They Came Out Smoking
It was Napoleon who said that “an army travels on its stomach.”
If the army that descended on Windwalker Farms ever were pressed into duty on the field of battle, not only would it be formidable—with 300 under arms, and a high incidence of marksmen—but it’d be well-fed, too, with a regiment of ace barbecue chefs manning the cookware.
The 300 shooters who stepped up to the mark at Windwalker on June 29 set a record for participation in the Permian Basin Petroleum Association’s annual Clay Shoot—by a long shot. This year’s contingent topped last year’s field by some 133 shooters—more than half again as many competitors as last year. The accompanying PBPA Pit Challenge experienced a comparably strong surge in participation—which just meant more good eats to go around to all those hungry shotgunners.
Organizers called the turnout “incredible.” When the smoke cleared, these were the winners of the Clay Shoot:
Morning Rotation (only 1 course):
1st Place: Brandon Bredemeyer, Danny Denson, George Kiker and Malcom Rainwater: 387
2nd Place: Perry Echols, Tommy Montgomery, Danny Peugh, Jim Smith: 371
3rd Place: Sean Crabtree, David Garza, Kirby Garza, Billy Raumbaugh: 351
Afternoon Rotation / Green Course:
1st Place: Buddy Geib, Frankie Keller, Jr., Shane Louder, Mark Saulsbury: 376
2nd Place: Danny Brock, Andy Iverson, Dewaine White, Andrew Wilson: 367
3rd Place: Randy Foster, Terry Foster, Cody Seth, Mike Smith: 341
Afternoon Rotation / Yellow Course:
1st Place: Trey Clede, Ruben Clemence, Pete Jennings, Byron Reed: 327
2nd Place: Hector Cantu, Levi Davenport, Shane Prochnow, Brian White: 321
3rd Place: Barry Crumrine, Jordan Crumrine, Dana Harris, Sean Jordan: 319
All participants who placed received classy gun sleeves embroidered with a recognition of their competitive placings.
High Overall: Jeff Phillips, Bandera Drilling. Jeff shot a perfect 100 and received a $500 Visa Gift Card.
Gun Boards and their winners:
Kimber .45 Custom II: Mike Grey with Peak Permian, LLC
Kimber .45 Custom II: Rusty Buchanan with Salute Resources
Smith & Wesson M&P .223: Aaron Clements with Hess Corp
On the culinary side, competition was equally strong. This event is the only BBQ Pit Challenge that is held in the oil and gas industry and the winner is voted on by the industry. The registered shooters are the judges. Last year, Gary Fulton won but this year didn’t reclaim his title. Greene’s Energy Group out of Lafayette, La., took the honors of 2012 Oil Patch Pit Kings. They took away a traveling trophy and aprons that declare them as the 2012 winners. The competition was extremely close. A total of 280 votes were cast and the top places were separated by no more than 10 votes separated each contestant. Winning 2nd place was Directional Drilling Company (DDC), while 3rd went to Universal Pressure Pumping.
The door prize of a three-day, three-night all-inclusive dove hunt to La Dormida in Cordoba, Argentina, went to Daniel Mooney with Enstream Capital Management.
The live auction for the same trip went to Seth Sawyer with Cudd Energy Services.
There were 38 various prizes awarded, so dozens went home with something nice. PBPA thanks its Safety Sponsors—Select Energy Services—for providing cool-down stations. Thanks go to Globe Energy Services for providing the water truck for dust and fire control.
There were many others lending a hand or supplying resources. The outpouring of help and support was what made the event the huge success it was.
PBPA especially thanks the good people of Bandera Drilling, Cambrian Management, Development Resources, Embroidico, Garrett Consulting, J.W. Mulloy, and WindWalker Farms for donating employees to assist at the shoot.
The food was, as so many said, “Amazing!”The companies who cooked were:
Directional Drilling Company- Bacon Wrapped Quail/Chicken and Beef
Anchor Drilling – Poppers/Steak Kabobs
Universal Pressure Pumping – Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Milford Pipe Supply – Baby Back Ribs
Light Tower Rentals – Baby Back Ribs
Greene’s Energy Group – Fried Fish & Potatoes
Team Sponsors
The “Platinum Level” sponsors included the following:
Bandera Drilling Basic Energy Services Cambrian Management LTD.
Concho Resources Cudd Energy Services Directional Drilling Company
ExL Petroleum Globe Energy Services Green’s Energy Group
Swift Worldwide Resources Teryita Corporation Triumph Exp.
The “Station Level: Sponsors included:
Byrd Oilfield Services EC Tool McClure Oil
Rig Up Services, LLC Selman & Associates LLC Venture Mud
The “Driller Level” Sponsors:
Blue Line Drilling JMR Industries, LTD.
“Floorhand” Level:
Eland Energy JTD Resources, LLC Lea Land
Maclaskey Oilfield Services Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development
Backpack Sponsors:
Cargill Inc.
Five States Energy Capital
Prize Sponsors
Basic Energy Services Citibank, NA Globe Energy Services
Green’s Energy Group Halliburton Operating Co. Henry Resources
Snowmass Energy Southwest Proppants & Services Western National Bank
Volunteers
Bandera Drilling Cambrian Management Development Resources
Embroidico Garrett Consulting J.W. Mulloy
Weatherford
