The 2009 End of Trail was held June 22 to 28 at Founders' Ranch, Edgewood, New Mexico, a mere 5.5 hours drive from Colorado Springs.  Seventeen members of the Colorado Cowboys attended the event, and also fellow shooters from other clubs in the area.

End of Trail is far more than a shooting competition.  It is an entertainment, a spectacle, a shopping experience, a chance to hone your skills and learn from (and shoot with) the best of the best.  What kinds of CAS shooters go to EOT?  All kinds, all ages, all skill levels, from all over the world - yep, even from Texas.  There were teams from Australia, Canada, France and Italy, too.

Why would a relatively new shooter compete at EOT?  "After all," says he or she, "I have no chance of winning anything."  But you sure can learn a lot shooting next to the likes of Holy Terror or Sage Chick or Badlands Bud, Evil Roy or Badlands Drifter - or any of a hundred excellent competitors you will see there.  With a hundred or so vendors, one can fill out an outfit, dress for that Victorian Ball, buy guns (and have them shipped home to an FFL), have your guns slicked up by a top cowboy gunsmith, admire Peaches O'Day's Mae West routine, buy gunleather, take lessons at SASS U., watch the Can-Can dancers, enjoy fun shooting stages, listen to good music and enjoy the myriad shows and entertainments that are all included in your entry fee.

I highly recommend attending as a competitor rather than as a conventioneer, regardless of your skill level.  I have done it both ways, and when I was a conventioneer I sure wished I was shooting all 12 stages!  After all, it is a leisurely 4 stages per day, with plenty of time to rest up and enjoy the various shows.

I would, however, recommend taking the Range Officer I course before going, just so one is conversant with the rules.  Not necessary, just a good idea whether you go to EOT or not.

NOW I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE COLORADO COWBOYS WHO ATTENDED THIS YEAR'S GRAND EVENT:

ROSITA GAMBLER ****** WORLD CHAMPION!!!!!   ELDER STATESMAN

LIGHTNING CAT ****** SECOND PLACE TROPHY -- DUELIST

CALICO CASS ****** 3RD PLACE TROPHY -- LADIES' FRONTIER CARTRIDGE

KITTY CARBINE ****** 6TH PLACE BUCKLE -- LADIES' 49ER

CAT TRACKER ****** 6TH PLACE BUCKLE -- B WESTERN

COBRA CAT ****** 6TH PLACE BUCKLE -- COWBOY

KIOWA KID ****** 6TH PLACE BUCKLE -- FRONTIER CARTRIDGE

EL GATO GORDO ****** 6TH PLACE BUCKLE -- FRONTIER CARTRIDGE DUELIST

BIG DAVE ****** 9TH PLACE BUCKLE -- DUELIST

WT SLICK CLEMENTS ****** 9TH PLACE BUCKLE -- SENIOR

FEARLESS FRED ****** 10TH PLACE BUCKLE -- SILVER SENIOR

MOUNTAIN MENACE ****** 21ST -- WRANGLER

BILL MUNNY ****** 23RD -- SENIOR

I would also like to mention Colonel McCabe, who attended as a conventioneer, and, though I didn't see them, South Park and Bailey Belle!

Some fellow Front Range CAS shooters with whom we occassionally shoot:

JOSEPHINE BOUCHET ***** 4TH PLACE BUCKLE -- CLASSIC COWGIRL

ASPEN FILLY ***** 4TH PLACE BUCKLE -- LADIES' B WESTERN

BAT MASTERSON ***** 8TH PLACE BUCKLE - CLASSIC COWBOY

LADY JUSTICE ***** 8TH PLACE BUCKLE -- LADIES' 49ER

CUTTER SCHOFIELD ***** 10TH PLACE BUCKLE -- DUELIST

LUTHER JUSTICE ***** 12TH PLACE -- SENIOR

ASPEN WRANGLER ***** 12TH PLACE -- B WESTERN

Those of you who didn't attend this year's EOT sure missed a great time!  Make your plans for next year!