From the Editors: We sincerely apologize to you and the organizers for a significant delay in publishing this report, as the competition took place on July 13th. This was due to technical and personnel issues. However, the competition itself is so noteworthy, and Logan provided such a detailed account of it, that it simply couldn't be omitted, even if it happened almost two months ago. Better late than never. Enjoy!
Before delving into our coverage, you need to ask yourself a very important question: do you prefer shooting or relaxing by the grill? Regardless of which is closer to your heart, Marcin Surowiec Memorial - Shoot with a Bredbasket will surely satisfy both the taste buds... and empty stomachs. Did you know that during this dynamic competition, you could risk choking? Magazines soaked in sausage juice kept slipping out of their pouches, and a bag of beers cans shakes your balance and confidence, forcing you to wonder internally: What am I even doing here...?
This is what it looked like during the next edition of the competition in question, prepared by the KVG Shooting Club (Kraków Valley Golf) with the generous support of the Tactical Breadbasket Owners Club and numerous sponsors. It took place on July 13th at the shooting range in Sławków (Silesian Voivodeship). The memorial commemorates the prematurely deceased Marcin Surowiec, a committed member of the KVG Shooting Club, whom friends remember with great fondness and whose dream was precisely this relaxed format of the competition.
Amidst the array of creativity and humor (a discounted entry fee for heavier competitors? Why not!), there were also serious elements. These included excitement, prizes, and strict adherence to safety regulations. Knowing the nature of the event from previous editions and knowing that it attracts a wide and diverse group of participants (not just in terms of BMI!), SHOOTING MEDIA and WMASG.com became patrons of the event.
From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the organizers had taken care of everything. They decided to cool the heated atmosphere by treating participants to a serious rainstorm before registration even began. The resulting muddy path made it easier to unify lower garments and footwear into a uniform, brown color. However, there were those for whom this wasn't enough. As every year, stylish outfits and evening wear were welcome: among the muddy attendees were sheriffs and cowgirls, Neighbors, guests from the Middle East, Oktoberfest enthusiasts, and even Obelix, a character straight out of a Gallic village!
Registration went smoothly, and within moments, over 40 competitors were able to begin competing in five demanding events. Well, except for one—for which the props first had to be properly prepared… on the grill. That's right—one of the Memorial's signature events was once again "Pistol Meat Seals." Participants competed on a straight track using centerfire pistols. The course had to be planned wisely, because between the first and last shot, the freshly prepared sausage would disappear from the plate. Strategies varied: meat in one hand and shooting with the other, meat in the mouth and shooting with both, running with the tray... Some savored it, others gorged themselves. There were even those who couldn't leave without an extra helping of ketchup.
Sausages – obviously. But what about vegetables? There were plenty of them... though not necessarily on the plate. In another competition, participants had to stop the vegetable invasion, demonstrate a clear head, and correctly recognize their friends. Broccoli and peppers crept in between targets depicting hamburgers, whiskey, and other delicacies serving as no-shoots. There was no time to waste – a shotgun and slug ammunition came to the rescue. Only such measures could stop "Too many vegetables."
Among the planned competitions, no one was surprised by the presence of "Lefthanded Magic" – a simulator of returning from a supermarket. Holding a bag of beer cans in one hand, the other, weaker, one was used to shoot at targets: paper, metal, ceramic – whatever came along. There was plenty of laughter, and the width of smiles on the competitors' faces was inversely proportional to the time it took to complete the course.
Participants also competed in the "Pistol Rainbow Warrior" and "Porky Hunting" competitions - drawing colored plates or shooting with rimfire rifle at pig targets had its charm, but it was closer to a typical shooting competition.
After a few hours, the competition was over. There was a lot of laughter, there was too much food, and there were minor hiccups, like subtle differences in the judges' interpretation of the course descriptions. However, nothing disturbed the friendly atmosphere. After the competition, the results were announced and the awards were presented. First, a special award for the highest BMI, then honorable mentions for the best outfits – women's and men's. Almost every competition had a different winner, although the versatility of Michał "Dominacja" Jakubowski, who most often stood on the podium, was impossible to miss. Kudos also goes to the sponsors who donated the prizes (GUNMONKEYstore, KHAKISHOP store, manufacturer of weapon optics Delta Optical) - each participant who stayed until the end despite the worsening weather returned home with a valuable gift.
We sincerely thank the organizers – the KVG Shooting Club and the Tactical Breadbasket Owners Club – for the opportunity to participate in this unique competition, from which no one returned hungry for excitement. See you there!
Photos: Weronika Świątkowska, Medard Starzycki
