Poll: "High Woman" awards

[dustinflint]

Silhouette is not a game that naturally favors men over women. In fact, some of the best shooters in the world are women. Some people feel that the High Woman award is redundant since it is very often the match winner. Some feel it's sexist as it implies that women are not as skilled as men. Some say it encourages more women to shoot. What do you think??

(For the purposes of this poll and discussion, please do not consider any NRA rules on the subject)

Dustin

[lijeboy]

While it's not required, it does encourage young female shooters to try the sport, in my opinion, and females are the minority by far at all matches. And if women attend the matches, so will guys. At the Oklahoma regional match this year, we have eliminated the High Senior award, because by far the majority of shooters are senior. In replacement for that award, we have added a special category (to be announced at the match) that will give more shooters an opportunity to win a trophy.

[Bob259]

I say yes, but in reality they usually take the Match Winner trophy home

[psteiger]

I don't think women should be allowed to shoot. Also I think children shouldn't be allowed either, Especially if their names are like, Elisabeth, Laura, Mallory, Anjelica, and especially Cathy. Nope. And if they are allowed to shoot, they only get 30 bullets for a 40 shot match..... I know Dustin, I still wouldn't move out of last place, but the trips home would be quieter.

[cslcAl]

I like the special category awards. However, with the high numbers of Seniors and the exceptional abilities of the ladies they are at times redundant.
I was recently at the Arizona State Cowboy match, an they handled these awards differently. If you were match winner or placed in your class, you were not eligible for the special category awards.
That's not a bad ideas as it gives more people a chance to get an award. I don't think the shooters who usually win these awards would mind sharing the wealth.
Al Foust

[twidpa]

Just offering a second way to think about this issue. I think if there is a Hi Lady (not woman or female for cripes sake), then maybe we should have a Hi Gentleman award. That way you always will give out two Hi whatever awards.
t

[AddictedToSB]

How about giving a "Male" and "Female" High Score Award? One of them would have the highest score in the match. If that's a woman, then a man gets the other award. And vice versa.

[GregG]

I don't think women should be allowed to shoot. Also I think children shouldn't be allowed either, Especially if their names are like, Elisabeth, Laura, Mallory, Anjelica, and especially Cathy. Nope. And if they are allowed to shoot, they only get 30 bullets for a 40 shot match..... I know Dustin, I still wouldn't move out of last place, but the trips home would be quieter.

Along with this thought all left handed people should have to shoot like normal people, right handed.

[psteiger]

Sure, but if I shot right handed, I'd have to buy all new scopes.

Seriously though, as a match director, I love giving awards. We give High Lefty, High man, and most importantly, IBDF Awards. We do this for fun. Yes, we do it seriously, but it's for FUN, and I love celebrating our victories, large and small. I actually beat Dustin once, his gun jammed, his scope fell off, the sun was in his eyes, it was windy, he didn't feel well, his wife went into labor, and work kept calling, but a victory is a victory.

[Evelio Mc Donald]

I agree with cslcAL At the beginning of the match all competitors should be ask to choose either open category or special category (High Woman, High Junior, High Senior ). I have been to several matches where the same individual was the overall match winner, and also High Woman, and High Junior.
The overall match winner even though they actually won the other categories should only take the Match winner price, and allow someone else to win the category price.
I have also been to matches where only one Lady was register and wins High Woman !!!!!!!!.
Also seen a High Master win a special category also. IF the High Woman is eliminated, the High Junior, and High Senior should also be eliminated, which would make it unfair to the Juniors.
The only real solution, is to still offer all categories, but make the competitors choose which one to compete on, so they be elegible to win only one price. I am pretty sure that a top shooter regardless of gender will choose the open category, and any Ladies or Juniors not considered top shooters will choose to compete in the special categories.
I hope I am making sense.
Evelio.

[GregG]

This is honestly a very touchy topic.... . Do we really want to go the route of a participation award? I shot so I won something. Awards should mean something and in Silhouette if you give out match winner, 1st 2nd...down the classes you can end up with lots and lots of money in trophies. Which in some cases trophies cannot be give out because the classes do not have a third shooter. Add now High woman, high senior, high super senior, it kind of get to a participation award.

For example does high super senior really mean anything when you might be the only high senior at the match?

However, everyone likes (or most) to get a remembrance of a match. I think what we have done here in the Houston area is a good alternative. I dollar store frame and a nice printed certificate of "High (fill in category or joke category)". Sorry this is better than the dog ribbons, I have received at some clubs. Also I like the pins Neu Braunsfel has give also.

[Innocent]

Dustin,
For years in all NRA matches, special category awards were offered to the highest in the category, and if that competitor chose the class award instead, then the category went to the next highest, this helped spread the awards and encourage all the shooters.
I have for the last few years succeeded in doing this in the Florida States and it has been popular.
Mary

[Jim Beckley]

I know at the state matches in Az they offer a High Resident award. The way it used to work is that if a resident won the Agg. The high res went to another shooter to spread out the awards. When this was given to me I always gave it to the SC or whoever shot above me if a res. Now they give it to whoever shoots the highest score. Now my gripe is that I'm a Junior and a Miner and I have yet to get an award in those classes!

[BrentD]

I guess we all have issues with how awards are given. I don't mine the high woman award. Doesn't bother me a bit.

But what I don't understand is how you can have high score in your class and not win it, if you place in the top 3 overall. If you are high master and win the whole match, you are high master, i.e., you win both. At least I think you should. But the NRA way would have you being only the match winner. Ditto if you are high AAA but place in the top 3 overall. It is odd to say, "I won my class", but Joe SoandSo beat me.

All in all, I don't worry about it much, but it ain't real linear thinking.

[dustinflint]

How about giving a "Male" and "Female" High Score Award? One of them would have the highest score in the match. If that's a woman, then a man gets the other award. And vice versa.

Do you think it's important to distinguish between the sexes?

Dustin