Just a couple of thoughts from a first time attendee at the Southern who plans to return every year possible from here on out. The wife, who doesn't shoot anything but bank accounts, and I left for the Southern on friday morning. About thirty miles out of VA Beach a 12'fiberglass extension ladder slid off the top of the truck in front of us and the old Dodge Ram crushed it at 65 into a million pieces that rained down on the GMC pick-up following a bit closely behind us.(That'll teach him!) Not a great start. After checking the tires we continued on to Sanford and arrived a little after noon. What a great set-up. Shotgun Disney World! Met Frank, Chris, Jim, and the rest of our fearless leaders at the Elsie display and signed up for event 1 for 10:00 am Saturday morning. Bare in mind that I've been shooting for just over a year and had no misconceptions that I'd actually qualify for event 2. The wife and I had an enjoyable supper with the Vintagers where we saw both Elsie and Parker friends, and got to meet Dr. Drew Hause, Becca & Chick Candler, and many others. When it was my turn to try out for event 2 I was quite nervous and probably missed the first four or five birds. My second station had the dreaded 'A' bird as part of its true pair and I was feelin miserable all over more than anywhere else! A glance over my right shoulder for a comforting and supportive nod from my wife landed me look of "Are we shooting blanks today, or what?" It was at this point that a friend, one of the Parker Boys, and not just any Parker Boy, but one that ended up tied for High Gun on the Parker squad, came up behind me, sat down, and and offered a few kind words with a little advice thrown in. Really knocked the edge off. I crushed the pair, the dreaded 'A' bird reminded me of that damn ladder (it was in so many pieces!), and went on to shoot a 19. Not good enough to qualify for event 2, but better than I'd anticipated. What Mr. Jim Winesincessantly fails to appreciate is that friendship, sportsmanship, and a good time are what appear to me to be the true goals of the Challenge event. For me any way it was a resounding success in that regard. There are plenty other venues in the shooting sports for cut-throat competition. We handed it to em in the Hammergun event, and the fact is, they just plain out shot us in the Challenge event. Next year....well we'll just have to see! Thanks to all who gave their time and energy to provide truly enjoyable weekend, and hopefully the good spirits and fellowship will continue for many years to come.