JULY 2016
Photo: Paul Harrison Pictured: Simon Wright, Arms of Old
Welcome to FAN UK magazine! Field Archery News UK is your NEW! online magazine covering all aspects of the wonderful sport of field archery in all its forms - bringing together individuals, clubs, archery societies, fans, suppliers, products and more! The aim of FAN UK magazine is to cover as many aspects of field archery and give archers of the UK and worldwide the chance to share their news, shoot dates, shoot reports, articles of interest, club and archery history, targets, rounds, bow styles, equipment, achievements, views and inputs. We aim to bring all versions of field archery together in one place to celebrate and promote our sport, while also providing a central location for clubs to share their events and contact details and suppliers to share their products with archers. FAN UK magazine will be published bi-monthly after this, our launch edition, on the website. To sign up for alerts then please complete the Subscription Form on the website and you will be the first to know when the current edition is out! If you would like to contribute - be it shoot reports, club contacts, event calendar inclusions or other articles we would be delighted to hear from you! Please email: [email protected] to do so. A word from the editor: Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to encourage field archery across the board to come together and celebrate our sport. I cannot express my thanks strongly enough to those who have already contributed, supported and encouraged this idea of mine - it has been quite a whirlwind and I can only hope that it continues to grow. For the love of field archery and the field archery family is why I wanted to do this and from the kindness shown thus far, I know I have made absolutely the right decision! Thank you and enjoy (I hope!!) - Hels. The Editor reserves the right to edit any submissions received. 3
5 - 7 Del the Cat’s “Bowyer’s Diary” … 35 Pines Park Archers 22/05/2016 the story so far by Derek Hutchison 36 - 37 NFAS Shooting Styles: Primitive (PV) 8 The 100 Yard Field Archery Club by Stuart Moody 05/06/2016 38 “What is EFAA?” I hear you say… by Lofty Rooke & Broadland Bowmen 9 Field Archery site for the disabled 39 Toad Hollow Archers 10th Anniversary by David Sturgess shoot info/entry form 10 - 11 “The Rounds Round-Up” 40 - 42 Druids Field Archers Summer Solstice by FAN UK magazine 18/06/2016 & 19/06/2016 12 - 13 Jack Belcher, the British Howard Hill 43 WORD SEARCH by Peter McGiffen 44 - 45 Azincourt Archers: 600 Year Anniversary 14 QUIZ TIME! Tribute by OH Boyd 16 About the Cartoonist & Cartoon 46 - 47 Apollo & Raven Field Archers Southern Champs info/entry form 18 Draig Goch Welsh National Champs 48 - 49 Gary Hart: my early years Information 52 - 53 South Cheshire Field Archers 08/05/2016 19 REVIEW: Fairbow Rebel 54 - 55 Wild Geese North Yorkshire Challenge 20 - 21 Azincourt and Crecy by OH Boyd 22/05/2016 22 A short history of Muttley Crew Archers 56 Sheron Vowden’s “Spirit of Field Archers” 23 20th South West Challenge Entry Info/ #1 & #2 Form 58 Whitefriars Bowmen 10/04/2016 26 - 27 Stacey’s Mountain Trike 2016 59 Sheron Vowden’s “Spirit of Field Archers” #3 60 - 61 Bowmen of Bude Predator & Prey 28 - 29 Elmtree Archers 12/06/2016 10/04/2016 30 - 31 “Field Archery Crossbow” 61 Clayton Woodsmen 22/05/2016 by Nigel Lavender 62 Severn Valley Yeoman Foresters 24/04/2016 34 Labyrinth Archers Medieval Shoot Info
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The 100 Yard Field Archery Club Open Shoot 5th June 2016 by Rich Pearson, Club Secretary. This was the first shoot run in over a year by the club and for their course layers this was the first course they had set, so we were please when we attracted a good number of archers (55 in total). The weather was ideal for being out in the woods but the bright sunlight created dappled shade making it a challenge to judge distance. We got lots of feedback on the course laying, most of it complimentary! Thanks to everyone in the club who pitched in to help, especially Gary and Nix who were kept busy all day providing food and drink for everyone. Finally thank you all for attending, we are not the largest club and don't have the largest wood but we hope the course entertained you. We hope to run another shoot later on this year, keep an eye on the FAN UK and NFAS sites for more details. Here are the scores: Gents AFB Club Score /Spots Ladies AFB Club Score /Spots Richard Wright Butsfield Bowmen 514 4 Lana Lensselink Albion 296 2 Roly Bee Phoenix 434 2 Rachel Kenny Cobra (2 x 20s) 256 0 Colin Hall Butsfield Bowmen 430 1 Kay Blanchard Cobra (1 x 20) 256 0 Jason Wynne Cobra 352 2 Cub Boy AFB Neil Weldrick Independent 324 0 Luke Wynne Cobra 530 3 Mick Stansfield Independent 254 2 Ladies HT Gents HT Jean Horwood Riggwelter 354 1 Simon Clarke Cobra 508 1 Ann-Marie McMillan Black Sheep 272 0 John Hall Cobra 394 2 Chrissie Bratton Toft Hill 268 1 Nigel Bratton Toft Hill 364 1 Ruth Hanlon Cobra 268 0 Malcolm Stanley Regent 364 0 Cub Boy HT Peter Barratt Pride Park 350 2 Rohan Clarke Cobra 388 1 Gents BB Ladies BB Rob West Pines Park 550 3 Maureen West Pines Park 500 2 M Brookes Cobra 478 2 J Brookes Cobra 404 1 Adrian Blanchard Cobra 454 3 Junior Girl BB Chris Smedley Independent 370 0 L Brookes Cobra 408 0 Andy Hubbert Black Sheep 314 0 Lucy Hubbert Black Sheep 380 0 M Patchett Black Sheep 288 0 Ladies UL Gents UL Michelle Betton Butsfield Bowmen 634 4 Mark Hanson Black Sheep 724 14 Katie Fletcher Black Sheep 604 4 Ivan Swift Independent 710 12 Jannine Swift Independent 520 4 Darren Heron Butsfield Bowmen 698 10 Junior Girls Unlimited John Whitehead Cobra 670 10 Anaya Heron Butsfield Bowmen 494 2 Lee Gardecki Black Sheep 668 7 Gents CL Colin Waller Greenman Archers 666 8 Steve Brown Woodend 680 9 Alan Paver Woodend 618 6 Gents LB Tony Collier Independent 460 2 Richard Waters Albion 432 3 Ladies LB Grot Independent 356 1 Sue Fenyn Albion 348 3 Dennis Wilcockson Regent 344 0 Gents PV Ken Ward Regent 270 0 Paul Bailey Albion 400 0 Brian Hannan Cobra 252 0 Gents FS Gents XB Richard Thompson Miller Bowmen 523 3 John Thompson Miller Bowmen 592 5 Cliff Kirkman Harlequin 700 10 N/C (N/C = Non-Competitive) 8
We’re very lucky to share the delights of field archery. Annual club membership costs no more than This was the first shoot run in over a year by the club and for their course layers about £35, and a day’s attendance at an Open Shoot costs just £7. Target archery has become a major sport for disabled people but field archery remains inaccessible to the disabled in UK. There is no field archery course in the UK that is fully accessible to the disabled. but the bright sunlight created dappled shade making it a challenge to judge TV coverage of the Paralympics demonstrated how disabled people benefit from archery and deliver astonishing results. The greatest exponent of disabled archery is arguably Matt Stutsman, the American archer who was born with no arms. He has won Olympic medals and holds the world record for the longest, most accurate shot – beating any able-bodied archer. Matt took up the sport because he was determined to match the efforts of his able-bodied siblings to shoot their hunting bows. He’s now one of more than 350 people, including all the UK’s disabled archery elite, who want to see a field archery course in the UK that is fully accessible to the disabled. That’s what a number of us are trying to create. This aim is not limited to any one group of the UK’s archery community. Our active supporters include senior figures from the NFAS, Archery GB and EFAA. What do we need? It’s a simple fact that the UK now has a great many field-archery clubs and courses: but those courses are laid out in woodland settings that are impossible for most disabled archers. Some clubs have done their best to make a number of targets accessible to the disabled, but we have yet to match other countries in providing a field archery course that is fully accessible to the disabled. I’ve seen how carriage-driving can transform the lives of disabled people, and I know that access to field archery could deliver similar results. Returning military veterans, with so vast an array of injuries, are discovering the therapeutic benefit of archery; so it’s down to us field archers to make that happen. How can we do that? We just need to find a woodland site that lends itself to a good field-archery course, and is sufficiently flat - with easy vehicle access and parking – to make it accessible to archers in wheelchairs. Once that woodland site has been found there will be funding issues to provide the surface preparations, the course equipment, etc. But there are funders who are as eager as me to deliver the UK’s first field archery course that is fully accessible to the disabled. Sport England, for example, has the provision of sporting facilities for the disabled as a high priority. Members of the NFAS, Archery GB and EFAA are fully familiar with their own courses and will know of other woodland sites in their area. Somehow we have to break through this barrier for the many disabled people, including military veterans, who want to share our joy of field archery. If you want to see the hunger for this aim, just visit or join the Facebook group - “Field Archery for the Disabled”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1504472109809270/ We tried, and failed, to buy a flat woodland site in Somerset. We secured potential funding from Sport England and the support of our district council but this was a competitive sale, and we could not meet the sales agent’s short-scale deadline. If anyone reading this can identify a potential site that could become the UK’s first field archery course that is fully accessible to the disabled, there might be ample funds available to help make that happen. Our earlier efforts have also revealed a huge pool of support – including the military, which has a strong interest in archery, and a strong interest in delivering the therapeutic benefits of field archery for injured veterans. You’re a field archer, so you know what’s involved and you know your local club and your local area. Do shout if you can think of a club or woodland site that could become the UK’s first field archery course that is accessible to the disabled. By David Sturgess. 9
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Jack Belcher, the British Howard Hill: by Peter McGiffen of Sabden Fold Archers. Whenever I have a look into the fantastic things going on in the traditional archery world I sometimes think that some of Britain's archery heroes go unsung. I know that Jim Belcher has sung his father's praises in different forums like the American based Traditional Archery Society, I just wanted to round up a few thoughts and quotes about Jack Belcher and share them in one place here with the all field archers who may well have known him better than I did. I didn't want to take any liberties, so got Jim's blessing to repost his words and add those from a few others that knew Jack better than me. I had the good fortune to meet him some 30 years ago before my passion for archery really grew. My brother and I were the proud owners of one of Jack's reconditioned flatbows. He taught us how to shoot it, showed us his workshop and mentioned some of his shooting exploits with some modesty. That's how I remember Jack, a patient, modest man with an obvious gift for archery. Little did I know what a legend he was in the world of archery in the UK. This is a picture from back in the mid-80s when I knew Jack and his sons, Jim and Roger. As a 'Johnny come lately' returner to the archery scene I never knew some of the legends that Jack made friendships with in his rich career in archery. People like Roy King (pictured 2nd from right) who made a name for himself as the English longbow expert, who has also sadly passed away. I knew that back then in the 1980s, before he emigrated to the colonies, Jim was a passionate and skilled archer like his father Jack. Below are a couple more shots of Jack and Jim up on the moors in Lancashire shooting the famous 'Union Jack' American Longbows (the second picture is the one you are greeted with on the homepage of Sabden Fold Archers, the last Field Archery Club Jack was president of). Now I would like to share some of Jim's words about his father to give you a flavour of the man and his work … “In 1959 England, my dad - Jack Belcher - won a kids bow at the county fair … that's when it all began. After reading the book ‘Hunting the Hard Way’, my dad, Jack Belcher, wanted a Howard Hill Longbow. You just couldn’t get them in England in 1964. There wasn’t Internet like there is today. Because he couldn’t get his hands on a Howard Hill, he got together with a bow maker named Les Howis of Marksman for pointers and materials to make his own. My dad made it on a flat former because he didn’t know it was supposed to be reflexed, like Howard made his. And so, between the months of September and October 1964, what I now call the Union Jack was born. Dad was only so-so happy with it at first. He changed the depth of the core, the taper, the width – and after quite a number of revamps, it became the bow it is today. When first making his longbow, my dad used split Tonkin cane, which he believed was the way to go at the time. He got it from carpet manufacturers, who were using it for the centre of carpet rolls. Tonkin cane isn’t very big, and 12
he used to split it by hand, glue them together to make transverse laminations, and put it in the bows. For many years after creating his first longbow, my dad and many others in the UK shot the bow he now called The Sagittarian Longbow – his birth sign. In the ‘70s, Rex Oaks had my dad make them for his shop in Hampton Court London. The demand soon swamped dad on top of his own orders, so he taught Rex how to build them. Rex then called it The Sagittarius Longbow, which is still being made in England today. For a reason I never got some of Britain's archery heroes go unsung. I know that Jim Belcher has sung his father's praises in explanation for, he dropped the Sagittarian name and called it The Phantom and put a Union Jack flag on it, an which he made pretty much until his death in 2010. When I started building the Union Jack over here, I named it for him. Because the Union Jack is built on a flat former, it always follows the string. And that is why the Union Jack shoots like it does: because it is a natural string follow bow. People make a big deal about string follow now, but the Union Jack has always had that. We don’t build it in; we let it naturally follow the string itself. Not only does it not lose the speed, it has little, if any, hand shock at all. Without really knowing how Howard made his bows, my dad built a sweet shooting bow. I have yet to see or shoot any other better, no matter what you do with it. It never made any sense to me to make a deflex version of it – just let the limbs naturally follow the string. We used to shoot against recurves with the Union Jacks because there was no longbow class, just laminated bows and wood arrows. We would always come in either first, second, or third against the recurves with our bows. People think it’s a disadvantage to shoot the American Longbow, but it’s not at all. They are a simple shooting bow – to shoot it well, you just have to enter into the spirit of it. Otherwise, you’ll struggle. So after 50 years of continuous manufacture, the Union Jack is still my go to bow. Jack was a fantastic archer and Master Bowyer, 1927 -- 2010.” Jim Belcher Jim talks about how Jack brushed shoulders with other archery archery really grew. My brother and I were the proud owners of one of Jack's reconditioned flatbows. legends and if you go to his Sky Archery site you can look at Jim's collection of photos which show Jack with several of these archery legends. When Jack sadly passed away his loss was keenly felt in the archery fraternity in the UK. There were many moving tributes paid to him on the UK's Field Archery boards, some of them I'll briefly quote here - Ian Horrocks, then Secretary of Sabden Fold Archers, said: \"It is with great sadness that I post the following: Jack Belcher, bowyer and archer of 50+ years sadly died today ... Jack was very well known among the NFAS community originally shooting with the Rossendale Archers, and latterly being Club President of Seedfield Archers before forming Sabden Fold Archers ... Jack was the Club President. Jack was a Great Bowyer with many people using his bows down through the years, and I believe that he was one of the first if not the first to bring the Howard Hill style AFB to Britain.\" Geoff McSweeney, Secretary of Seedfield Archers, added: \"After knowing Jack for the past 15 years and personally owning many bows hand crafted by the great man, he will be sadly missed by myself and ‘Hunting the Hard Way’, all at Seedfield Archers. Condolences to his family and all the archery 'friends' that have had the grace to know Jack.\" named Les Howis of Marksman for pointers and materials to make his own. These are moving testaments to a great man, his loss felt by those that knew him personally. be reflexed, like Howard made his. And so, between the months of September has an obvious legacy, not least the work carried He on by his son Jim Belcher whose bows are held in as high regard as those made by his father. It is great to see that the Belcher bows continue to be praised and regarded highly. When first making his longbow, my dad used split Tonkin cane, which he Jack, and Jim, I salute you both! 13
* Q u i z T i m e ! * Can you unscramble the anagrams to identify these items of archery equipment? 1. R e c l i n i n g T r e e s 2. A C o b S e w 3. O l d F i r e d 4. A t B i g F e r n 5. A C a f é P r e p 6. A D r i f t S k i i t 7. M r S l i v e r C u b e 8. A r e A r k R o w 9. A E r a s e d L i e 10. A c t B i t t e r U p
The flight of an arrow has fascinated me from my earliest days. Some primal instinct is triggered by the elegant trajectory of a silent arrow as it arcs through the air and smacks into its target. Now we are ‘civilised’ the target is paper, 2D or 3D but it is not hard to understand our ancestors’ excitement in the bow hunt and why the bow was a universal weapon. My first longbow was a worn out Jaques, bought from a junk shop when I was fourteen years of age. That was in 1954. I had spent several weeks watching the local archery club shooting; an old grizzled archer noticed my interest and offered to let me try his bow…..I was hooked. The old archer said something that I have never forgotten…”listen lad, archery is like sex, better to be doing it yourself than watching someone else do it”……a profound statement to a fourteen year old. The Jaques was followed by a second hand Slazenger flat bow which broke rather spectacularly; I still have the marks on my neck! And, joy of joys, my first new one piece recurve bow, also a Slazenger, with money from my first month’s pay packet. I still have that bow and it still bends and shoots, to the amusement of my club members. A brief period of attraction to the bells and whistles associated with the modern recurve led me back to my first love – the English longbow. I discovered Field Shooting late in life and how I love it, just can’t get enough, it must be the latent hunter instincts rising to the surface. My club, Scarborough Archers, acquired its own shooting grounds two years ago after years of being shunted round various sports grounds since 1934. AND the area has its own small woodland which is now an eighteen 3D target field shoot for club members. The shoot has been so successful Scarborough Archers now has a club within a club, Scarborian Field Archers with a membership approaching thirty, seniors and juniors with nine full members of the NFAS. I’m now the grizzled old archer but I avoid using the risqué simile when dealing with our juniors. Sixty years of archery and I still get a thrill from hearing the thrum of a string and the sight of a perfectly released arrow arcing to its target. CHG June 2016 16
The flight of an arrow has fascinated me from my earliest days. Some primal instinct is The old archer said something that I have never forgotten…”listen lad, archery is like sex, The Jaques was followed by a second hand Slazenger flat bow which broke rather spectacularly; I still have the marks on my neck! And, joy of joys, my first new one piece The view at South Hams
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A bow which is charming and tough at the same time. Striking at the bow, I’m to try out, is the cadmium red belly. Different and chic! The wood mirror of the back is also a feast for the eyes: beautifully accented bamboo. The shape of the bow appears at first a challenge for hand setting: the grip is simply straight. The only concession to comfort seems to be the soft leather cover on the handpiece ......... until you shoot it! Hand shock, which you would be expecting with this type of bow, is conspicuous by its absence. This bow has very narrow tips, which reduces the hand shock explicitly! I can certainly appreciate this charming gesture of a flatbow. Include of course the facts that I unconsciously had turned my bow hand somewhat more vertical and I never squeeze in the grip. As a new owner of the Fairbow Rebel you might just have to get used to the little trick of the hand hold. I have shot quite a few bows, but never before has it struck me the ‘hard hitting’ of the arrows with this bow. The heavy wooden arrows (450 grains ) do have a lower speed, but at the same time a much heavier impact than I'm used to. Four hundred and fifty grains arrows is what this bow with it’s fifty-five pounds definitely needs: 10 grains per pound. The arch has Bo-Tuff glass laminate: strengthened by glass fibres. Built up with bamboo laminate (probably with a special pith) veneer of yew-tree on one side. The grip is walnut, as I mentioned before: right-to-the-point, as we know from the Howard Hill bows. The tips have a horn layer. The bow is suitable for Fast Flight string. I have enjoyed shooting for three weeks exclusively this Rebel. The supplied carbon arrows I left for what they are; wooden arrows show their full advantage with this flatbow. It might just be my bow; very tempted! J. van Rossum, The Netherlands. 19
Last year, 2015, was an important year for archers as it was the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. To celebrate we - as a party of friends - went to shoot at a special competition involving the four villages involved in that conflict. The battlefield is essentially a rectangle with a village at each corner: Azincourt, Tramecourt, Maisoncelles and Rousenville. Called the Battle of Agincourt because when in the midst of the battlefield afterwards the king looked around enquiring, \"Where are we? \" The nearest and only visible landmark was the castle at Azincourt and the King duly declared that this battle shall henceforth be known as the battle of Agincourt. This year, not being quite so significant date-wise, over two days of competition we shot in two villages: Tramecourt and Azincourt in lovely sunshine, though it seemed as though the rest of France was awash with rain. We shot at static targets and clout (shooting at long distance to a flag), always enjoyable to archers, shooting from a line in volleys controlled by the Marshall. This makes us feel very much at one with the archers of previous times. Our retinue, the Bowmen of Ware, shot really well and came away with first, second and fourth places, thus keeping the reputation of English archers intact. More importantly, the feeling of camaraderie between all archers, English or French, was truly reinforced. The weekend also coincided with celebrations of processions and brass bands over the weekend for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the area from the Nazis in a later and more recent conflict. There were huge parades of world war two vehicles and enactors celebrating the event. We as mediaeval archers gave our salutes to the cavalcade which were well received. On the Friday we went to the battlefield at Crecy some 30 minutes away by car and were welcomed at the memorial tower by the deputy mayor. We were invited to shoot to the flag in an adjoining field, the mayor and press joining us there. Such was the atmosphere of the day that we shot for most of it, picnicking in a beautiful area laid aside for the purpose and enjoying being in such a historic spot, remembering the significance of Edward lll's tactical victory 20
victory using archers so effectively at that battle, again, with the English greatly outnumbered. An aspect that I find to be pleasingly refreshing is that the French are very proud of their heritage, but then we have to remember that in Last year, 2015, was an important year for archers as it was the 600th anniversary of the those days the shared intention was for to be all went to shoot at a special gathered under one crown either English or French; that is always what conflict and warfare are about, Saluting the cavalcade territory and with it, power and control. France in those days was a series of ill sitting Duchys and not all were allied or united with the king of France, ruler of the house of Valois. England being seen by the French as a Duchy of France, France seen by the English as being part of the kingdom. These Duchys were in and out of contention and the English often allied with the dissenters, so it was never just a straight fight between the whole of France and England but more a question of different and varying factions forming tenuous and fickle alliances around the Kings for their own purposes. These machinations lasted for 100 years and became known as the hundred year war. The complications of historical French and English blood relationships are the reason for the legitimate (and valid) English entitlement to the crown, added to that was the legacy of Eleonora, wife of Henry ll, daughter and heir of King William X and Queen to King Louis Vll of France and after Louis death, to Henry ll of England. Mother of Richard the Lionheart and King John the Bad, her lands and title to Aquitaine came to Henry upon their marriage giving what archers, shooting from a line in volleys controlled by the was an expansion of his legitimate claim to the French crown, cemented with the birth of his first son, Richard. Because of the confusion around the Duchys, it took a powerful King and a fundamentally decisive victory in battle to draw it all together, Henry V did just that at well and came away with first, second and fourth places, Azincourt; however he died too soon to make it effective, leaving the crown to an infant thus keeping the reputation of English archers intact. son and allowing the rising of France again under the rallying of Joan of Arc. The advantage More importantly, the feeling of camaraderie between all thus being lost. So really we have much history in common with the French but they seem to be more aware of it than we are and I am very pleased with this attitude of companionship which, whatever happens in the next few weeks, can only be a good thing that we are all Europeans now, especially after such bloody conflicts that has prevailed throughout Europe for these hundreds recent conflict. There were huge parades of world war two vehicles and enactors of years until only recent times. celebrating the event. We as mediaeval archers gave our salutes to the cavalcade which It was a very enjoyable and exciting weekend, rather different in scale to the celebrations last year but the intimacy made the event more personal and special. A bit of a bumpy sea but safely home before 9PM thoroughly washed out, but then most of us are in our 70s anyway but still wanting, (and nearly capable) of further adventures. OH Boyd Bowmen of Ware www.ohboyd.com 21
A short history of Muttley Crew Archers… Muttley crew archers were formed in the early months of 2014 following a split from another club by 4 or 5 members (seems to happen a lot). However those members have now moved away from field archery, leaving the original coaching team (Graham and Clare Akeroyd) and new committee members, (Geoff Weldon:- Field Officer. Martin Reeves:- Chairman ) to maintain stability for the club. We currently have 65 members, ranging from 5 years of age up to 70 years of age, with an average of 12 members actively participating in NFAS open shoots and our coach team taking on EFAA Shoots at home and abroad. In the 2 years of having a shoot ground we have held 10 open NFAS shoots and Lancashire League shoots. Unfortunately our host shoot ground owners have new development plans in place, and our sport does not fit in with their plans. We are currently searching for another wood within the St. Helens catchment area, as at June 2016 we are optimistic about 2 possible locations, so it is fingers crossed at this time. If we secure a wood in the next few months we should be in a position to host more shoots in 2017. We are fortunate to have a local farm (Inglenook farm) that we rent a modern barn from, and this accommodates practice evenings for 3 nights of the week along with a field that gives us an 80 yard or so of range. Our coaching team of Graham and Clare Akeroyd, assisted by member Tony Mc Connel have been coaching new members, non stop for the past 12 month. The standard of the signed off archers is a compliment to the coaching team, it is a consistent standard, with the NFAS coaching criteria being followed to the book. With the lack of a wood at the moment, Delamere Field Archers (formerly South Cheshire Field Archers) have given us the use of their wood to carry out the final sign off of beginners. Our thanks go to Tony Boone. Most of our members have come through word of mouth, website or the few have a go days we have held. We are fortunate to be in a residential area of the country, hence the interest we have received. Looking to the future, we are very keen to obtain a new wood and set to work to get back in full operation. For further information please take a look at our website www.muttleyarchers.co.uk and our Facebook page, “Muttley Crew sports team”. You can also contact Geoff on 07796253871 for any questions you may have. 22
Muttley crew archers were formed in the early months of 2014 following a split from another club by leaving the original coaching team (Graham and Clare Akeroyd) and new committee members, We currently have 65 members, ranging from 5 years of age up to 70 years of age, with an average of fit in with their plans. We are currently searching for another wood within the St. Helens catchment area, We are fortunate to have a local farm (Inglenook farm) that we rent a modern barn from, and this accommodates practice evenings for 3 nights of the week along with a field that gives us an 80 yard coaching team, it is a consistent standard, with the NFAS coaching criteria being followed to the book. With the lack of a wood at the moment, Delamere Field Archers (formerly South Cheshire Field Archers) Most of our members have come through word of mouth, website or the few have a go days we have held. 23
“Stacey is a full-time wheelchair user that refuses to let her disability define who she is, she's the love of my life and when we're out shooting in the woods together it's fantastic.” Mark Service Mark has been shooting for about 3 years at his local field archery club (Broadland Bowmen in Norwich). After much pestering from Mark to give it a go (and being fed up with being an archery widow!) Stacey said she'd think about it ... then one Saturday, last October, Mark was in Clickers archery shop and noticed a small compound bow and sent a picture of it to Stacey. She came to have a look (she was still thinking about trying out archery) - 3 hours later we left the shop with a bow!!! (pictured right) Then came the fun of shooting in the woods. We're lucky at Broadland Bowmen as we have a 14 target EFAA course which is set in mature woodland and Stacey can get round it with help from Mark. Then Stacey tried shooting at 3Ds and loved it, so we approached a couple of clubs that Mark thought she’d be able to get around in the wheelchair. Stacey has shot at Kings Lynn Field Archers and Stacey at Oakwood Bowmen at Oakwood Bowmen so far and this is when we decided that a more aggressive all terrain wheelchair would be better, so after lots of research online we found the Mountain Trike and, even better, there was a place in Norwich for her to try it out. Needless to say, she loved it and it definitely would help with getting around the woods (amongst many other things like walking our 2 dogs and some- thing that we've never been able to do in our 10 years together without a great deal of effort - go for a romantic walks on the beach!! So after deciding that Stacey (and Mark) would benefit from 26
a Mountain Trike we looked into getting one. The total cost, with a couple of adaptations that are needed, is around £5000; and as we've just got married we can’t afford it yet. A friend then said about funding websites, so we started raising money via https://gogetfunding.com/mountain- trike-lets-make-staceys-life-easier . It's going well at the moment with many donations; a friend’s teenage son (Joshua Slack-Dunsmuir) even shaved off his precious hair to raise money!. archery widow!) Stacey said she'd think about it ... then one Saturday, last October, Archery clubs have donated and have put out donation buckets at shoots. it to Stacey. She came to have a look (she was still thinking about trying out archery) We've had a custom leather quiver donated for us to sell. It's been fantastic the way archers that we have never met have been so generous. To find out more about Stacey’s Mountain Trike 2016 and the fundraising efforts you can visit the Facebook page on the following URL: https://m.facebook.com/StaceysMountainTrike2016/ Stacey has shot at Kings Lynn Field Archers and If you would like to help by donating at Oakwood Bowmen so far and this is when we then please visit the “Go Get Funding” decided that a more aggressive all terrain link above - thank you! online we found the Mountain Trike and, even Mark & Stacey would like so say an ENORMOUS THANK YOU to EVERYONE that is and has supported them so far, we shall keep you updated … Stacey out-shooting Mark! (right) go for a romantic walks on the beach!! So after Stacey with the NFAS President, Trish Jones (left) 27
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Photos by Jason Quinn 29
by Nigel Lavender. The three questions I’m always asked when I tell people I own and shoot crossbows is “Aren’t they illegal?”, “Don’t you need a licence?” and “Can you hunt with it?” Well the answers are all in the negative – they are definitely legal (to anyone over age 18), no licence is required and as you are probably aware hunting with bows and crossbows is illegal in the UK. This of course limits their use but every weekend a large number of crossbow enthusiasts, not to mention hundreds of archers shooting conventional bows of all classes, can be found roaming woods and fields the Me & the Excalibur Ibex length and breadth of the UK as part of the National Field Archery Society (NFAS). An annual membership costs only £20 and all it takes is to find a club local to you, arrange for a coaching session and equipment inspection with the club’s appointed and qualified coach and when he or she signs you off and you arrange your club membership then the fun can begin! Not all clubs cater for crossbows but I’m lucky in that my club, King’s Lynn Field Archers, is one that welcomes arbalists (one who shoots a crossbow) with open arms. I also have conventional bows to shoot at clubs where crossbows aren’t allowed and also as a member of my target archery club. Even within the NFAS there are strict rules on what crossbows can be used – any poundage draw weight is allowed but the crossbow must be ‘cocked’ by hand (no cocking aids such as a cocking ropes are allowed), the arrow speed must not exceed 300fps and only recurve type crossbows are allowed not compound design. My main bow is currently an Excalibur Ibex SMF which is a Canadian hunting recurve crossbow of 175lb draw weight. Arrow speed specification for the Ibex is given as 305fps so I am on the limits for competitions but an arrow can be slowed by varying the weight of the points used or the grain of the arrow shaft. Most clubs meet on a Sunday morning, a few on Saturdays, to allow their members to shoot at a variety of targets. There are always a few practice butts set out so you can warm up both yourself and your arrows before setting out on the course. At KLFA our targets are mostly 3Ds – life size rubber targets of animals and birds made by an increasing number of manufacturers. Each target has marked on it an inner and an outer ‘kill’ zone. Some clubs use or mix in 2Ds with 3Ds – these are pictorial animal targets again with the kill zones marked on. These kill zones are appropriate to where you would be aiming for a kill if you were actually hunting live game. The different zones The Ibex’s are worth varying points depending on which of RealTree the three arrows per target allowed you hit the making 3D with i.e. first arrow in an inner kill is called a it blend in well ‘pro-kill’ and is worth 24 points, outer 20 points and if you hit the 3D but not in the kill that 30
counts as a ‘wound’ and is worth 16 points. The point tallies drop if you have to use your second or third arrow and you move forward onto a peg closer to the target. Two or three times a year clubs will stage an ‘Open’ competition. This is where members from other clubs can register and visit to enjoy shooting different courses, meeting up with old friends and eating plenty of bacon butties before the shoot commences! KLFA currently shoot in a disused quarry and on a very frosty March Sunday morning I arranged to meet Steve, a fellow club member and long bow archer who was going to purchase a crossbow from me and then shoot round with me so I could show him the ropes. The bow was Canadian bow meets Canada goose for a pro kill a 150lb Petron which I’d bought simply to see if crossbows were for me and now he planned to use it to do the same. We arrived at the club, studied the board to see what targets were to be set out and on what pegs, grabbed a 3D animal from the container and then set out to lay the course. When that was done it was back to the ‘club house’ and then we were off. We managed three rounds that morning of the 12 or so targets that had been set out, a competition open shoot will Field Archery Society (NFAS). An annual membership costs only £20 and all it takes is to find a club take all day and is, depending on the time of year (yes we shoot all local to you, arrange for a coaching session and equipment inspection with the club’s appointed year round!), can be from 20 to 36 or even 40 targets. In the NFAS and qualified coach and when he or she signs you off and you arrange your club membership then none of the distances are marked so it takes skill to judge how far the shoot will be. Shots aren’t in a straight line either like target Not all clubs cater for crossbows but I’m lucky in that my club, King’s Lynn Field Archers, is one that archery – that morning we were shooting, amongst others, down onto a 3D fox, across a pond at a deer at roughly 55 yards, vertically down at a rat from about 2 yards and through a narrow band of trees at a crocodile just about to ‘slip’ into another stretch of allowed but the crossbow must be ‘cocked’ by hand (no cocking aids such as a cocking ropes are water. Not to mention the two suspended/flying mallards! First allowed), the arrow speed must not exceed 300fps and only recurve type crossbows are allowed not round Steve found the crossbow took some getting used to but by the second round he’d found his range and did a very impressive 50 yard shot at my nemesis, the ‘standing bear’. I finally nailed it on the third round much to my delight. I might have been using my regular crossbow but I was breaking some new to me arrows, Gold Tip Swift Pros. I have also upgraded my bow since my last of targets. There are always a few practice butts set out so you can warm up both yourself and your competition by replacing the Exacilbur’s own brand Vari-Scope with a Hawke XB scope. I tell you, a beautiful sunny spring Sunday Finally, my nemesis - morning and when you, bow, scope and arrows all gel…it’s the standing bear! Not bad at 55 yds! a great feeling! All the targets cleared away, a last walk of the course to make sure there’s nothing left behind, a final cup of tea and swapping of the morning’s high (or low – there can you would be aiming for a kill if you were be a lot of tree/arrow interfacing going on!) lights and then home chilled and relaxed as only a morning’s hunting can leave you. Even if the prey has been made out of rubber! For more information on the NFAS or to find your local club visit their website: www.nfas.net . Steve and those flying mallards 31
Labyrinth Archers invite you to A Medieval Field Shoot on Sunday 3rd July 2016 10am prompt start 2 x 18 targets on a heraldic/medieval theme Wooden Arrow Classes Only (PV, LB, AFB and HT) Fees for those in medieval costume: SENIORS 6gns ~ JUNIORS/CUBS 3gns For those not in costume: SENIORS 10gns ~ JUNIORS/CUBS 5gns Catering provided by the Ladies of Poltimore House Entries to Lynne: 07868 348923 DIRECTIONS TO POLTIMORE HOUSE, EX4 0AU - From Junction 29 of the M5, take main route towards City Centre, at first major junction/roundabout turn right. Continue over two smaller roundabouts and continue 600 yards to next traffic lights, turn right onto B3181 towards Broadclyst, go through Pinhoe and turn left into grounds of Poltimore House. From Junction 28 of the M5, go into Collumpton and turn left onto B3181, stay on this road through Broadclyst and turn right just after going over M5 overbridge, follow as above. Please park only where directed. 34
towards City Centre, at first major junction/roundabout turn right. Continue over two smaller
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Well, it’s the ENGLISH FIELD ARCHERY ASSOCIATION and has been around for over 20 years. It’s field archery on a marked course of 28 targets shot from marked distance pegs in the forest or woodland. It is shot all year round and has many courses around the country, including Scotland, Wales and Ireland so there is an EFAA course near you. The main thing to remember about the classifications - which are normally held on a Sunday morning - is not to compete against other archers but against yourself; this helps you improve as an archer as you try and improve your scores each time you shoot. There are several types of classification from field target to hunter, forester and marked big game and international and even marked 3D. The scoring is simple as well - working from the outside to the spot it is 3,4,5. You shoot 4 arrows at each target and then total your score. At BROADLAND BOWMEN we have a mature woodland course of 14 targets which you go around twice, stopping for the mandatory lunch break in between. The courses can be shot during the week as they are permanent so you can practice as much as you want; this not only improves your score but also your form and aim will all come together. The archers are the same as all archers are - a great bunch of folk from all walks of life who enjoy the sport whether you are a traditional or compound archer. So, if you would like to know more about EFAA then please visit the website to find a club near you! http://www.efaafieldarcher.com/ by EFAA rep Lofty Rooke and Broadland Bowmen
With a small band of like-minded fellow archers, Toad Hollow Archers was started in 2006 by Ian, Brenda, and Jay Bolton and a few like-minded friends. Who would have thought that putting their first August bank holiday shoot with borrowed targets on the Devon/Cornwall border would lead to the date being a firm fixture in the NFAS diary with visitors from all over the country? Toad Hollow have also been responsible for the renowned fort shoots and setting two courses for the 3D championships, all with still a small, but perfectly formed, team. th Now Toad Hollow are proud to present their 10 anniversary NFAS bank holiday th th shoot on the 27 and 28 August 2016. Bookings are going well so if you would like It’s field archery on a marked course of 28 targets shot from marked distance pegs in the forest to book in please visit the Toad Hollow website www.toadhollowarchers.org to book or woodland. It is shot all year round and has many courses around the country, including in and prepay. We are going to try and make it a humdinger of a shoot. ‘King Toad’ Ian has grand designs involving wood and Paul has been horsing around with an idea that he’s been itching to try for months. There will also be water involved… The location is in the middle of delightful Devon, less than 20 minutes from junction 31 of the M5 and two minutes from the A30. Camping will be available on site with water, payable locally. A two course evening meal will be available on Saturday night, payable on Saturday morning, at £7.50 per adult and £5 for children aged 14 and under, menu nearer the time. The usual on course catering will also be available with (among all the usual fantastic fare) bread pudding, black pudding, and smiles! Toad Hollow Archers - Tenth Anniversary Shoot th th 27 and 28 August 2016 **PREPAY ONLY** Livestock on site therefore dogs are welcome at the shoot but must be kept on a lead at all times including when camping £7 per day per adult, £3.50 per day per junior, cubs free PayPal available through Toad website: www.toadhollowarchers.org or cheques payable to Toad Hollow Archers and sent to: Juliet and Paul Harrison, 67 Sycamore Avenue, Bishopsmead, Tavistock PL19 9NL So, if you would like to know more about EFAA then please visit the website to find a club Name...........................................................................Style……………................................................ . Gender/Cub/ Junior...................................Club………............................................................................ Phone.........................................................Email…………………………………………………………… Name...........................................................................Style……………................................................ . Gender/Cub/ Junior...................................Club………............................................................................ Phone.........................................................Email…………………………………………………………… Name...........................................................................Style……………................................................ . Gender/Cub/ Junior...................................Club………............................................................................ 39
~ DRUIDS FIELD ARCHERS Summer Solstice Shoot ~ th th Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 June 2016 So another 12 months have passed and time again for Druids Field Archers Summer Solstice Shoot. Shopping list done: new marquee, new catering equipment, new Field Officers, Check! So New Marquee erected (after deciphering the instructions), Catering equipped to the eyeballs and Field Officers having set a challenging but fair course the archers start arriving on mass Friday, which means only one thing, time to let the Black Rat and Doombar start flowing. Saturday Morning after a full English breakfast 160 archers from all corners of the UK walked out to 40 well set targets, the weather stayed dry and the food on the course kept them all going. Saturday evening 70 archers sat down to a mixed grill of gammon, chops, steak, cheesy potatoes, mixed veg & salad followed by sponge, apple and custard or gateaux all washed down with more Black Rat, Doombar red and white wine. Then the fun began, starting with Keith marshal and his guitar and then well into the night with Phil Maher singing everyone onto the dance floor. Sunday Morning and another full English breakfast before 160 archers walked out to a freshly changed course and some slightly more challenging shots. The weather held off until the last archers got back for the raffle (with a surprise £25 Archery shop voucher taped to the bottom of a tin of soup). The presentation was then held awarding the winners with one of our exceptional trophies. Thank you to all the catering team, Field officers and members that helped throughout the weekend and before and a big thank you to all the archers that attended, you are after all the reason why we do it each year. Also a big thank you to all the archers who donated their loose change over the weekend in aid of Stacey Service and her Mountain Trike - £343:00 was given, well done. So see you all and some new faces same time, same place next year - Scott Dingley, Druids Field Archers Chairman. GENTS XB Club Day 1 Day 2 Total Spots Graham Eldridge Thatado 878 834 1712 41 Simon Wright Arms of Old 836 832 1668 33 James Rigler Ballands 814 824 1638 34 John Thompson Miller Bowmen 820 778 1598 28 Paul Provins Hartspring 744 754 1498 13 LADIES XB Sheron Vowden Ashcombe 746 694 1440 13 GENTS PV Ian Watkins Windrush 562 548 1110 5 John Burthom Independent 468 478 946 3 Martin Ward Windrush 428 402 830 2 Stuart Fuller Longbow Heritage 392 376 768 4 Fred Wentworth Westcott 398 348 746 0 Andy Neville Fleet Ibex 342 268 610 1 Steve Devlin Highcross 462 0 462 1 Mick Pearce Longbow Heritage 326 0 326 0 LADIES PV LADIES LB Maureen Burthom Independent 388 464 852 1 Karen Freeman Co of 60 546 512 1058 5 Lyn Dickason Spirit o’Green Man 340 260 600 0 Sandra Anderson Longbow Heritage 498 526 1024 4 Carolyn Neville Fleet Ibex 278 294 572 0 Carol Pearce Longbow Heritage 516 500 1016 1 JUN BOY LB Pauline Wells Ballands 394 448 842 2 Jasper Kewley Windwhistle 472 396 868 3 Julie Hawkes Longbow Heritage 410 392 802 1 GENTS FS Wendy Young DW Longbow 424 320 744 3 Chris Pleasants Ballands 772 790 1562 21 Bela De Freitas Black Eagle 288 276 564 1 David Howell Independent 768 774 1542 26 Georgina Thompson HNA 210 216 426 0 Scott Stanbury Artemis 740 710 1450 15 Lorraine Miles Fleet Ibex 382 0 382 0 Colin Vaughan-Jackson Ballands 686 678 1364 8 Chrissy Reeves Braden Forest 0 288 288 1 Andrew Rycroft Independent 668 686 1354 12 GENTS LB Richard Thompson Miller Bowmen 694 632 1326 10 David Holt South Wilts 632 586 1218 3 Steve Munnings Independent 670 592 1262 3 Mark Tarbuck DW Longbow 538 612 1150 9 Terry Wentworth Westcott 574 552 1126 9 Graham Anderson Buckland 576 552 1128 4 Albert Hibbert Independent 602 522 1124 8 Steve Blake South Wilts 584 504 1088 2 LADIES FS Graham Radford HNA 574 502 1076 4 Penny Kennedy Lamberts Castle 710 728 1438 10 David Smith Independent 552 512 1064 6 Linda Keen Independent 698 652 1350 8 Michael Ashington Longbow Heritage 558 502 1060 2 Sonya Ward Ballands 690 650 1340 9 Mark Teulon Thornbury 580 466 1046 3 Angela Keen Independent 532 490 1022 2 Nadeem Shabir KNTA 536 488 1024 2 Penny Cox Ballands 624 0 624 4 Adam Browning Aurora 548 468 1016 0 JUN BOY HT Patrick Hutchinson N. Somerset 502 488 990 2 Max Bishop Thornbury 0 466 466 2 John Kewley Windwhistle 542 440 982 3 CUB BOY HT Clifford Davis KNTA 480 488 968 2 Adam Simms Windrush 388 0 388 0 Andrew Hooker Purbeck Archers 456 480 936 3 40
GENTS LB continued Philip Stratton Longbow Heritage 440 464 904 3 Simon Masters N. Somerset 514 382 896 4 David Framingham Regent Archers 394 496 890 4 Simon Maple Belvedere 434 410 844 3 new marquee, new catering equipment, new Field Officers, Check! So New Marquee erected (after deciphering the Andrew Weekes Muttley Crew 422 384 806 1 Graham Ellerker Regent Archers 326 360 686 2 John Hodgeson Purbeck Archers 336 300 636 1 Paul Knight Independent 0 478 478 0 Simon Hall Longbow Heritage 280 174 454 2 Hector Cole Braden Forest 0 448 448 1 Paul Briggs Raven 368 0 368 2 Brian Briggs Raven 304 0 304 1 Jasper Kewley Windwhistle 472 396 868 3 LADIES HT GENTS HT Dian Kirby Independent 564 562 1126 3 Steve Hepburn Hawk 650 628 1278 8 Cherry Wilden Hawk 528 476 1004 2 Steve Hipgrave Thatado 628 630 1258 5 Anita Gibson Arms of Old 508 490 998 4 Mike List South Wilts 588 646 1234 7 Gail Sullivan Independent 440 412 852 0 Neil Bishop Thornbury 632 556 1188 6 Mary Lynn Frome Valley 358 390 748 0 Alan White South Wilts 574 572 1146 4 Lucy Gilbert Windwhistle 244 326 570 2 Charlie Taillard Ashcombe 564 556 1120 1 Helena Monteiro Longbow Heritage 354 0 354 1 Ben Hearne Excaliber 608 508 1116 3 Steven Taylor Arlesford 554 554 1108 4 Gary Thompson HNA 576 528 1104 3 Alan Trim Ballands 566 516 1082 3 Steve Lynn Frome Valley 496 534 1030 3 Kenn Duffield Purbeck Archers 522 502 1024 4 Brian Hector Belvedere 502 470 972 3 John Cappello Belvedere 464 454 918 4 Gordon Waldie Independent 442 398 840 2 Carl Dallison Belvedere 0 606 606 2 Terry Rendle Magna Carta 0 522 522 1 Jason Brown Purbeck Archers 458 0 458 4 Lee Brice Windwhistle 0 440 440 1 Martin Powell Belvedere 0 363 363 1 LADIES CU Celeste Batten Artemis 706 772 1478 17 GENTS CU Ali Stone Apollo 706 676 1382 9 Steve Howe Orion 846 830 1676 19 Nicky Lock Elmtree 634 546 1180 3 Trevor Vanstone Elmtree 794 828 1622 30 Dee Brownless Fleet Ibex 451 588 1039 3 Wayne Fletcher Oaktree 816 792 1608 27 GENTS CL Shaun Eldridge Thatado 784 782 1566 20 Pete Bullock South Wilts 820 782 1602 22 Kevin Rowitt South Wilts 784 744 1528 18 Ken Penrose Green Meadow 728 782 1510 20 Roger Ball Oaktree 748 768 1516 17 Tony Cox South Hams 700 654 1354 9 Chris Fulgoni Severnhampton F. 754 732 1486 17 LADIES CL Donald Munro Tavistock 732 706 1438 14 Rae Gulliver Independent 682 670 1352 8 Dion Cook-Martin Elmtree 686 672 1358 8 Karen Critchley Spirit of Sherwood 674 624 1298 7 Mike Penrose Thornbury 0 812 812 16 Shirley Donald Spirit of Sherwood 586 612 1198 6 Adam Valvoec BM of Warminster 746 0 746 6 Adele Simms Windrush 624 0 624 2 GENTS BH Lesley Wason Independent 0 614 614 6 Tony Young South Hams 698 710 1408 12 GENTS BB Peter Morgan Cloth of Gold 682 686 1368 9 Pete Dixon Apollo 676 704 1380 13 Phil Maher Independent 672 660 1332 10 Dave Jeffery Ballands 632 658 1290 8 John Jackson Fleet Ibex 660 660 1320 11 Rob Gilbert Ballands 616 650 1266 3 Ray Valovec BM of Warminster 644 628 1272 4 Keith Marshall Independent 642 640 1252 7 Trevor Walter Elmtree 0 752 752 6 York Gibson Thornbury 626 610 1236 11 Paul Simms Windrush 672 0 672 7 Jed Cullen Raven 566 560 1126 0 LADIES BB Andy Key Artemis 396 348 744 0 Jo Sullivan South Wilts 666 660 1326 13 Allan Crocker Thornbury 566 0 566 2 Marleen Toomer Ballands 638 644 1282 11 Mathew Hayball BM of Warminster 404 0 404 0 Trish Jones Independent 656 596 1252 6 CUB BOY BB Jennie Vaughan-Jackson Ballands 530 492 1022 6 Harry Jeffery Ballands 576 572 1148 8 Helen Langford Hawk 448 514 962 3 Joseph Rigler Ballands 452 418 870 3 Alison Valovec BM of Warminster 362 0 362 1 JUN GIRL BB JUN BOY BB Tabather Gibson Thornbury 452 396 848 6 Simon Hake Hawk 600 702 1302 8 41
GENTS AFB Gus Gramauskas Ye Olde Delph 676 622 1298 7 Rob Jones SVYF 582 662 1244 9 Garfield Thomas Spirit o’Green Man 646 596 1242 11 Darren Hawkins Alresford Bowmen 634 594 1228 4 Steve Hinton Alresford Bowmen 592 540 1132 5 Steve Rufus Windwhistle 580 548 1128 2 Bob Cronk Cranmore 574 508 1082 2 Adrian Hoare Independent 516 516 1032 0 Volke Fauvrel Toft Hill 466 520 986 0 Jim Sullivan Independent 502 472 974 2 Ian Brown Black Eagle 450 518 968 3 Mike Cullen Black Eagle 508 448 956 2 Barrie Cooper Whitemark BM 480 472 952 0 Jeremy Ingledew South Wilts 482 404 886 4 Adam Lynn Frome Valley 414 444 858 2 Mark Taylor Artemis 444 368 812 2 Nicholas Mitchell Belvedere 0 532 532 2 Andrew Ingle Belvedere 472 0 472 2 Mike Davies Independent 0 436 436 2 Andy Miles Fleet Ibex 420 0 420 1 Norman Tucker Cranmore 0 342 342 1 LADIES AFB Sharon Jones SVYF 580 562 1142 4 Joyce Morgan Cloth of Gold 540 460 1000 3 June Cronk Cranmore 498 424 922 2 Theresa Hearne Excaliber 228 178 406 0 CUB BOYS AFB Archie Gilbert Windwhistle 484 484 968 3 42
* Word Search * Hint: you are searching for types of trees you may see in the woods or make bows from! M L A S H E H B R S E L D E R D I H G Y C A O V B I R C H K I N M O S C E A R B W E Y I V U O L A X Z A E K N I O F R E Y S O W P W H M B U B Q K G H U R A P I L I E O D C E D A R S I R Q U L E H N R J L A S O T H O E M N L P L D E N O M I L E Z A H A K O E F I R D T E S U R U Q C H I W Trees to find - good luck! HAZEL FIR HORNBEAM WILLOW MAPLE BIRCH BEECH SYCAMORE CEDAR OAK ELDER YEW 43
Last year we as a party of re-enactment archers tribute to those archers in the only way I can travelled to Azincourt to celebrate the 600th and conceived a tableau to celebrate these anniversary of a Battle that was fundamental to remarkable men and this remarkable event mediaeval history and in which archers played on its 600th anniversary year. a decisive role, where on Saint Crispin’s day The form the tribute takes is of three archers the cream of French aristocracy was destroyed standing back to back carved in Yew wood, by a few, a happy few, a band of brothers. on a base of English oak and depicted in 5000 starved, dysentery-ridden and exhausted various stages of drawing the war bow, cut archers faced between 12,000 and 25,000 off at mid-thigh they are surrounded by their (chroniclers vary) French knights, cavalry and arrows stuck in the ground before them men at arms. They expected to die and would ready for shooting and each is protected by a not sell their lives cheaply. In the end, sharpened stake as per the kings command. the English lost only 112 men, the French in the top estimate, over 20,000. At a two day competition on the battlefield itself we shot with archers from all over the world, the spirit of camaraderie being excellent, especially from the French who are extremely proud of their part in this chapter of history. Although Azincourt is a tiny hamlet, about the same size as my own of Horkstow, it does have a state of the art museum that The original concept sketch celebrates the battle where the logistics and artefacts are well displayed and documented, The arc of their longbows meet at such is their awareness of Azincourt’s d at this apex is mounted a the top an importance as a byword for courage in the cross of St. George. The longbows form not face of impossible odds. only a bubble of companionship but also appear from a distance like the crown When we arrived in France as a prelude to the they were fighting for. competition we traced Henry V’s army’s trek to the river Somme following by car, as they did The three archers are depicted carrying their on foot, to the crossing place at Voyeres, kit and will show the variations of portable before moving on to Azincourt itself where such equipment as an instructive and educational reference. the competition was held on the battlefield itself. During that journey we as a group, In June of 2015 Members of the became very close and shared that closeness Medieval Society, (who do much television at the competition with archers from all over and film work the world. It occurred that the bonding we had because of their as archers was nothing compared to the professionalism bonding the original archers must have had and authenticity given the utter dependency they would have for that period), had on each other given the hunger, posed in full sickness and sheer deprivation of that march armour and kit. and its seemingly inevitable outcome. To that end, I as a sculptural artist was moved to pay 44
Selected archers will be given the opportunity to contribute by carving individual arrows that will surround the figures; full instructions and a masterclass will be given. depicted in From the above posings full-size patterns were made. ready for shooting and each is protected by a The project has been self financed so far but it has reached the stage where it does need some other sponsorship so that I can concentrate fully on the work as there is so The arc of their longbows meet at much yet to do. If anyone has any sensible ideas and is interested then I can be contacted through the website. only a bubble of companionship but also appear from a distance like the crown This is an archers tribute and it would be wonderful and have greater significance if as many archers as possible could be involved in this project. such equipment as an instructive and Three tons of Yew wood were sourced and converted for the first archer, the wastage OH Boyd being phenomenal. Bowmen of Ware In June of 2015 Members of the 3” thick planks were accurately machined, glued and cramped for the carving blank to be properly prepared prior to the carving Tel: 01652 618071 work being able to begin. Work is now progressing and this progress Email: can be followed by checking on my website: [email protected] www.ohboyd.com where regular updates will be posted. Website: www.ohboyd.com 45
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Gary Hart: My early years My first tournament was at Scremby park nr Skegness in 1974 run by the Late Mr Dennis Ingham of Friskney Bowmen fame - this was an NFAS round but with hand painted animal faces by Mr Ingham. I remember they had a full size Elephant head on out at 100 yards and the kill area was the size of an orange between its eyes. I guess that would get a few moaning today. Every course seemed to have at least one extremely long range target in those days or maybe it was all a long way for me with my Les Howis Wildcat recurve, 32lb at 26. I never shot internationally until 1990 and even then it was at Kings Forest Bowmen, here in the UK. They held the first real Bowhunter championships and back then, to qualify, bow weight was a minimum of 50lb draw weight and arrows all had to have 12 inches of fletchings, and a 125gr pile. The rounds consisted of 1 day normal big game, 1 Day of 1 arrow and the last day a speed round. The speed round was a great round if not a little dangerous, as the shooter was allowed the first arrow in the bow and the second and 3rd had to be shot from positions in a max of 20 seconds for unsighted and 30 for sighted. So in effect you had about 19 seconds to shoot 3 arrows while running between the pegs, and if the last arrow had not left the bow within that time the whole target was blanked. There were also moving targets. The Germans and Italians were masters at this and it was something I had to really practice as it was totally alien to me. The Europeans in Bury St Edmunds in 1990 - I finished with the gold medal and my thirst for competition in Europe was started. My First foreign trip was in the company of the late Dot Southgate to Confolens in France, followed by Dahn in Germany then to Niagara Falls in Canada, and the results in the Bowhunter division for me were 5th, 5th and 2nd respectively. Since those early days I have competed in many Bowhunter events in many countries and the competition has always been fierce, friendly and great fun. With some success and some failure but always with lasting memories and a feeling of new friends. Although I have many medals trophies and titles in the animal rounds I now enjoy the discipline of the spot rounds and the lure of the 500 score from 560 IFAA round still haunts me. 48
In 2012 after a bow failure 2 weeks before a trip to Italy for a Bowhunter event I had to purchase a bow of My first tournament was at Scremby park nr Skegness in 1974 run by the Late Mr Dennis Ingham of 60lb draw weight which was a lot lighter than I was used to. So I decided to have a bash at FITA field, this was an NFAS round but with hand painted animal faces by Mr Ingham. which has many comparisons with the IFAA marked rounds but less targets with fewer arrows. The max score is 432, over 24 targets with score rings from 6 to 1. between its eyes. I guess that would get a few moaning today. Every course seemed to have at least one I never shot internationally until 1990 and even then it was at Kings Forest Bowmen, here in the UK. I shot my first event in Dearne Valley near Barnsley in Yorkshire of that year. I asked to organisers if they could put me with someone who knew what they were doing as it was very new to me and it turned out that my 50lb draw weight and arrows all had to have 12 inches of fletchings, and a 125gr pile. The rounds consisted shooting companion for the day was a Mr Roy Mundon who had been a hero of mine for a long time, a Bare Bow Legend. I felt I was shooting okay and had no preconceptions of what a good score for me should be in the Compound Bare Bow division. I scored 355 from 432 and smashed the previous British record of 322, but it took me another year to attain that level of shooting again as from that point I was always trying to beat the old score. This taught me a very important lesson about myself in terms of pushing to achieve and found that great scores are easy but you have to feel easy and not try too hard and since then I broke the record twice more. I like to shoot well and do practice a lot but I try to have fun and enjoy the feeling of a good shot. I love the atmosphere on an International event and am deeply missing the tournament in Austria this week. But Italy is already dialled into my psyche for 2017 and practice will resume shortly. This last year I have dabbled a little in flat bow with a Salamander bow made by Mr Paul Meeson and really enjoyed the feeling of not always hitting everything first arrow. This took most of my internal pressures away and put some enjoyment back into my archery. Photo: Nigel Downs Pictured: Gary shootIng a very rare Martin dynabow
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