Mary's Nipple Cup IV

Those of you who follow this blog know that September is the month the Mayfield Zimmerbixlers host the Mary’s Nipple Cup Zimmerstutzen match. This began four years ago when we were informed that the usual venue for our monthly match would be too crowded with hunters preparing for the fall season. Since several members have Zimmerstutzens but rarely have a chance to compete with them, I proposed the match and volunteered the venue­--my back yard. Like other great venues named for geographical locations such as Creedmoor, Bisley, and Walnut Hill, our match was named for the lofty peak that towers above our little town. It was also an opportunity to be a little naughty.
For those unfamiliar with the Zimmerstutzen, it is a .17 caliber target rifle meant for indoor shooting. They were, in the years prior to WW I, quite popular in Germany and particularly Bavaria. Although sometimes hard to find, ammunition is still manufactured and imported into the US. This match is shot at fifteen meters or about fifty feet.
This year’s match, taking place after breakfast and a sight-in period, consisted of a five-shot “Luck” target with random numbers on the back, three ten-shot targets for the main match, a one-shot “Honor” target, and a “Vogel” (bird) target that is shot at by each competitor in turn until someone hits the bulls-eye. The winner of the last match becomes our Zimmerbixler King. A “sporting” match followed for those shooters with nerves of steel and money to risk while the targets were being scored.
Awards were presented when the shooting died down. Gloria Bell who, alas, also qualified for the consolation prize for last place, received a “medal” provided by Schuetzenbruder Ingo Laue from his new enterprise (www.ilkom.de). Lucky Bill Flint won the Luck match and a genuine 316L stainless steel four leaf clover. As if he needed any more luck. The engraved silver Mary’s Nipple Cup went to perennial Top Gun Gary Nelson, who might still have won if he had skipped a target. Ron Bell shot nearest to center on the Honor Target thus claiming it as his own. While not quite a work of art, it will be a nice souvenir as all the shooters signed their mark. The Vogel Target, mounted atop a thirty foot mast, was shot in reverse order. Unlike last year when shooting continued until the center of the target fell out, Paul Lambert hit the bulls-eye in the second round, setting off about forty grains of black powder and becoming Zimmerbixler King. He was crowned with a garland of ivy rather than laurel since this was our IV match, you see.
A fine buffet lunch followed the awards, elk roast and home-made apple pie provided by Paul. Thanks to all who participated and contributed, especially Daryl Butler who took many of the pictures that can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/jon.cgs/20SEP09#.