First of all I would like to wish a belated “Happy New Year” to all my little range rider rug rats out there in cowboy action fantasy land.

I’ve been given to understand that we have web site readers as far away as Pueblo Arizona Territory in the U.S. of A. Thank you for your kind feedback, it’s very much appreciated. Fame at last! (And there’s me thinking my prose only got read on toilet walls!)

So here we are in a New Year which has a flavour of two James Bonds - Two double o seven, 2007 get it? Ah well suit your sullen selves!

However quickly moving on… we held our first Cowboy Action Shoot of the new year on Saturday the 13th of January which I might add was well attended. It was a somewhat overcast day with rain threatning but it didn’t arrive, until we dismantled all the steel targets, and props etc at the end of the shoot.

So all those fair weather, fast fisted, fearless frontiersmen who have fought hurricaines, slid along greased lighting, chewed on nails and hard tack, but who’s mummies were worried that the grass might be a wee bit damp, need not have concerned themselves. (We were even shooting in shirtsleeves.) So if you purchased new pistols or gunrigs, or dare I say it, acquired new motor cars, you could have used said toys.

It makes me wonder just how the old west was ever won if the weather beaten, grizzled, old steely-eyed scout with his hat pulled firmly on his head, had turned to the wagon master who was heading the Oregon bound wagon train, and spat out those immortal words “I cant get away to lead you today my mummy won't let me!” Right, with that off my pigeon chest I must say it was a day of thrills and spills, fun and frolics plus bangs and clangs. Two new hard arsed honchos appeared over the horizon to participate in their first Cowboy Action Shoot. The likes of Bullet Bob that’s Stumpy`s son and a pistoleero who went by the handle of Jack D a man short on words but long on pictures. Both these heavy hombres have cut down many a cardboard cut out in their time and sent them to that great recycling hacienda in the sky. Both dudes wore smiles so big and so wide that I thought it was an ivory hunt. Yes they enjoyed themselves.

Fashion Flash… ”Slick Vic” the Irish Ranger is fast becoming a fashion icon. Seen sporting a brand new pair of leather chaps, these must have set him back a few supermarket bonus points. Plus, my little desert dribblers, he was also wearing a real fancy double gun rig. Rumour has it that he has some compromising pictures of a well-known person and a rather attractive sheep. And that’s where he got the money. But there again it’s only a rumour and what do I know?

The preacher was there in his other alter ego, Grizzly Adams and man did he look every inch the butch mountain man! Adorned with those twin black powder hoglegs, shooting those babies sure created a lot of hog-heavenly, smoky fun.

Meanwhile my little pistol packing peccadillo’s, word has it that a number of our fellow amigos will be acquiring single action firearms, which will be nice.

I grudgingly have to say congratulations to Cold Steel for wining the competition **** *** well done. Once again a big thank you goes to the Duke for R.Oing the proceedings. (“We are not worthy o mighty one”).

So remember my little western wanderers that the next Cowboy Action Shoot will be on Saturday March the 3rd. (Mothers permitting).

Till we meet again Happy Trails

The Tombstone Kid.