Ambush at Cavern Cove 2008

April 19, 2021

For any cowboy club that has been around for at least a dozen years or so, if you look back in their catalog of match themes, you are bound to come across Mel Brook's classic Blazing Saddles. Excuse me while I whip out the 2008 edition of Ambush at Cavern Cove shooter's book and tell you just a little bit about what happened in the town of Rock Ridge!

Held October 1-5, this year's match included a night shoot on October 2. The next morning, side matches started with Long Range Rifle Big Bore Lever Action, Long Range Rifle Pistol Caliber, Pocket Pistol/Derringer, Long Range Pistol, Long Range Rifle, Speed shotgun, Fastest 3 gun, Speed Pistol, and Speed rifle matches being offered. It must have been great to run a match back then with so many volunteers that you could have an offering of side matches that large. Now a days, we are lucky to get three or four people to volunteer for side matches. And, with folks preferring to shoot warm-up stages instead of side matches, you almost wonder when these speed side matches will be a thing of the past as well.

Following the tragic death of Bobcat Sparks in June, the club decided to dedicate the evening poker tournament in his honor as a fitting tribute to a great cowboy who always exhibited the Spirit of the Game, no matter the challenges he faced.

The main match format still included shooting six stages on Saturday and four on Sunday. The formal event, hosted on Saturday evening, included a wide range of costume awards. Remember, choose your costume category wisely!

Round count for this year's match included 100 pistol, 97 rifle, and 40+ shotgun.

Alas, this was also the eighth and final year of the Mystery Stage. There is a strange connection with the Mystery Stage at North Alabama. As much as folks lament that they miss the Mystery Stage and wish we brought it back, I proposed a match of noting but a selection of the very best of the Mystery Stages from Ambush back in April. You wouldn't believe the complaints that I received from those very same people!

With Sidekick deciding to take on a new challenge in the Gunfighter category, he was edged out by Tuff Stuff who took the 2008 Alabama State Championship.

So, when taking a historical look at anything that has lasted as long as Ambush, you can always see how it has morphed and changed over time. With this look at Ambush over the years, you can see that as well. In just a couple of days, we will crown new Alabama State Champions. If I don't see you at Shootout this weekend, I hope to see you this fall at Ambush or some other match soon...on The Firing Line.