My first match (continued)

The next week I got a call from Doc Hell welcoming me to SASS and asking if I was going to the shoot that Sunday in Mofitt.  I had not really planned on going thinking that I would probably just wait until the June Minot shoot, but Doc convinced me I should come.  When I said that maybe I should just come and watch, he said, "oh no you should bring your guns you're going to want to shoot."  Doc gave me directions to the range and said he would call me Sunday morning.
That whole week I really tried to convince myself that I shouldn't go, what would people think having a new unexperienced shooter?  I was really nervous but then I thought, hey, I have made the investment, this is something I have always wanted to do.  So Sunday morning May 19th, I loaded my guns and gear and headed for Bismarck, then east on I-94 to and south to Mofitt to the Dakota Roughriders cowboy range.  Doc called while I was on road to make sure I was coming, he couldn't have been nicer.  When I got to range I was still a little nervous but, I spotted Doc and he came right over and helped me get registered and showed me the course and talked me through what we would be doing.  More people started arriving and everyone was really nice, not a disparaging word from anyone!  Then came time for the shoot!  I was really nervous and when it was my turn I went to the loading table, they showed me the right way to load and then it was my turn to come to the firing line!  Dakota Dealer was the Timer Operator, he was very patient and talked me through the stage.  When he said "Standby" and the buzzer went off and my mind went blank!  I drew my first pistol and started blazing away mssing a couple, then hitting most of my rifle targets I couldn't believe I could miss a target that close with a shotgun! but I got through it and what a rush!  I was hooked, this was so much fun I couldn't believe it had taken me this long to discover cowboy action shooting.  Through the rest of the day Doc Hell was right there explaining everything, everyone was very patient and seemed pleased that they had another new shooter.  That is something I have come to learn is that everyone I meet in this game is very friendly and willing to help, if your gun hangs up or breaks down they will offer you theirs to use.  During one of the next stages, there were 4 shotgun targets, I had 6 shells in on my belt but I missed twice and still had one target left but no shells!  Quick as could be Dakota Dealer who was the Timer/Operator grabbed two shotgun shells out of his belt and handed them to me so I could finish the stage.  When the match was done it turns out I hadn't done too bad, I wasn't even the slowest time but I bet I had the most fun.