2006 International Blowgun Tourney date set
Scheduled to participate this year -
"Old Wayne" Wilson of VA, current 10 meter World Record holder (198 out of 210 points);
Tinus Els of South Africa (former Long Distance record Holder, at 30 meters); Morikuni Matsumoto of Japan, former World Record holder at 10 meters with 194 points, and former World Record holder, Long Distance at 34 meters; current Long Distance World Record holder, Bruce Bell of NJ at 36 meters (for comparison - hit the goalpost with a football from the 40 yard line!);
author of "Pananandata Guide to Sport Blowguns", Dr. Mat Marinas, Sr.; chairman of the International Fukiyado Association, Dr. Hironori Higuchi; International Knife Thower Hall of Fame members, Joe "Brokenfeather" Darrah and Ken "Che Che Whitecloud" Pierce;
faculty advisor for the Hastings College competition sport blowgun team, Dr. Dan Wiley.
Reserve June 24th, 2006 on your calendar and come to the competition (details on the NSBA website). If you're into blowguns, these are the living legends of the sport. Come to compete, or just observe.
Registration required. Must be an NSBA member to compete in the Point 10 meter competition - and, as always ... NO FEES!
There will be 3 styles:
Standard 10 meter target
Long Distance target
Cherokee style Field target (like a biathlon ... run, shoot (score & retrieve darts) and repeat the process. 16 targets over a 3K course through the woods. Time and score determine the winner.
We'll also set up some "fun" shooting (blowgun tricks, as they are referred to in Japan) ... shoot at a spinning/swinging ball; the kids toy "hover blaster" (5 one inch diameter foam balls suspended on a column of air), the air pellet gun auto reset knock-down target modified for blowgun darts, a "skeet shoot" (again, a toy modifed from it's "nerf dart" origins); and a modified baby's crib mobile, using suspended 2.5 in. foam rubber balls that spin around (6 balls on the outside and one in the center. Center shot is 2 points, outside shots are one point.
The first Blowgun World Cup Games are scheduled for July, 2007 in France. We're hoping that the sport will be sanctioned as an Olympic event, at least in exhibition, for the 2016 games.