Irair Rodrigues and Cristiano Meira are competing together for three years

Respect, dedication, caring, fidelity… many different factors contribute to a healthy harmonious marriage. But for some men and women some extra “spice” is essential to keep a good relationship at home. And when Practical Shooting becomes a mutual interest, happiness seems to reign in the family environment.

Cristiano Meira and Irair Rodrigues together compete in the IPSC matches. They started the sport out of curiosity and common interest in shooting. They had found a course and guided by the instructor got really involved in it. From that day on there’s been no stopping for them.

- We train together, travel together, and grew in the sport together. In the end because of Shooting we spend more time together. Humans are competitive by nature and in our case competition begins at home. We’re always comparing results, analyzing what can be improved. We film most of our range shooting and watch together, criticize each other, give advice to each other – says Cristiano.

It’s pretty much the same with the American couple Rick and Sue VanBlaricum who have been competing in the USPSA (US Practical Shooting Association) since 2003. Sue was already married to Rick when she decided to go on a self-defense course. The coach Frank Garcia encouraged her to take up the sport. That was sufficient for them both to join Practical Shooting and enjoy the benefits of shooting together:

- We enjoy the shooting being a common interest. No matter what comes up during the week, we know that we will be shooting together on the weekend. There are never any complaints about the time or money needed to compete – says the couple.

The couple Sue and Rick: healthy rivalry in the sport

If some use passion at home to move ahead in the sport, it can be said that the opposite is also true. Tamara Auler is married to Eurico Auler, both shooters. But she believes that shooting was the key to their better home environment:

- Involvement in the sport was important for the marriage. We are more together now. We have a common aim, to give in and give more value to each other’s happiness. I now understand the pleasure of Practical Shooting and its financial costs. I understood that this pleasure very often is more important than the woman’s need to decorate the home. Before, I didn’t understand that – she says.

But of course it’s not all flowers and there is always a down side. In the case of Practical Shooting, Rick and Sue consider that the major problem is the financial expense. After all, there are two and the cost is always double. Cristiano however does not believe that there is a negative side but remembers jokes about his wife competing:

- Of course there are always jokes about losing to Irair, but we never take them seriously and everything turns out OK – he considers.

Man versus woman

Aulers competes in unity: Tamara, Erika and Eurico

It’s true that Practical Shooting is still a stereotyped sport because it’s mostly men who practice it. That’s why it’s important for couples to raise the flag in defense of women participating on the same level as men. That’s what Irair Rodrigues thinks. She recalls that shooting clubs have encouraged family participation and the result has been an increase, albeit small, in women’s participation.

The US parameter is slightly more encouraging. There are many more women in the sport although a minority in the competitions. Rick and Sue point out, however, that quite a few couples shoot together. “At most of our major matches there are probably 10-15 couples participating.

Although men are predominant in the IPSC competitions, they believe that there is no reason for women to stay away, since they manage to compete on a par with the men.

Cristiano Meira believes that men try to shoot fast and then think of the points, while women try to get her best rating and then, later, shoot faster. And he considers accuracy to be the prime focus in this sport.

- Physically there isn’t much difference between them. In general, women are much more perfectionist. That is why they worry more about the rules and getting points – says Irair Rodrigues, Cristiano’s wife.

Rick and Sue think along the same lines. While it seems that men have more athletic skills like strength and speed, women are good with mental skills involving focus and accuracy, essential for good results in shooting.

Certainly the Practical Shooting couples bring a family atmosphere with them that is a great stress reliever and aids relaxation and concentration during the matches. They’re also role models for competitors, adopting the essence of the sport: competition of course, but in a cordial, healthy and respectful way.