The Spring Flight

Though this month is not over I thought I'd post up an update anyway to show how things are going. So far the weather has been pleasant and allowed the outdoor shooting to go ahead, and the new bow has been working well. I still need to build myself up to be able to draw it consistently over and over, as well as controlling the recoil. But I'm enjoying it none the less and re-learning the distances.

At the moment arrows for the new bow are still in the construction phase at the moment, and despite being sold arrow shafts with curves in them (looking at your archery world) I've gone ahead and made up arrows anyway. Mainly because I can't afford to get new shafts and waste these ones so I'll make do for now. The new flock of ravens will be slightly shorter than the older flock, but they will be thicker so hopefully I'll be able to use more power from the bow without it being wasted, though time will tell.

The short bodkin has been looked at with some negativity due to the edges that it has, so for the mean time that flock will be put on standby. Determined as I am not to waste them though, I am forming plans acceptable to all to allow these ravens to fly.

But for happier news, despite the first shoot being cancelled (and noting the 3rd shoot and President's Cup was cancelled as well again due to the rugby club using the field for warm ups) we did manage to shoot the 2nd scheduled shoot. This was the first outdoor monthly medal of the season (hurray!!).  This month the round was a National, which is four dozen arrows at 60yds, and 2 dozen arrows at 50yds. This is shot at a large target (122cm). Though two keen longbow archers arrived extra early to shoot a York round (so weren't allowed to shoot in the monthly medal), while some experienced archers shot a Long National (as the name suggests it has longer distances than the National).

As I didn't have my new arrows made, I used arrows donated to me last year by Shaun. These arrows are slightly unusual as they have 4 fletchings rather than 3, and also are much longer. Finding range took a few ends, but got their in the end. Though as is always the way outside we shoot in 6's and I only have 6 of these arrows, and yes you guessed it, a pile came off in the boss so I had to use a spare arrow which was shorter, different spined, different fletched and all around different. So with the spare arrow which most of the time promptly missed the target (having different arrow types is never a good idea), we proceeded to shoot.

So it is my pleasure to extend congratulations to the following people:

Monthly Medal Awards:

Scratch Medal:              David Campbell

Compound Medal:        John Stubbs

Longbow Medal:           Steve Mudd (yes that's me, yay!)

Handicap Medal:          Richard Park  

I would also like to extend a special congratulations to master Joe Shaw for having a 6 Gold End. My personal downside is that I was 4 points off a 2nd class score, but seeing as its only the beginning of he season there is plenty of time to achieve this. Plus no one can say that I don't like shooting, as one of my fingers is now sporting a blister thanks to the thinner string, and that is despite wearing a leather shooting glove.

That's it for now, stay tuned because I have some interesting stuff coming up, in the next few months.

April Showers

The indoor season has closed and with it has the month of March.

Firstly before I go on I'd wish to congratulate the members of NCB for their victory in the archery darts match at Chester. With a win of 14-6 so congratulations to all of you.

Its at this time we look back over the winter and remember, or well we compare our scores of the previous year and see if any improvements. So here are mine:

Bray 1:
Last year :                                        This Year:
High Score: 85                                 High Score: 169 (+84)
Average Score: 61                           Average Score: 134.5 (+73.5)

I only seem to have recorded Brays last year, but you can see that within a year a huge difference has been made, whether to quality of equipment, archery skill or a mix of both who knows. But it'll be interesting to see next year.

Portsmouth:
This Year:
High Score: 438
Average Score: 389.29

Though I don't have anything to compare it to from last year I can tell you its a big improvement. I know because I'm getting 59-60 / 60 hits this year while last year......well wouldn't be surprised if I'd jumped a boss.

There were other round too, but since they were shot on one off's and was my first time of shooting them this year I've decided to leave them off.

But dear readers I have something for you. Yes thats right photos, not too many mind but some better than none.

 To the left is a AAA battery (for size comparasion), a new set of arrowheads I have called short bodkins. (whether or not I'm allowed to use them at my club is still pending), and my current field tips (note that the field tip wasn't attached to the shaft at the time, my arrows are slightly bent but not like that.





Next we have PICTURES OF THE FUTURE!! Yes these pictures were taken from the year 2017 and y'know no one has aged a day since today. Nah just kidding the dates wrong is all it was from the last frostbite shoot.

 Here we are on the shooting line ready to loose, Angus observing. I think we were the 2nd detail.....may have been first can't remember.

No I'm not scratching my back, but drawing my next arrow and noticing that the camera man is around.. Btw it was freezing that day, hence why most are in multi-layers and coats and body warmers.









Last picture for today I have a game for you. You've heard of "Where's Wally (or Waldo if your American)" , well here is "Spot Steve".

       

Btw that's Robert posing, I'll point out where I am at the end, give you time to search.

Like I mentioned before the indoor season has finished and what better way to start the outdoor season than a club shoot.........or at least that's what we thought. When we arrived today we found our shooting field being laid out for the mini rugby players. So it was turn around and go home, six miles of walk in the rain was not fun, esp seeing as it was mother's day a wasted morning was frustrating. Whats more annoying is that the indoor range was laid out with tables and chairs (which were only used gone 12pm by the same rugby kids for hot dogs), and the first field was being used as a car park. Just shows you how much the rugby club likes us being there doesn't it.

But with the summer ahead of us and still plenty more shoots on the calender we'll be outside soon, and I'll eventually get my heavy bow worn in, esp now I've worked on the serving and nocking points. New flocks of Ravens are on the way and will soon take to the skies. Well good night all. Happy shooting.

Oh btw, if you haven't found me already see the longbow on the left, well that's my hand holding it and foot its resting on, I'm behind Richard (the guy with the yellow collar), well done if you spotted me.