But back to archery, we've now moved into September so almost the end of the outdoor archery season, and despite some wet days and some very windy days, its been rather nice for shooting, the past couple of times I've been at the club has been wonderful weather of sunshine and calm, but so few have turned up its been a real surprise. Next week is the friendly match against Wirral which I hope more of our member will turn up to.
Since my last update I have been to four shoots;
- FITA 900
- Albion
- American (BBQ shoot)
- National (Monthly Medal)
The FITA 900 is an interesting one as since most of the time I prefer to practice in yards rather than metres, and being a metric shoot its a ten zone score rather than a five, but is yet the same face as I often practice with, the 122cm one. I can't really remember what the weather was like on that day, days are kind of merging together at the moment. But I know my performance on the day was as per my handicap at the moment, though I know I could have shot better.
The Albion again I shot not my best score though not far from it. Though I shot my best at the longest ranges but when it came to the shortest range my arrows did not find their mark and fell short. So despite shooting higher than other Albions at both 80 and 60 yds, I dropped valuable points at 50yds. I still think the problem I have with Albions and other long range shoots are my arrows. The bow I have is powerful enough but the arrows, are like I said before less than straight, and heavy. Meaning when I shoot I have to arc high which mean that its very susceptible to the wind.
The American BBQ shoot, quite ironically was almost a permanent drizzle, and overcast. With the weather mimicking my mood, my shooting was poor, only managing to shoot to a 69 handicap. It was also in the American that a tragedy befell my conspiracy as one raven struck the target and shattered upon its impact. Though this is not the first to have fallen, it is the first one to shatter and score at the same time. Oh and FYI the BBQ didn't take place, shooting in the rain is one thing but trying to cook is a completely different thing.
Today's National was next and for the first two dozen my shooting was spot on as all but one end was higher than 30, first end being 29. Though only one had all 6 on target. Though after those first 24, whether my aim, hand, or combination could not place the arrows where they should, dropping form 36 to 17 and then to 0. For any archer hard to come back from as with archery you must have a clear mind but remained focused, and a dramatic break can make the mind think of other things. When the range was changed, my shooting though improved did not reach to what it was at the beginning. But yet with a score of 260, that's my best score for a National so far. This was the shoot for the monthly medal, so being the only longbow there I got the longbow medal, John Stubbs being the only compound (though would have probably won anyway) got the compound medal, David Cambell won the scratch and Robert Frank the Handicap medal. Four archers, four medals everyone is a winner. It was also nice to see during most of these shoots three of our newer archers who seem to be improving rather well. Though with the closing of the season being all longer shoots unless they do lots of practice I doubt we'll be seeing them doing the longer shoots. Though the main interesting thing today was that the field was littered with a mass amount of money spiders, which were quite distracting esp when they appear on your glasses while your trying to shoot.
Well to follow what I think I have been shooting I would like to leave you with a Spanish Archery proverb:
The archer that shoots badly has a lie ready.
Good night to all and good shooting.
