FEBRUARY_MARCH 2020 FAN UK MAGAZINE

Did you know that if you would like to show your appreciation and support for FAN UK and what Hels is doing (and to enable her to keep the magazine free for everyone) you can DONATE? You may or may not know that \"Field Archery News UK\" online magazine is researched, edited and produced by just one person whose aim has always been and still is to bring field archery in all its forms (alongside other forms of archery) and all associations & societies together in one place to celebrate, promote and share our wonderful sport with archers, clubs and enthusiasts across the UK and worldwide. Any sum to keep the magazine going would be greatly appreciated - thank you :-) To Donate via PayPal just visit https://www.paypal.me/FANUKHels OR select the \"Donate with a card\" option (which does NOT go via PayPal once the Donate with a card option is selected) at https://www.paypal.com/donate/… 51





FAN UK would like FAN UK would like FAN UK would like to introduce to introduce ~ Forest ~ Forest ~ Forest to introduce Horseback Horseback Horseback Archers ~ Archers ~ Archers ~ I spent some time learning about this terrific club from the lovely Kate Blinston, who was exceptionally generous with her time and shared the following about FHAs… enjoy! So, who are Forest Horseback Archers? FHA is a small horseback or mounted archery club situated on the Forest of Dean/Wales border. We meet at a small private yard which belongs to one of our members and where some of the horses live. Our coach is Alex Austin, a qualified British Horseback Archery Association mounted archery coach. We have a Facebook page (The Forest Horseback Archers) and an Instagram account (@foresthorsebackarchers) and on both you can see photos of us practising on horseback and on the ground. We are affiliated to the British Horseback Archery Association (BHAA) and through that the International Horseback Archery Association (IHAA). At the moment all of our members are adults, ranging in age between late teens and mid-sixties. ** Huge thanks to Helen Barnes-Short of HBS Photography - photographer & horseback archer with Cotteswold Mounted Archers - for the use of her fantastic photos and to FHA members for theirs too! ** 54

Pictured above:- Lynn Carter and Kate Blinston Can you tell us about your club's history? Alex started the club in 2018 with a group of friends who ride together or have some other riding connection. We have been happy to welcome other members who have joined since, having met us or heard about us. We have varying levels Forest of Dean/Wales of riding expertise and most of us had no previous archery experience at all. Our coach is Alex Austin, a qualified British Horseback Archery What do Forest Horseback Archers do as a club (competitions, training, events etc)? We train with Alex at least once a month, although it is weather dependent as the ground has to be suitable (and also, we are not that keen on riding and shooting in rain ) and on both you can see photos of us practising on horseback and high winds!). In between we practice when we can. Every couple of months we enter UK or worldwide postal competitions, where we set up a carefully measured track according to what sort of competition it is. ) and through that The length and layout of the track, angle of the targets, scoring system and other rules (e.g. whether you hold arrows in your hand or in a quiver) depends on the horseback archery tradition on which the event is based. We participate under detailed rules, at walk, trot or canter, and have our scores verified by witnesses. These are then electronically submitted and the worldwide or UK-wide results are posted a few weeks later. In the winter when the ground may be too soft for mounted competitions, we enter ground archery competitions, which are designed to serve as practice for mounted archery, 55

e.g. the rules may specify a short time limit for shooting 3 arrows, or that you must face away from the target and turn to shoot, to emulate back shots. As well as the competitions, we can apply for IHAA grades at walk, trot or canter (where the archer has to achieve the required score at least twice to be awarded the grades). There are also BHAA qualifications. Most of us have now gained Club Horseback Archer, which is the first qualification - this is not dependent on scores but does require the archer to be able to shoot from canter. As well as practical competence, it is a test of knowledge of horsemanship, mounted archery and safety issues. Some of us have enjoyed outings to watch the BHAA National Championships, which are held over a few days in August each year. Pictured above:- Carla Edmonds & Elwood 56

Pictured right:- e.g. the rules may specify a short time limit for shooting 3 arrows, or that you must Anji at Cotteswold Mounted Archers Summer Camp As well as the competitions, we can apply for IHAA grades at walk, trot or canter ~ Courtesy of HBS Photography ~ (where the archer has to achieve the required score at least twice to be awarded There are also BHAA qualifications. Most of us have now gained Club this is not dependent on scores What events do you have coming up in the next year? but does require the archer to be able to shoot from canter. As well as practical We hope we will be continuing to enter the IHAA and UK postal competitions. We are very happy to be closely linked with our Some of us have enjoyed outings to watch the BHAA National Championships, which are nearest neighbouring club, Cotteswold Mounted Archers - this is a larger club and they have been established for longer. They kindly invite us to their events - e.g. ground postal matches and Summer Camp - where we can practice and be coached alongside them. They will also be holding a regional competition next year which some of us hope to attend. We have no plans at present to host our own events but may do so in the future. Who can take part in the type of archery that you do and how would they go about joining the sport? The key requirement is having access to a horse who is trained or can be trained to take part in mounted archery, and either joining a club or accessing a coach if you want individual training. It is still a small sport in the UK, but the BHAA website lists several clubs and coaches around the country. What makes Mounted Archery such a special sport? All of us in FHA agree that the partnership with the horse is number one. It can take hours of patient training for a horse to be relaxed on the archery track and carry you steadily at whichever pace you have asked for. As well as becoming accustomed to unusual sights and sounds, the horse has to get used to the rider’s movements in the saddle and has to manage without the usual communication through the reins. Trust in your horse is essential if you are to be balanced and able to focus on shooting as you pass the targets. Because it is such a challenge, is very satisfying when all the skills you and your horse have been learning come together; you hear that thwack of your arrow in the target and with luck get another arrow nocked in time to shoot the next one too! It’s a great way to challenge yourself, and the support of other club members and other horseback archers is also very special. 57

Pictured above:- FHA group photo How long have you been shooting and do you do any other forms of archery? What bow/s do you shoot? Horseback archers in the UK usually use recurve bows. It is a requirement to shoot from the knuckle, with no arrow rest, sights or other additions. A key characteristic of horseback archery is shooting at speed, so the equipment is designed to enable this. Apart from Alex our coach we were all beginners when the club formed. One member who started on horseback now also practices target archery on the ground. Pictured left:- Alex Austin & Etico ~ Courtesy of HBS Photography ~ 58

Pictured right:- Lynn Carter & Chutney ~ Courtesy of HBS Photography ~ Is there anything else you'd like to share? We are very friendly and would like to encourage others to try the sport. Unfortunately, we can’t take new members in FHA at present due to lack of space, but there is plenty of information on the BHAA & IHAA websites including how to start your own club if you are interested but there isn’t one near you. The secretary of FHA is Kate Blinston and you can contact her either via email on [email protected] or send a message via our Facebook page if you want to chat about horseback archery! How long have you been shooting and do you do any other forms of archery? It is a requirement to shoot A key characteristic shooting at speed, so the equipment is designed to enable . Apart from Alex our coach we were all beginners when the club formed. One ~ Courtesy of 59

Photographer: Forest Horseback Archers Pictured: Kate Blinston on Gym ball! (Taken on a practice day too icy to bring the horses out!)



62

63



Several of our lovely readers & fellow archers have been asking me which clubs holding shoots allow dogs and which clubs allow crossbows – so… my question is, could you please help me to help them? You can let me know in a variety of ways, by letting me have your Club Name and a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ regarding Dogs and ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ regarding Crossbows at your shoots. You can contact me in the following ways:- 1. Email me at [email protected] 2. Contact me via the FAN UK website as a site member via Wix Engage message at http://fieldarcherynewsuk.wixsite.com/fanuk 3. Send me a Private Message via the FAN UK Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FieldArcheryNewsUK/ I am compiling an ongoing updated list in future issues of “Field Archery News UK” magazine and on the website. Thank you to those clubs who have already let me know and thank you in advance (and fingers crossed for more responses) to other clubs!! ������ ������ ☺ ������ ������ ������ Hels 65

“The Bowyer’s Diary” by Derek Hutchison, AKA ‘Del the Cat’! New Year, Old Bow... New Year, Old Bow... New Year, Old Bow... You’d expect the new year to bring new things… well, I s’pose it has insofar as I’m now Grandad to identical twin girls! But aside from that, I’d been mainly working on mechanical projects, converting my mini mill to belt drive and making a quick change tool post for my little lathe. So, no work on bows until my mate JT suddenly gasped in horror when we were shooting one Sunday. He’d just been proclaiming how smooth and lively the Boo backed Yew primitive that I made about a year ago felt compared with the Warbow he’d been shooting moments before, when he noticed the sun glinting on a crack in the handle. Once it was unstrung the extent of the cracking could be seen. The construction of the bow is spliced Yew heartwood billets for the belly, with a thin overlay of yew on the back of the grip to provide a smooth curve for the bamboo back, a riser of Yew on the belly adds extra thickness to allow narrowing at the grip whist maintaining stiffness. It was the Yew riser that probably started the crack as it was a section from a relatively small diameter log, with some of the central pith showing and tightly curved growth rings. Now the growth rings and the pith are very decorative, but sections like that tend to have cracks radiating out from the pith. These radial cracks weakened 66

So, no work on bows until my mate JT suddenly gasped in horror when we the riser and one of them became a deep and ran straight through into the were shooting one Sunday. He’d just been proclaiming how smooth and lively belly of the bow, clean through the splice as if it was all one piece of wood. A crack like that is a testament to the Warbow he’d been shooting moments before, when he noticed the sun glinting on glue joints, but that is scant consolation. It may well be that the clean bamboo back was all that was holding it together. the bow is spliced Yew heartwood billets for the belly, with a thin overlay of yew on the back of the grip to provide a smooth curve for the bamboo back, a riser Repairs need some careful thought and of Yew on the belly adds extra thickness to allow narrowing at the grip whist examination. First I sawed off the bulk of maintaining stiffness. It was the Yew riser that probably started the crack as it was the riser and then rasped off the remainder down to the Yew belly. I then carefully lifted the edge of the main crack in the belly (there was a secondary crack too) Now the growth rings and the pith are very decorative, but sections like that with a chisel to see it’s extent (see pic). 67

It seemed too deep to excavate without removing a vast chunk in the middle of the bow; of course that’s the dilemma, you want to get down to sound wood and yet you want to leave as much as possible of the original structure to keep the alignment of the bow - e.g. I could rasp out a big section, let in a patch and find the bow is no longer straight, but has twist and sideways bend! The game plan was to open the crack, flood it with low viscosity superglue and clamp it up, then prepare the surface clean and flat (extending the flat area a little) and glue on a new riser block of Walnut with good straight solid grain. The secondary crack is being ignored to some extent, but I suspect that it meets the main crack and will get superglue forced into it when clamped, the secondary crack is very much on the side of the grip and shouldn’t present too much of a problem. The walnut glued on nicely and is a good bit thicker, I was carving and shaping it. I noticed how easily it carved… no wonder it was used for intricate furniture… hmmm is it strong enough for the job? It’s used for shotgun stocks, so I was assuming it was suitable. 68

That’s the dilemma, it must flex slightly where it fades into the limbs yet be stiff enough to withstand the compressive forces as well. After a couple of days to allow the glue to cure I braced it and got it on the tiller, I flexed it back and forth... 50#, 60# then I watched the draw length, thinking I’d flex it back and forth working up to 28”, which should be no problem, then take it back to 32-32”. As I got to 28”… bang… It seemed too deep to excavate without removing a vast chunk in the middle of the bow; of course that’s the dilemma, you want to get down to sound wood and yet you want to leave as much as possible of the original structure e.g. I could rasp out a big section, let The game plan was to open the crack, flood it with low viscosity superglue and clamp it up, then prepare the surface clean and flat (extending the flat advantage of pulling on the tiller via pulleys is that you can stop the draw The area a little) and glue on a new riser block of Walnut with good straight almost instantaneously, which is just as well. The Walnut riser had split along a solid grain. The secondary crack is being ignored to some extent, but I suspect growth ring, but the main body of the bow seemed fine, the glue line also that it meets the main crack and will get superglue forced into it when solid for the most part except a small lift at one fade. seemed clamped, the secondary crack is very much on the side of the grip and shouldn’t Now I’d arranged the walnut with the growth rings lying flat parallel to the back of the bow, maybe it would have been better laid out with the grain edge on? Maybe The walnut glued on nicely and is a good bit thicker, I was carving and the Walnut isn’t up to the job and a clean bit of yew, made to the slightly thicker dimension would do the job as it would match the characteristics shaping it. I noticed how easily it carved… no wonder it was used for intricate of furniture… hmmm is it strong enough for the job? It’s used for shotgun stocks, the rest of the belly? (After all, the dodgy Yew had lasted a year!) I have decided to add a reinforcement of bamboo edge on, as a sort of 69

“I“ beam running up the centre of the riser… I’m not quite sure how this will be done, or if it will work... I shall ponder these questions and let you know what happens next time. I shall ponder these questions and let you know what happens next time. I shall ponder these questions and let you know what happens next time. 70

“I“ beam running up the centre of the riser… I’m not quite sure how this

Photographer: MARK SERVICE Location: Avalon Archers EFAA Classification 31.03.2018

https://www.facebook.com/ FieldArcheryNewsUK/ https://twitter.com/ NewsukField https://www.instagram.com/ fieldarcherynewsuk/ https://www.quicksarchery.co.uk/ index.php?route=product/ search&search=aspire

Longbow Heritage Presents: JIM’S JUNGLE JAUNT 2020 Music on Saturday night, by popular demand!.......... & Doombar on tap! th ALSO…..Mick and Carol’s 10 Wedding Anniversary! (Dress up evening!!!) (We’ve only been together 43 years…………) J TWO DAY ALL CUT-OUT SAFARI SHOOT Jungle Jim and Dolly Edwards Memorial Trophy DATES Saturday 4th July, and Sunday 5th July 2020. Shoot one or both days. GU8-6AP ENTRY FEES Seniors TWO DAY £18. ONE DAY £10.00. Jun & Cubs £2.00 per day th Pre-entry ONLY. Deadline 30 June. (No-one home after this!) SORRY! NO ENTRIES ON DAY ASSEMBLY 9:00am for 10:00am start on both days. NFAS cards must be shown. NFAS members ONLY. SHOOTING STYLES All NFAS styles. NFAS rules apply. FOOD available both days, plus dinner Sat night. DISCLAIMER The organisers and landowners accept no responsibility for any loss, damage or injury however caused. All arrows are shot at the archer’s risk, especially carbons. NO BODKINS OR BROADHEADS. Due to the risk of injury to wild-life in our valley; although carbons will be allowed, all broken ones MUST be taken away and disposed of in your own dustbin! All missing ones must be noted and be looked for after the shoot. DOGS ARE ALLOWED, BUT ONLY BY BOOKING, AS LIMITED NUMBER. By order of the land owners. Make cheques payable to LONGBOW HERITAGE, or Bank Transfer, using your Name and JJJ, to Longbow Heritage. Lloyds Bank Sort: 30-93-08 A/C: 00061109. (Don’t forget to get your entry form to me as well, if doing transfer!) Carol Pearce. Craft Cottage, Bookham Lodge Stud, Cobham Road, Stoke D’Abernon, Surrey. KT11 3QG. Or: Theresa Hearne. 12, Clapgate Drive, Little Clacton, Essex. CO16 9PP For further details phone Carol 01932 865181/07957 276892 [email protected] For B&Bs phone Guildford Tourist Board on 01483 444333 Longbow Heritage members are affiliated to the National Field Archery Society. NAME CLUB S/J/C M/F STYLE SAT/ NFAS NO. CAMP? FEE SUN/ BOTH Number of dinners for Saturday night. (Adult £10, Kids 12 and under £5) Cheque? Transfer? Name, email, phone No. __________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 74

CAMPING £4.00 per unit per night from Thursday pm. to Monday am. Bring you own water as there is none available on site unless I go and get it….and I really DO-NOT have time….! COLLECTIONS th As most of you will know my Dad, Jungle Jim, passed away on 30 September 2007. My Mum Dolly, after 60 th years of marriage, couldn’t cope without him and passed away on 20 November 2008. As usual we will be making a collection for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, in Jungle Jim’s, and Dolly’s names. Please be generous. The collection at Dad’s funeral raised £450.00 in 2007. So far, since Dolly’s funeral in December 2008, we have raised a further £550.00 Also, anyone wanting to change group on the mornings of the shoot will be charged £5 for the privilege, and the money sent to the Surrey Air Ambulance. Or donations welcome. THE JUNGLE JAUNT We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Jungle Jaunt. All your favourite animals and birds will be hiding in the woods and valley waiting for you to find them, as for several years Jim just kept on painting and now Mick and I have been busy painting and painting and painting as well….. You are advised to wear a hat if it’s sunny. It can get to 130 degrees in the valley! MEMORIAL TROPHY There is a memorial trophy for Jungle Jim and Dolly. We are working on how this will be awarded this year…as every year we change how it’s given. Saturday Night Dinner. We are doing stew again this year, with Angus’ beef. (Or veggie if wanted.) Followed by a ‘pud’ to be decided… Please order and pay for your dinner at least one month in advance so we can order enough of Angus’ delicious beef. £10 per dinner. Kids 12 and under £5 Saturday Night Theme. th This year is the 36 year at Shackleford. If you want to dress up then this year’s theme is TBA CHANGES TO GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION, May 2018: Due to changes in data protection legislation you are now required to give your consent for the following:- In the strictest confidence. If you have any disabilities that require arrangements please let us, Long- bow Heritage Field Archers, know. We will use your name and other entry details to complete your score card, in the results list, and to in- form you of future events. We may publish photos and videos of the event to promote the event and the club. Please tick the box if you agree to the above paragraphs. Please note: If the box is not ticked we are sorry but we cannot accept your entry. 75





78



Huge congratulations to Loch Tummel Archers! “So look what came through the post the other day… we never even knew we were nominated! A massive thank you to all who voted and another massive thank you to everyone who helped get this recognition.” 80

“So look what came through the post the other day… A massive thank you to all who voted and another massive

th 29 December 2019 ~ Woodland Shoot ~ James from Limerick FAC shared:- “Great shoot today cold but dry. Congratulations to the guys and girls finishing off the training course today.” 82

Our FAN UK Embroidered Patches are available for you to buy! Our beautifully embroidered “Field Archery News UK” sew-on patches feature a pale cream background, our distinctive black logo and ruby red edging. Lovingly crafted for you they are superbly detailed and 65mm in diameter. ~ Only £3 each including postage & packaging (UK & worldwide) ~ To own yours simply go to http://fieldarcherynewsuk.wixsite.com/fanuk/patches or email [email protected], stating the quantity of patches you would like, your name and your address with full postal/zip/area code please. Once payment has been received your patches will be on their way to you. 83



85



87

FAN UK is FAN UK is proud to introduce proud to introduce Featured Archer, Team GB & Featured Archer, Team GB & FAN UK family member, FAN UK family member, Allison Kelly! Allison Kelly! Allison Kelly! Hi - can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I am 54 years old and I am a window cleaner. I currently shoot for 4 clubs/ teams:- AGB club Riverside Archers, NFAS club Butsfield Bowmen, Border Archers and Eagle Archery UK Shop team. I have also shot as a guest at Newburn Archers. How did you get into archery and how long have you been shooting for? I got into archery 4 years ago by chance. My partner Alan had completed an AGB beginner’s course and we were at an archery shop getting his equipment. I loved the look of the 3D targets and whilst chatting about them, a couple of guys behind us mentioned that they ran a course. It was Ray Whitehead (who gave me my first lesson) and Richard Wright... they run Butsfield Bowmen and now have the Eagle Archery Shop in Washington. I always managed to judge the distances. When I realised I could get booked in My first bow was a 60 inch one piece straight away and didn’t need to wait recurve @ 30lb Buck Trail Antelope. I knew months for a course to start I decided that early on that I was left-eye dominant but was for me. I always tell people I couldn’t preferred to shoot right handed. This did shoot an arrow straight for 18 months but give me big problems to overcome, in that 88

with both eyes open I never knew which arrow to look at of the 2 that I could see. I loved shooting in the woods for the first time. You shoot a variety of archery types – what are they? You appear to adore field archery… what is it specifically about this type of archery that you love the most? I wanted to try an English longbow a friend of mine had - one he had made and over 20yds. Every time I shot I got better, hadn’t been shot. I had it a week or so honing my technique finding out what worked and what didn’t. I was that field when I entered my first competition at my home ground of Butsfield Bowmen. shooter who shot target in a strange style, I set many county records that winter. Well, I couldn’t hit a thing and the guys I shot with were all very good – Nathan, Over the next year I won NFAS 3D Champi- Harry and Jim Miller all shot well that day. onships and the NFAS National Champion- They were very sporting and supportive ships in the barebow class. The winter as I took 3 arrows on every target and came and I came 3rd in the British they kindly looked for my arrows – not the Barebow Indoor Champs, winning the start of a champion you would think but masters division in that comp. I then had I loved every single bit, I was hooked… to try AGB Field… I didn’t want to break my longbow out in I came out of that winter indoor the cold over the winter so a 2nd-hand competition season with a nasty back compound bow was purchased; at least injury which I did in the last comp. I should be able to shoot straight. Within Looking back I shot too much and didn’t a month I had the thing cracked, it seemed do any strength conditioning... my body a piece of cake. My partner got tired of me was taking a bashing from work as well always hitting the kills, I didn’t compete as shooting. Having shot so well in AGB with that bow. I went on to shoot a Border and NFAS I needed to find a way to take Covert Hunter which I settled on and my shooting a step further. I wouldn’t be competed with very successfully. able to compete with all the string walkers in AGB/WA Barebow but I could definitely It seemed a good idea to enroll in a target Club at that point, indoor target look at WA instinctive class; the same as shooting for form once or twice a week NFAS Barebow but with a wooden riser led to shooting with an Olympic Win + Win and no button – I could do that! I wanted riser bought 2nd-hand purchase along the versatility of an ILF so the Border My first bow was a 60 inch one piece with W/W Winex Limbs. I entered the Covert ILF was ordered with the CUX Target Limbs. It came 2 weeks before the Castle League which Durham and Northumberland Archery Association run AGB 3D Nationals. Because of the injury, I could not pull it but somehow managed over the winter season shooting a Portsmouth round at 60cm target faces. to set it up and before the comp. I went 89

with the intention of gaining experience winning the Masters in that competition). of shooting WA 3D and then going for Pulling on a Great Britain vest and qualifying over the next year. I smashed shooting in the World Championships was that competition shooting a massive GB an incredible experience. When the Target qualify score. That set me on halfway road list came out I had been drawn to shoot to Canada for the 3D World championship. with 2 world champions and a 6-time European champion... I thought wow, is this really happening?! Many people we have shot with in the past know I like to keep eating on the way round the course. As I opened my bar to keep energy levels up I got a disappointed look and a shush from the 2 Champions; when the Europeans are shooting they have complete silence – a lesson learned. After 2 days of shooting the qualifying rounds I made it through to the knockout rounds. The top 2 automatically go You’ve shot many different through, then the next 20 are spilt into competitions - where have you four pools. You shoot 1 arrow at 6 targets been and how did you fare?! against your opponent and the winner goes through to the next shooter. I beat Virtually all of the competitions we have shot have been in this country, travelling the first 2 opponents (shooting the highest as far North as Kelso and as far South as score across all pools for ladies barebow Portsmouth. I try to stick within a 2 hour instinctive class). In my last match 1 point ahead (in what had been a nip and tuck journey range from home unless it’s match) I dropped an arrow low just out of a National Competition. It was a huge honour to go to Canada for the World 3D the kill to go out Karin Novi of Austria who championship and it’s the furthest I have then went on to win gold. I was devastated been. I’ve set many indoor to go out but Karin is an amazing county records and won archer & worked so hard the NFAS 3Ds and for her success. At the Nationals that level you ( B a r e b o w cannot make Ladies), plus mistakes... the AGB 3D I learned N a t i o n a l from that champion experience alongside and have picking up that stored 3rd place away for next in the British time I am in Barebow indoor that situation. It’s championship (as well as like being in a pressure 90

Pulling on a Great Britain vest and cooker - you can see people wilting under What has been your biggest the strain. It just brought out something achievement in archery so far? new in me that I had not experienced before and I loved it. Qualifying to shoot for Great Britain by smashing through the GB scores. Where have your competitive shoots taken you over the years and where is your favourite location? As I have been only shooting for four years my current favourite place to shoot is at Border near Kelso - it’s the most technically difficult course we shot on, with 100 3Ds where each shot was taken from a different peg. It’s my go-to place to test my form. Which associations/societies do you complete under? NFAS, AGB, World Archery. What equipment do you rely upon to keep you on top form? Just my bow and my trusty massager. 91

Do you have a set training schedule What is your favourite type of or do you adjust your practice to field target and why? suit different competitions? (2D, 3D, FITA field etc.) ? I adjust my practice dependent upon the I am a 3D girl through and through; it must competition-type, but I practice a lot of 3D just be basic instinct in me to go out in shooting and target shooting, running up the woods and shoot 3D targets. to the world champs I shoot every day. Currently I have 1 or 2 days off each week. Please tell us something about Practice for me is working on technique. you that is unique... I am not interested in scoring rounds, I work on hitting lines, balance and distance I really don’t think I’m unique. I was lucky judging before each shot - I practice that to be given a talent and incredibly when I’m not shooting too. I work a lot on lucky to find I had it at 50. I have an amazing ability to switch off everything how to take various kinds of hill shots and shots on level ground... it’s much around me (it drives my household more difficult to get into the bow on a insane!)... this comes in very handy in big competitions. slope. It takes practice to get right into the shot the same each time. Do you have any routines when you prepare for a big shoot - if so, Which particular bow class(es) do you currently shoot? Also, what what are they and do they work?! other styles have you shot and I am very forgetful! I just check through do you miss them? everything a couple of times and yes, I currently shoot instinctive class in World I do have to check my arrows are in Archery with carbon arrows. I’ve been my quiver. I go through my shot sequence playing around with an American Flatbow in my head always practicing that (I have with wooden arrows for World Archery numbered points I have to hit). Longbow class. I will shoot it in the next few competitions to see if I can How does it feel competing qualify for the Europeans in Slovenia July. at a variety of levels? I already have the necessary qualifying It can be a bit nerve wracking when score for the Instinctive class. I love you first go to a new level of shooting. shooting NFAS Barebow class and I do miss that. I find that once I take my first shot it’s just like every other new 3D course; I feel at home in the woods. Walking If you could offer one piece of advice into an international felt incredible, then it to new archers what would it be? was just a normal shoot. For new archers if you want to be good treat it like golf... don’t learn your home Which competition would course. Just learn to shoot straight don’t you like to win most? worry if you are high or low. It’s the line to the target that’s important, the NFAS A 3D World Championship in a GB vest. are excellent at finding difficult lines. 92

What is coming up for you it’s like being a kid in a sweet shop. field target and why? in the next year? My partner Alan spends many hours helping me and making all my arrow Several 3D competitions under WA rules: Cheltenham, Pentref and Kendal; before combinations; he’s a genius with them, just be basic instinct in me to go out in hopefully being picked for the GB and I have to do them justice. team heading out to the European 3D Champs in M a r i b o r, Slovenia in July to be given a talent and incredibly 2020. lucky to find I had it at 50. I have an insane!)... this comes in very handy in everything a couple of times and yes, I do have to check my arrows are in Who do you admire most within When you were young were the sport of archery? you interested in archery or did The large volume of volunteers who you find inspiration to take up How does it feel competing make the courses and competitions the sport another way? possible. It doesn’t matter if it’s for I never thought about taking up archery as 6 people or 600... without them we It can be a bit nerve wracking when wouldn’t have the opportunity to do a youngster. I enjoyed going to Morpeth you first go to a new level of shooting. what we love. Harriers and loved music. I played several I find that once I take my first shot instruments before settling on the cornet. it’s just like every other new 3D course; Who inspires you? I played for the Salvation Army and the School County Band. I am inspired by watching past medallists on YouTube. Watching them make those If you could have any type of bow shots in the final head to head, I just from any period of history what love it and it’s been fantastic this last Which competition would year to have met so many of them. There would it be and why? are a lot of internationals out there who A prehistoric bow, something man would are so welcoming, helpful, encouraging have used to hunt with. and happy to share their knowledge, 93

What do you do to relax? Many People in the NFAS, AGB, customers, friends and family gave generously to get Relax! Shoot arrows of course! I find me to Canada with all the equipment being in the woods relaxing and I also needed. I’ve also have support for love watching 3D shooters on YouTube international travel from the county, alongside the indoor classics like the regional support, Sport Tynedale - all have Lancaster Barebow Finals Phenomenal. provided some grants. They were very My family think I need to spend more kind in honouring me with Sport Tynedale time on cooking, walking the dogs and Sports Woman of the Year Award this household stuff. year (2019). Do you have sponsors and if so, how do they support you? I have some great sponsors, Eagle Archery in Washington help out enormously with equipment and accessories plus a space to shoot. I also receive tremendous support from Border Bows. They don’t sponsor archers as such, support comes in many ways. I am very grateful for all the help I get. Riverside Archers are the dream team - they take care of so many things, including constant support, building stuff I can shoot off in the winter, raising funds for internationals, making strings and generally making things happen week in week out. There is always someone there to have a laugh with, share experiences and there with big shoulders if it’s time for a meltdown… Nothing is too much trouble and it’s definitely a place that ‘makes Thanks to Field Archery News UK I’ve things happen’. Ian and Mama Mariam received help from Hartfield Kiddy Fund Ann Norwood have been so good to me for field archers... I read the article since I joined happy Riverside. you wrote and applied for help for the costs for the 3D World Champs in Canada 2019. 94

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers? needed. I’ve also have support for 26 years ago I had a mastectomy, international travel from the county, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, being put through a drug-induced menopause and being left with a completely useless left arm that was shriveled away after Sports Woman of the Year Award this having 3 thrombosis veins - I couldn’t use it for 2 years. At age 50, when I picked up a bow and dreamed one day I would compete with it, I couldn’t imagine I would be pulling on a GB shirt 4 years later. The enjoyment isn’t always about the end result, it’s about the journey you take to get there. My roots are in the NFAS - it’s where I learned to shoot, being constantly I love the WA 3D format where you pushed in competitions by “The Band shoot alongside your rivals. Groups are of Brothers” (you know who you are) fantastic times. seeded on the second day, it can be an intense environment but I love the feeling of keeping that all under control. I am excited to see what this year brings. I am crazy enough to try and change bow styles with my shooting going so well; I am brave enough to make changes if I think they will help my consistency I’ve but most of all, I love shooting my bow. If I could change anything in archery it for field archers... I read the article would be more continuity in bow styles you wrote and applied for help for between societies. the costs for the 3D World Champs in 95





Aurora New Year shoot th 12 January 2020 * Max 2 arrows, 2 x 20 targets, Big Game scoring * A wonderful level of support as 112 expectant and eager archers amassed for our 2020 New Year shoot, something that we never take for granted and hugely appreciate - thank you so much to every single one of you. Thank you too for your positive feedback, we're clearly doing something right for you to come back each year for more. An overcast but pleasant day made for good shooting conditions bearing in mind the time of year and what we had experienced the days and weeks before. As always, we had lots of laughter, great food, delightful woodland, plenty of head scratching and of course, a fair smattering of rude words aimed primarily at the course setters – job done I say! Being ever-conscious of the limited daylight hours, we adopted our proven format that has worked so well in previous years... a 2 x 20 course was laid with each target double-pegged, restricting it to two-arrows max per target with any second arrows to be taken from the same peg as the first (red for all adults, blue for juniors). This allowed us to have six archers per target, which under normal circumstances would be a real struggle but, in this format, isn’t a problem with everyone done and dusted mid-afternoon with plenty of daylight remaining. Massive thanks and congratulations to Stewart Beckham and Paul Little aided and abetted by Ken Sparham for creating the course. A particularly challenging and very deceptive track with cunningly laid targets taking full advantage of the terrain and natural water features, including a good few totally new settings never been seen before. Brilliant job guys and fully appreciated by all those who attended. Thanks go to Peter Morgan for his wonderful photos! 98

On now to the traditional round of thanks to everyone that made the day possible and such a success. To every member of Aurora who helped in any way over the weekend and during the run up, a sincere thank you, you are all brilliant and we couldn’t do it without you. Specifically, and in no particular order, Nadine and the whole catering team for serving up the culinary delights for the assembled masses. This was Nadine’s first time in charge of proceedings and what an absolutely fabulous job she did too! To Adam and Poppy for helping in Admin keeping everything in order and not forgetting of course Poppy for tripling up as our Raffle caller and wonderful Lady Paramount – job for life A wonderful level of support as 112 expectant and eager archers amassed for our 2020 there Pops! To Tom and Molly from Radical Bikes for your limitless support and humour in allowing the hordes of archers take over your ground for the day, and last but no means least, to Lord Petre for kindly allowing us all to enjoy his fabulous Parsons Spring woodland. An overcast but pleasant day made for good shooting conditions bearing in mind the time We look forward to welcoming you once again for more fun in the woods th th at our late summer two-day shoot on 5 and 6 September. In the meantime, be well, shoot straight and keep smiling. conscious of the limited daylight hours, we adopted our proven format that a 2 x 20 course was laid with each target arrows max per target with any second arrows ~ By Martin Joy ~ This allowed us to have six archers per target, which under normal circumstances would be a real Massive thanks and congratulations to Stewart Beckham and Paul Little aided and the course. A particularly challenging the terrain and natural good few totally new before. Brilliant job guys 99

AFB - M AFB - F Jones Mark 672 5 Marr Niki 408 1 Nuttall Ian 662 8 Freeman Karen 382 0 Massey Roger 644 2 Hearne Theresa 254 1 Fauvel Volker 572 2 Brown James 558 4 BB - M Allen Mark 556 1 Barcroft John 726 8 Hill Kevin 456 1 Pearson Gareth 676 7 Maxen Mick 424 2 Mercer Adrian 604 1 Stratton Phil 408 0 Fisk Garry 578 4 Cooper Barrie 348 1 Higham Brian 550 2 Bartlett Alan 336 1 Melton Neil 454 0 Oates Dennis 398 3 BB - F BH - M Hart Mel 328 0 Maher Phil 672 6 BH - F Hill Zoe 130 0 Jones Craig 654 3 Birch Sue 554 2 Jacyna Jurek 574 3 Morgan Olivia 542 5 Brown Danny 536 3 Gillespie Jim 530 2 Tagg Carl 510 1 CL - M Williams Duane 774 10 Knott Andrew 748 8 FS - M Green Richard 824 16 Stevens Terry 744 12 Gardiner Richard 736 6 Munnings Steve 702 9 FS - F HT - M Shaw Doug 686 5 Howard Karen 616 1 Rand Steve 664 2 Doyle Andy 638 4 HT - M continued… LB - M Seed Tim 602 2 Chittock Terry 194 1 Jacq Alain 598 1 Radford Graham 584 3 Sutton Martin 526 3 Moore Dave 550 4 HT - F Warner Peter 500 4 Moore Bob 546 1 Parfit Clair 544 2 Healy Dominic 500 0 Gamble Neil 536 3 D’attoma Alayne 512 0 Stanley Ian 498 1 Osborne Steve 472 3 Pilbeam Brenda 270 1 Nash Cliff 490 1 Meyer Cliff 388 1 Peeling Clair 122 0 Tasnady Kim 480 1 Proehl Brian 382 1 Wilby James 472 1 100