But let’s go back a bit. The outdoor season is well underway, and I’ve been touring Yorkshire attending longbow shoots, which I have to admit are a lot of fun. As well as the social aspect of the archers, the atmosphere seemed more relaxed. Also what I like is that even if your new the older archers will give you tips to improve, and going to a few of these shoots you start recognising other archers. Its a shame that there aren't (m)any longbow shoots in Cheshire, not that I'm anti other bow types but its nice to see the basics of archery en masse. Plus the sherry and cake is always a nicety that I've not had at open shoots. Admittedly though I've not been to many open shoots.
What was a new experience this year was shooting two way rounds. For those unaware, a normal round is you shoot six arrows at the target, go and collect them come back and shoot them again. A two way round is you shoot three arrows, go and collect them and turn around and shoot them back again, which though fun does have the downside of having to remember that wind is blowing from a different direction and your standing in a different place. So it’s a tad more difficult, plus the urge to turn around and walk back after you've collected your arrows is a difficult one to overcome. Another interesting point is that shooting at another field is always an experience as unlike indoors the shooting fields are always different, having rises and dips, or slants, and that can draw your eye and lead you to shoot in completely different places to normal. But it’s a traditional way to shoot, and it’s nice to see that longbow archers tend to abandon uniform and stick to the traditional white and green for these shoots, when not in period costume.
Though saying that with the club now moved to Knutsford its surprising what similarities there are, for example when shooting at a long range, I have to arc quite high as realistically I’m shooting with fletchings that are far to big for the range, so I can see that like at the old club there is a crosswind or two. Though it does show me that I need to find some time to sit down and make some more arrows for different ranges, esp. for those very windy days.
Though last Sunday, despite my large fletchings, I managed to secure my 2nd pip towards my 1st class score. So, just one more to go to retain my 1st class ranking for next year. Though hopefully, when I’ve made the new arrows I’ll be able to push for a bowman classification this year, with a bit of luck of course. What I need to do is work on keeping my draw consistent, if I can do that I can cut down the mistakes I’m making. *Sigh* it’s a learning curve isn’t it. I have improved on at least two scores from last year, my excel program needs some tweaking so I can keep a better record of my outdoor PB scores.
Oh, before I forget I did write another archery song. It’s to the tune of “The Sword of Bunker Hill” if you don’t know it a quick search in Google will bring it up for you. Anyway here it is:
The Broken Arrow
He stood astride the shooting line,
The light was growing dim,
When with a slow steady breath,
He drew up to his chin,
His fingers loosed, the arrow flew,
And arced, high in the sky,
Aimed with nothing more than his,
Trained archer’s eye.
Aimed with nothing more than his,
Trained archer’s eye.
As he watched his arrow fly,
Far off, down the range.
The archer felt upon his cheek,
The cool wind change,
And with a sigh, he watched it land,
Low and to the right.
He dropped his head, hoping that,
His arrow was alright.
He dropped his head, hoping that,
His arrow was alright.
The end was over, his shoulders ached,
He put down his bow.
Before starting, to walk off to,
Collect his shot arrows.
The closer he got to the boss,
His mood dropped ever low.
For upon, the ground near the stand,
Lay his shattered arrow.
For upon, the ground near the stand,
Lay his shattered arrow.
The archer unstrung his bow,
Packed his kit away.
For with the setting of the sun,
He was finished for today.
And with his hand, closed firmly around,
The arrows broken wood,
The weary archer set off home,
Hidden within a hood.
The weary archer set off home,
Hidden within a hood.
