DENTON HILL EAGLE EYE HISTORY

2fletch · August 02, 2009, 08:04:00 PM

Last year I had the good fortune of winning the "Eagle Eye" competition at Denton Hill. I ask Mike (junior) about some of the history of the event but he was not able to give much detail, as they did not have a written record. He did say that a women won it one year. I ask if he had a problem with my trying to develop a list of those who have won in past years. He said that would be great and that they may want to use that info.

If you know of anyone who has won in past years and what year they won, would you post that here or send it to me. You could even call at 919 563-2682. The info need is name, age at that time, and state of residence.

Here is what I know so far:

Ken Redding won this (2009)year, and I know that he has won at least one prior "Eagle Eye" event. I don't know his age or what state he is from.

I (Don Ward) won last year. I was 64years old, and I'm from North Carolina.

Any info at all will be welcome.

John Dill · August 02, 2009, 11:05:00 PM

I (John Dill)lost it this year(2009) I'm 34 years old and from NC :D

JimE.IV · August 02, 2009, 11:06:00 PM

I believe it started when Dan Mcmahon from Massachuttes and owner of the the now defunct McMahon Archery, won the competition at the IBO World Championships against compound shooters with a 21st Century Longbow and wood arrows.

It used to be to raise money for the Hunters Defense Fund. It was 1 arrow unknown distance with eliminations. I believe he won it with a 50 yard shot.

After that his archery company sponsored the "McMahon Eagle Eye" shoot at Denton Hill. When went out of business they dropped the McMahon name.

2fletch · August 03, 2009, 09:00:00 AM

Thanks Jim. I was not aware of that. For at least the last few years it's been a nonprofit event for St. Jude's Childrens hospital.

Do you know about what year Dan won this event, or when it started up at Denton Hill in it's current form?

I really like this kind of event. It's a little bit Robin Hoodish, and a good spectator event. It's also brings out the best and the worst by having to come up in front of a large crowd to shoot at an otherwise easy target. It's surprising how many good archers step up and miss everything. The fear of embarrasing themselves keeps a lot of people from participating.

gregg dudley · August 03, 2009, 09:08:00 AM

Please explain how this event works. I was talking to someone just yesterday who suggested we have a similar contest.

2fletch · August 03, 2009, 02:31:00 PM

Gregg, there are several opportuities to qualify. You can qualify at a tournament before ETAR or there at Denton Hill where you could qualify on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday morning. You qualify at a cost of $2.00/shot for each shot. The target is a 1.5 inch orange dot on the kill zone of a deer target. The distance is somewhere around 15-17 yards.

Last year there were 27 archers who qualified. The eliminator round started at 5:00PM. Each participant steps up to the stake when their name is called, and shoots at a 3 inch dot again on the kill zone of a deer target. After the first round only 3 people survived. After the second round, only 2 survived, and after the fourth round, only one.

It's a crowd pleaser and the tension can cause some normally good shooters to miss badly. One of the local clubs here in NC had an "Eagle Eye" last year after ETAR and it went well. This year there is another one scheduled. It could be a popular event. Just make the eliminator tough enough that you don't have too many qualifiers, but easy enough that you don't discourage everyone from trying.

Good Luck!

BEN · August 03, 2009, 03:26:00 PM

Ken Redding is from Ohio----I see him once in a while at Twig Archery's Friday night Trad shoots.....

BobW · August 03, 2009, 03:32:00 PM

Qualifying is also at the Sawmill shoot a few weeks before (also put on by the same group) .

Like you said, it is interesting seeing the guys "crack" when the stakes are high. My hat is off to those guys. Wouldn't like to be on the recieving end of their arrows. Thumbs up to all who have qualified over the years. It is quite a show to watch.

(oh yeah, wooden arrows only too)

BobW

Plug · August 03, 2009, 03:55:00 PM

I remember the year the woman won it she had a sight pin bracket on her bow with the pins taken off. There was a lot of noise made for her to remove the bracket. They didn't make her do it and she didn't volunteer either. Funny she would choose to remove several sight pins and have to reinstall them in the proper places when 2 screws would remove the whole mess.

SteveB · August 03, 2009, 04:11:00 PM

Great event.
It would draw far more participants (good for the charity) if they allowed you to use the same arrows you qualify with in the finals.

Steve

2fletch · August 03, 2009, 06:11:00 PM

Jamie Barker called and confirmed what Jim said. He said that Dan Mcmahon did win against compound shooters in an IBO Championship in 1994, which was the beginning of "Eagle Eye".

Also, he said that Ken Redding was from Ohio. I thought that Ken had said he was from Ohio but wasn't sure. He is a really nice guy and gave me encouragement in last years shoot.

Well, we have the beginning and then this years event. All we need now is all the years in between. Anyone know who the woman was and what year she won?

tippit · August 03, 2009, 08:58:00 PM

Ask Blue Monday, he used to shoot against Dan at quite a few events and up against compounders...Doc

gsdmikko · August 04, 2009, 01:35:00 PM

tippet,did blue monday used to shoot recurve also?..I remember shooting against a guy with his first name back then ( 94&95)..Jamie

2fletch · August 04, 2009, 01:38:00 PM

We have a name for 1994, then for 2008 and 2009. Now we need info on the those 13 years in between. There's got to be someone else with info on the "Eagle Eye" history.

1994 - Dan Mcmahon
1995 - ___________
....
....
....
....
....
....
2008 - Don Ward
2009 - Ken Redding

You can post here or call 919 563-2682

NYRON · August 04, 2009, 01:54:00 PM

This is of meager help, but it might jog someone's memory who can provide additional information. In the late 1990s I remember watching an older fellow win whith a Martin Bushmaster bow.

R.

macster · August 04, 2009, 05:02:00 PM

Jack Thompson won in 1996. He was 64 years old and shot a bushmaster longbow at 55 lbs. I myself qualified in 97 and 98, but didnt fare to well. I remember shooting against Keith Bain and Walter Lucki, former world champions from years back. I remember there being like 90-100 people qualifying in those years, with hundreds of spectators watching the final shoot off. I also remember a guy shooting a 95lb. Howard Hill longbow winning it in 97 or 98. Thompson won $2100.00 in cash, lots of arrows, and a 21rst century longbow to his specs.

2fletch · August 04, 2009, 10:49:00 PM

Wow! thanks Nyron and Macster. Now we have 4 out of 16. Hopefully someone else will help out with some of the blanks.

1994 - Dan Mcmahon
1995 - ___________
1996 - Jack Thompson-64yrs-55# Bushmaster longbow

2008 - Don Ward - 64yrs -47# Beeler longbow
2009 - Ken Redding - ___ - ________________

macster · August 05, 2009, 06:56:00 PM

I believe that 1996 was the first year they had it at ETAR.

2fletch · August 06, 2009, 09:14:00 AM

Macster, where was the 1994 Eagle Eye event held? Do you know the whereabouts of Dan Mcmahon? He probably would know more than most of us the history of the event.

gsdmikko · August 06, 2009, 04:22:00 PM

i know they had it at the Budweiser plant in Merrimac,NH in 94,that shoot was an I.B.O qualifier,part of the triple crown here in the northeast,That is where Dan won it if memory serves me right..I don,t remember the bow but remember he shot banana fletch wood arrows..do remember my buddy's wife got a tick on her on saturday that weekend there though..Hmmmmm,boy the things we remember at times..