Esheato,
Not to rain on your parade, but something you said made me want to ask some more questions...not to be a pain in the arse, but just FYI. According to the rules, you can't get bumped in classification just by winning matches and having the club officers decide to bump you up. There is a system that must be adhered to. Here's the relevant part of the LGB ("Little Green Book") that addresses this:
A shooter’s performance in state and national matches may also be used to re-evaluate their classification. If total participation in a specific classification within a division is 10 – 19 shooters, the winner of this class will automatically be promoted up to the next higher classification. If 20 – 29 shooters compete in this division/classification, both 1st and 2nd place competitors will be promoted, etc. Shooters must be classified in the division in which they compete in state and national championships.
According to the rules, say you were shooting as a SharpShooter (SS) in CDP in a State or National sanctioned match with no less than 10 other SharpShooters shooting CDP and you win. You would be automatically bumped up to Expert. But if there are less than 10 other shooters SS in CDP (they have to be your specific classification
and shooting in your division) or the match was not a State or National
sanctioned match, then you do not qualify to get bumped up.
Since, I believe, there is only one State match per state per year, your club officers may be in error in awarding classifications based on their own decisions. Winning at your local club does not qualify you to get bumped up in classification, as far as I understand it. Then again, I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the way it is.
The classification system is a national ranking, designed to place you against all other shooters in the country, not just those at your local club.
Sorry.
- Gabe
PS: Again, if I am mistaken, I apologize for complicating this...but I'm pretty sure this is correct.