We have all been there. A competitor is shooting a stage and as the competitor engages the next target you see the un-taped holes from the previous competitor. As the RO, what do you do? As the competitor, what do you do? Let’s discuss how to handle this.
First, let’s examine the relevant rule, 9.1.4: Unrestored Targets – If, following completion of a course of fire by a previous competitor, one or more targets have not been properly patched or taped or if previously applied pasters have fallen off the target for the competitor being scored, the Range Officer must judge whether or not an accurate score can be determined. If there are extra scoring hits or questionable penalty hits thereon, and it is not obvious which hits were made by the competitor being scored, the affected competitor must be ordered to reshoot the course of fire. Reviewing previous score sheets is prohibited; targets must be scored as is, using the actual target as the basis for the scoring call.
When you read that rule, no where does it say to stop the competitor nor does it say it’s an automatic reshoot. It does say that the RO needs to use the evidence on the target to determine if an accurate score can be determined.
What does this mean if you are the competitor? First, don’t stop shooting the stage! Complete the stage. Why? Because if the RO can accurately score that target, you will get miss and failure to shoot at penalties for all the targets you did not shoot at when you stopped early. It is best to finish the stage in case the target can be scored. And no, the slight pause when you noticed the target was un-taped did not add 10 seconds to your stage time. The pause is not enough to get you a reshoot because there is no rule to support that.
What does this mean as a RO? Don’t stop the competitor and if a competitor stops mid-stage, just proceed with the range commands (e.g. “If you are finished…”). After completing the range commands, call out the time like normal and proceed with scoring the stage. When you come to the target that was un-taped, try to determine an accurate score. If all the hits are in the A-zone, score it 2 Alpha. If there are some hits in the A-zone and others in the C-zone, use things like caliber of the bullet holes, darkness of the grease ring, angle of the shots, etc. to see if you can determine which holes came from the competitor. Looking at the holes on another target can help with this. If you had a clear view of the target as it was being shot and know which holes were already there and know which hits came from the competitor, then you can use that knowledge to score the target. And, if a target is available from multiple shooting positions, and you are watching target engagement, did the competitor shoot the same target twice? If so, then you score the best 2 hits (or whatever the WSB specifies).
As the RO, if you can’t determine which holes came from the current competitor, don’t just score the best 2 hits. The correct answer (per 9.1.4 shown above) is to order a reshoot. How do you prevent this from happening again? Always make sure all the targets are restored before starting the next competitor. It only takes a few seconds to check the stage reset and minutes to reshoot a competitor.