Lincoln County Regulators

BILLY THE KID’S BREAKOUT

The Lincoln County Regulators‘ Second Annual “Billy the Kid‘s Breakout” was held at the Old West Town of Justice, located at the Ruidoso Gun Club Range on Hale Lake Road in Ruidoso Downs, NM, August 13 through 15. Hosted by the Ruidoso Gun Club, Inc. and sponsored by City Bank New Mexico, this three day Western extravaganza featured ten Cowboy Action Shooting stages based on the erstwhile adventures of Billy the Kid, along with a passel of side matches and lots of vittles.

The event opened for registration on Friday the Thirteenth at 1:00pm and the Side Matches began at 2:00pm. The events included the World’s Fastest Regulator competition, Speed Pistol and Speed Rifle contests and a fifty yard Long Range Rifle challenge for pistol caliber rifles. There was a Nail Drivin’ Shoot, too.

Also on Friday afternoon shooters enjoyed a four stage Wild Bunch Action Shooting match. Wild Bunch Action Shooting, the latest Single Action Shooting Society competition, is a combination of SASS Cowboy Action Shooting and Action Shooting and is based on the film, The Wild Bunch. The sport uses 1911 Pistols, Lever Action Rifles, and 1897 Pump Shotguns.

Registration closed at 5:30pm for a 6:30pm Pot Luck Dinner on the range. There was lots of food and socialization with the shooters.

The serious shooting started on Saturday when competitors gathered for the second annual Billy the Kid’s Breakout, “same history…new stages.“ Following a brief Opening Ceremony and safety briefing, competitors, armed with six guns, lever guns, and scatter guns, shot a total of ten Cowboy Action Shooting stages on both Saturday and Sunday, under the rules of the Single Action Shooting Society. Overall Trail Boss and Match Director for Billy the Kid’s Breakout was Lincoln County Regulator Special Constable John Steele, SASS # 82159 of Ruidoso, NM. Chief Scorekeeper, otherwise known as the crazy man in the closet with the computer, was Rowdy Lane, SASS # 82087 of Alto, NM. Shooting stages were designed by John Steele with scenarios based on the history of Billy the Kid by Sgt. Shuster, SASS #60835 of Ruidoso, NM. Shooters were assigned to five posses and all five shooting bays were in operation. The Posse Marshals were Dry Creek, SASS # 2755 of Brighton, CO, Texas Slim, SASS #92089 of Texas, Fast Hammer, SASS # 60707 of Las Cruces, NM, Mica McGuire, SASS #18526 of Albuquerque, NM and J.W. Brockey, SASS #57406 of Elephant Butte, NM.

Stage One took place when Billy made a deal with Governor Lew Wallace to submit to a token arrest and testify against Jimmy Dolan. When the District Attorney disregarded Wallace’s order to free Billy, the Kid and Tom O’Folliard slipped away on horses supplied by friends. The shooter had to say, “Get away from them horses!” and commence firing. The first stage was won by Mica McGuire followed by Pecos Cahill, SASS #75623 of Hermleigh, TX and Concho Bullet Bob, SASS #65613 of San Angelo, TX.

Stage Two recalled the Kid’s encounter with Joe Grant in a Fort Sumner bar. Grant, an obnoxious drunk who didn’t know he was playing poker with Billy, boasted that he would kill Billy the Kid if he ever met him. The Kid asked to see Grant’s pearl handled revolver, rotated the cylinder to an empty chamber and revaled his identity. When Grant fired nothing happened and Billy shot him. Shooters had to strt with a hand on a post, saying, “It’s a game for two and I got here first.“ Besting stage two was Texas Slim trailed closely by Mica McGuire and Grubstake Charlie, SASS #85065 of Albuquerque.

Billy was in a ranch house, surrounded by the posse on Stage Three. Hostages were exchanged but an accidental shoot outside caused the hostage inside to break through a window in an attempt to escape. The shooter stood in the doorway with a dummy and said, “This is easier than a window.“ The winner on stage three was Concho Bullet Bob with Mica McGuire in a close second and Rusty Cuffs, SASS #29137, from Texas, coming in third.

Stage Four took place at Stinking Springs when Billy and the gang were cornered by Pat Garrett’s posse. The lawmen began to cook breakfast in the morning and Pat invited Billy to surrender and join them. The gang soon surrendered and the Shooter, while sitting on a bench at the cabin, started with the line, “Hey Garrett, what’s for breakfast?“ The fourth stage was won by Grubstake Charlie, followed by Texas Slim and Albuquerque’s Texas Tiger, SASS #74829, all just one second apart.

John Tunstall’s men, who called themselves the Regulators, reported on Stage Five that Tunstall’s killers Morton and Baker had been shot trying to escape. They also killed one of their own named McCloskey, whom they suspected of being a traitor. The shooter had to start in the undertaker’s shack and say, “McCloskey was a traitor!“ Texas Slim triumphed over Mica McGuire by a fraction of a second on stage five with Concho Bullet Bob scoring third place.

Stage Six recounted the story of the shooting of the old buffalo hunter Buckshot Roberts at Blazer’s Mill. The shooter had to say, “You’ll never shoot another old buffalo, Buckshot!“ Stage six saw another hair’s breadth win by Texas Slim over Mica McGuire with Grubstake Charlie in third position.

Stage Seven recalled the iconic story of Billy’s escape from the Lincoln County Courthouse when he shot deputy James Bell, grabbed Robert Ollinger’s shotgun and waited at the upstairs window. When Bell appeared, Billy gave him both barrels. Like Billy, the shooter said, “Hello, Bob” and commenced firing with the shotgun. Grubstake Charlie took nearly a two second lead on stage seven to beat Texas Tiger in second and Anabelle Peacock, SASS #50114 of Tucson, AZ in third place.

The shooting stopped after seven stages, which gave the cowpokes time to ret up, gussy up and head for the catered barbecue brisket dinner on the range. Time was filled by thunder, lightening and rain which started immediately after the shooting ended and stopped right before dinner. Once again, the shooters and guests enjoyed a great meal and great camaraderie.

Competition resumed on Sunday morning with the last three stages.

Stage Eight recreated the ambush of sheriff Brady and his deputy. The Kid was shot in the thigh and the shooter started with the line, “That’s mighty close enough, Brady.” Mica McGuire succeeded in taking first place on stage eight followed by Pecos Cahill and Grubstake Charlie.

On Stage Nine, a posse made up of the Jessie Evans Gang and the Seven Rivers Warriors shot it out with Regulators at the Fritz ranch. The shooter began holding the reins at the windmill and saying, “I count more than seven of them Rivers Warriors!“ Stage nine was won by Texas Slim with Mica McGuire in second place and both Grubstake Charlie and Albuquerque’s Johnny Tucker, SASS #70852 tied for third.

On Stage Ten, the final stage, Billy barely escapes a midnight ambush at Fort Sumner and the shooter, seated in the wagon, shouts, “Whoa, mules” and pulls on the reins, setting a plate rack. The tenth stage saw Texas Slim beat Mica McGuire by less than a second with Texas Tiger scoring third.

After a break for lunch, the Awards Ceremony took place on the main street of the Old West Town of Justice.

Overall top shooter for Billy the Kid’s Breakout was Mica McGuire, followed by Pecos Cahill and Grubstake Charlie. Top lady shooter was Texas Tiger, trailed by Annabelle Peacock and Anna Pavlova, SASS # 57407 from Elephant Butte, NM. Taking first place among the Juniors was Capitan Regulator, SASS # 84262 of Capitan, NM and Mustang Jessi of Ruidoso, NM. The “Dead Last” Award was presented to Doc Lecter, SASS # 81609 of Ruidoso, NM because, well, someone just has to come in last.

Best in the age-based categories were Elder Statesman Texas Rooster, SASS #39957 of Montgomery, TX and Grand Dame Lawless Lori Sue, SASS # 80852 of Albuquerque; Silver Senior Johnny Tucker and Silver Senior Lady Alamosa Rosa, SASS #73820 of Fairacres, NM; Senior English Lyn and Senior Lady Anna Pavlova; 49er Grubstake Charlie and Lady 49er Annabelle Peacock; Wrangler Gunsmoke Cowboy, SASS # 84261 of Capitan, NM and Lady Wrangler Texas Tiger; Cowboy Mica McGuire; Buckaroo Capitan Regulator and Buckaroo Gal Mustang Jessi.

Tops in the costume categories were B Western Pecos Cahill and B Western Lady Lill McGill, SASS #92090, from Texas; Doc Baker, SASS #50032 of Las Cruces, NM was top Classic Cowboy.

Leading the smoke makers in Frontier Cartridge was Dead Last, SASS #65836 of Ruidoso, NM.

Standard categories were bested by Gunfighter Gunz Brokus, SASS # 63883 from Texas and Duelist Fast Hammer, with New Mexico’s Silver Senior Duelist El Viejo Cougero, SASS # 43155.

A new award was presented by the Lincoln County Regulators for the first time this year. The TEX Award For Exhibiting Exuberant and Enthusiastic Participation in the Grand Tradition of The Cowboy Way has been named in honor of Tex, SASS #4, one of the founders of SASS, a member of the Wild Bunch and the editor of the Cowboy Chronicle because, as Special Constable John Steele stated, “Nobody shoots a stage like Tex!” The winner of the 2010 TEX Award was Texas Slim.

The competitors were appreciative of the waddies, who did everything from parking cars and keeping score to passing out water and distributing bandages. Waddies included Alto, NM’s Kiowa Mike, SASS #81548, Frank Coe, SASS #81585 and Scarlett Lane, SASS #84914; Ruidoso, NM’s Sgt. Shuster, Miss Kitty Kaffeine, SASS #82174, Ginger Malloy, SASS #82160, Louisiana Slim, SASS #77390 and Colt McCord…as well as Lincoln County regulators friends and family members Sassy Frass, Helena Coe, Turtledove, Buckaroo Bob, Judith Gouch, Dani Midkiff, Sheila Rankin and Butch. The younger waddies included Bullwhip Steele, Bronc Stompin’ Brandon and Steele Smilin’.

Brass pickers included Kayden Traylor, and Christian and Forrest Sweat, all members of the Rockin’ H 4-H club and the Lincoln County Shooting Sports under the leadership of Gary Sweat and Kyle Traylor.

Next year’s Third Annual Billy The Kid’s Breakout will be based on the little-known history of Billy in the often overlooked Old West Town of Justice, with stages based on the diary entries and gumbo recipes of Mrs. Ima Lyer, wife of the late Judge Habitual T. Lyer and former president of the Ladies’ Chowder and Marching Society of Lincoln County, NM.
     Cowboy Action Shooting is a multifaceted amateur shooting sport in which contestants compete with firearms typical of those used in the taming of the Old West: single action revolvers; lever action rifles; and side by side double barreled, pre-1899 pump, or lever action shotguns. The shooting competition is staged in a unique, characterized, Old West style. Contestants shoot in several one-to-four gun stages in which they engage steel and/or cardboard targets. Scoring is based on accuracy and speed. The truly unique aspect of Cowboy Action Shooting is the requirement placed on authentic period or western screen dress. Each participant is required to adopt a shooting alias appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th century, or a Hollywood western star, and develop a costume accordingly. 
      The Lincoln County Regulators dress western, shoot western and never use their real names. It's the closest you can get to the Old West short of a time machine!   For information about the Lincoln County Regulators, call or email Lincoln County Regulator Special Constable John Steele at 937-3023 or JohnSteeleLCR@live.com