I have
always been of the impression that I was born about a century and a half too
late. I would have loved to have been around during the good old days of the
period around the Klondike or even our own Gold or Diamond rush. Hard times I
am sure, but still - I’d have enjoyed
the challenges of bushwhacking, hunting for the pot, homesteading etc etc.
Last weekend
Neil & myself attended a Cowboy Single Action club shoot down near
Bloemfontein at Lion Mountain club. Imagine my absolute amazement upon arriving
at their venue, you could have sworn that you just stepped back in time, the
cowboy town that the members have set up is magnificent to say the least.
Standing in the dust street outside the Bull Shooter Saloon transports one back
in time as you slowly take in all that the town has to offer. There are two
half log cottages (actually inhabited by two of the members and their families
whilst attending club shoots) - these are completely furnished in period décor,
from tin plates and mugs, to even the beds, bedding, linens, wood stove, gun
racks, wooden crates and travel chests, chairs and tables, and trinkets aplenty
- all period perfect. Outside on the wall is a selection of old tools,
blacksmith equipment, anvil, bridles and the likes .... the houses don’t have
indoor plumbing or electricity ... all is lit up by paraffin lanterns. Next to
these houses are the Sherriff’s office, Jail house, Railway station (complete
with two OLD SAR Caboose coaches which can be used to house competitors
overnight during weekend club shoots).
Then comes a series of other buildings like a livery stable, Hotel, OK Corral,
bath house and even BOOT HILL - the local cemetery where one can see the graves
of the likes of Billy the Kid and even one Fester Moore whose tombstone
reads “here lies Fester Moore Killed by
3 shots from a .44 - no less no more”. Beyond the OK corral there
is an “Indian” section where there is an impressive Totem Pole, and skulls of
Critters impaled on spears ... all quite
impressive are these as well. There is even a course where one can try your
hand at the art of axe (tomahawk) and knife throwing.
The shoot
itself is conducted very professionally under the strict auspices of the range
officer who ensures that safety is paramount. There are special gun racks
positioned at all of the shooting points, and competitors shoot a series of
“targets” comprising of steel cut-outs of the bad bunch (crooks). Timing and
accuracy is what it’s all about, and you end up shooting against yourself
really ... the aim being to improve your own times and scores. There is no
pressure on anyone, and the really friendly atmosphere is very noticeable, with
better and more experienced shooters freely offering advice and ways to improve
oneself if need be. There were quite a few newcomers who were there to check
the action out. It was very pleasing to see just how ready the old hands were
to lend these folks their personal weapons to use -
amazing just how keen they are to grow their membership numbers and
sport.
Most of the
competitors dress in period clothing as well. They arrive in various forms of
cowboy attire, and most have all the holster rigs, Bowie knives, boots, spurs,
chaps, scarves, Stetsons and even saddle bags ... not to mention their array of
guns. Most have a set of two single action revolvers, a lever action carbine
and a shotgun (which are a requirement for shooting all of the disciplines). I
was impressed to see here again that those who still did not have all the
required guns, just made use of a loan gun from one of the other “pose” members ....
Enter one Mr GAWIE WILLEMSE - aka
Two Gun Kid !!! Gawie really grabbed my
attention as he was really resplendent in his attire, his gun collection and
generally his very being. A pucker cowboy come gunslinger (DELUXE !!!). He
happened to mention to me during an interesting conversation with him that his
love affair with all things cowboy started at the ripe old age of 4 years &
7 months at which time he received a Christmas present of his first cowboy set
up (1960) attached. Compare to a similar pic of Gawie who is now aged some 61
years (2016) and is still going strong.
Gawie absolutely lives for his cowboy action shooting (and here I
thought that I was the one born a Century or so too late). A true gentleman
cowboy is Gawie, and I can only stare after him in absolute awe. Way-to-go Two Gun Kid ... May your legend live on
forever !!! |