St. Lawrence Valley Primitive Snowshoe Biathlon
March 3-4, 2012
Sponsored by the Fort La Présentation Association, Forsyth’s Rifles and hosted by the Massena Rod & Gun Club, 155 Patterson Road, Louisville, NY The club is well posted with a sign on Route 37
Event Description: There will be a one-mile course on the sporting clay's trail. The event will have 3 classes.
- Smoothbore musket with open sights; participants must run the course on wooden snowshoes.
- Flintlock/Caplock rifle with open sights; participants must run the course on wooden snowshoes.
- In-line rifle with open sights; participants may run the course on modern or wooden snowshoes.
There will be three divisions: men’s; ladies; and youth (12-18 years). Each participant will be timed on the duration of his or her run or walk and shooting. At the first four firing stations, participants will fire two shots from an offhand position. For each target hit, five minutes will be deducted from the participant’s running time. Participants will have the option of a single axe throw; a successful throw will deduct five minutes from the participant’s time. Missed targets and miss-fires will add five minutes to the participant’s running time. At the final firing station (located at the 100-yard range), participants will be required to fire two shots. If there is insufficient snow cover, participants can run the course in boots, but must carry their snowshoes.
Awards will be presented to the top 3 participants (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) in each division. A blanket shoot will be held and door prizes will be available on Saturday and Sunday. An award ceremony will be held on Sunday afternoon.
Participants are encouraged to wear historic clothes covering 1750 to 1812, because Fort de la Présentation was one of a handful of French colonial forts in New York State. Forsyth’s Rifles from Ogdensburg re-enacts a U.S. Army regiment posted in Northern New York during the War of 1812. They portray a unit of French marines from the French and Indian War period.
Event Safety:
- Participants must follow the designated trail.
- Participants younger the 16 years of age will be required to run the course with a parent or a responsible adult.
- At each firing station; the organizers will station two officials who will observe the loading and firing of firearms and score each applicant (hit/miss/misfire). Officials will be rotated to ensure their safety.
- Participants may not carry a loaded firearm on the course. Each participant must load and fire his/her firearm in the presence of a race official.
- Participants not using safe firearm handling practices or not abiding with the race regulations will be disqualified and asked to leave the club.
- Firearms will not be allowed in the clubhouse.
- The organizers ruling on questions regarding rules or regulations will be final.
Registration Fees:
- $20.00 U.S. for advance registration.
- $25.00 U.S. for registration on the day of the event.
- $5.00 U.S. re-entry fee to run the course after paying the initial registration fee.
The Massena Rod & Gun Club will:
- Offer hot and cold foods, coffee, tea and hot chocolate for sale to participants.
- Offer beer and wine for sale after 4:00PM to participants who are of legal drinking age.
For more information contact: Fred Hanss, (315) 265-0235 / fhanss@twcny.rr.com