA, EFT Florida came up again in a meeting. Over the next few months, there were ongoing discussions about the event.
I scouted approximately twenty-two potential venues in the area, but only three showed promise: Pensacola, Yulee, and the inevitable choice—Leesburg.
I chose the Ares Shooting Facility in Leesburg, mostly because the owner was straightforward. Plus, it was centrally located for the state and had sprawling property perfect for the discipline.
So, that sets the stage for this event.
Now, it was around November 30th, the day before the event. I had driven four hours with twenty pallets on a trailer along with other setup stuff. I was stressed about my van potentially breaking down, and I worried about the AoA staff and cargo as well.
AoA not only sponsored the event’s cash prizes but also drove 2,000 miles to bring the same targets used at the Extreme Field Target Nationals at Extreme Benchrest!
But I pushed aside the stress and began staging pallets and unloading the trailer. Within an hour, Andy Gonzales, Lauren Parsons, and Larry Piercy from Airguns of Arizona showed up.
The setup was a whirlwind, but fortunately, about ten volunteers participating in the event also arrived. By 5 pm that night, everything was set up, and at that moment, the twelve months of talk and preparation had finally come to fruition.
The first day had an overcast sky with temperatures around 74°. We started with drinks, donuts, and a shooting meeting in the morning, where Lauren Parsons provided Shooters Meeting instructions for a safe and smooth shoot.
After that, we began.
With three shooters per lane and a total of 31 participants, after the initial sight-in period, people found their rhythm. By the second lane rotation, everything was going smoothly.
Larry and Andy from AoA were shooting, while Lauren and I alternated assisting shooters. I spent the first hour or two ensuring proper muzzle control and the best safety practices.
Once I felt it was time, I went to my van and grabbed what I always bring—my video camera.
Filming is perhaps my favorite thing to do at shooting events, not only because I enjoy the art but also because I get to spectate and observe successful shooters.
Even on that first day, I noticed a few standout shooters. By afternoon, we had sandwiches and drinks delivered, and by 2:30-3:00 pm, we had finished.
The day wasn’t without a few hiccups, including one target that had the wrong angle and another that was a bit too easy. So, after everyone left, Lauren, Andy, and I reset and tested those two problematic targets.
That evening, we all gathered at the Hurricane Dockside and Grill.
I bought the first round of drinks for the shooters who showed up, and we spent a good two hours talking about airguns and getting to know each other.
I decided to have this casual dinner on the first night rather than the last because people usually want to head home at the end of an event, or at least I do. So, we bid our goodnights and went to our hotels, ready for the next day.
The pacing on the second day was much faster. The average shooter spent less than their allotted time per lane, and things were moving smoothly. Additionally, the previous problematic targets now posed no issues.
By 3:00 pm, we had wrapped up the second day, but there was one significant issue—Will Thibout and Jerry McGee were tied!
What followed was an epic shootout between the two of them, lasting about thirty minutes, and my respect for their shooting skills grew with every passing minute.
Ultimately, Jerry got the knockdown that earned him second place.
Awards time! Airguns of Arizona sponsored the cash prizes for this event, totaling $2,000, while Atlas Airguns matched that total with prizes. In total, there was $4,017 at stake in both cash and prizes for the top five finishers.
Here are the top five:
– 1st place: Terry Clark – $600 cash + Brocock Concept Lite .25
– 2nd place: Jerry McGee – $500 cash + Aztec Emerald
– 3rd place: Will Thibout – $400 cash + AGT Handpump
– 4th place: Mike Bricker – $300 cash
– 5th place: Jach Loesser – $200 cash
For me, the standout competitors were the ones who traveled far for this event!!!
Mike Bricker had come all the way from California, and Andy, who came on behalf of Precision Airgun Distribution to set up, had traveled from Idaho!
Others came from states as far as Michigan, Louisiana, Ohio, Alabama, and up the East Coast as far as Pennsylvania.
The event was definitely well-received!
Just a month later, an EFT Florida Facebook group formed. Now there’s another group forming in Georgia, only a couple of hours from my house in Northeast Florida.
I’m frequently asked about the next event, and my answer is simple: check out the website www.extremefieldtarget.com for details.
Extreme Field Target is a national event occurring in several states now and with more to come. In fact, I hear whispers from new states every week. It’s been very exciting to see how explosive this new discipline is.
So, if you’re a shooter interested in this, part of an airgun club, or a retailer, I encourage you to visit the official website, check the dates, and get in touch with the good people at Airguns of Arizona about Extreme Field Target.
Tristan thanks for the report and for all your work at the first EFT Grand Prix Florida! There’s more about this great event in this discussion in the HAM Community.
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