End of the Summer

Hmm, it seems I'm getting later and later with my post updates, its hard to believe that finding a little time to get this done would take so long, but the little one is asleep so I have a few moments to get on with things hopefully before she wakes up.

Firstly I would like to extend my apologies to Bruce Foster, father (and grandfather) to a couple of our members. The reason for this is that I forgot to mention his efforts at bringing back to life one of my fallen ravens. Bruce after seeing a picture of a very stylish footed arrow decided to try his hand, and with the falling of a raven an opportunity was opened. What a nice job he has done, though I am loath to try and shoot it, no offence to your skills Bruce but I will keep it for display purposes.

 

 

 

 

Since the last update, had two shoots worth mentioning. The first was on the 1^st of September was another longbow shoot. This one was at Pontefract Castle this time. Its purely a fun shoot so to make sure of that, they have their own round that isn't either a GNAS or a BLBS recognised round. In the morning was 6 dozen arrows at 50yds, followed by a wand shoot. Then after lunch it was a 3D bear hunt, a speed shoot and then another 6 dozen arrows at 50yds.

 

In all honesty it was the most fun and relaxed shoot I've been to, with no pressure of trying to earn a certain level at a GNAS round. Though I did manage to get through to the second round of the wand shoot and the bear hunt, unfortunately I couldn't get any further, but it was still a new experience. Plus the speed shooting was great, I managed to get 6 arrows shot, almost got a 7^th, though the winner got nine off, so still a little way to go. One very unusual thing was at the end of each round a medal was handed out for the best gold of the end, and at the end of the next end you'd hand it back and it would rewarded to someone else. I am very proud to say that I won it twice, and not only that one shot was so good it won best gold of the day. So along with Hugh and Lizzie Foster, the other representatives of my club we each walked away with a prize, and in Hugh's case a little extra to line his pocket from the petite-coat sweep. Beautiful day, wonderful place to shoot (inside Pontefract castle).

Centre Shot

Best Gold For The End

 

 

Best Gold Trophy

 

Best Gold Overall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other main event that happened on our calender was the friendly shoot we had with another nearby club, Wirral. This time it was our turn to visit them which was a chance for us to check out their new venue, for like us they had trouble with the local rugby club pushing them out, so they moved to another club down the road. It was a lovely day and despite an odd wind that seemed to only blow diagonally across one side of the field, there was no real bad weather. There was a slight issue with the food being a little over done, or at least if your a meat eater, but otherwise it was lovely. Though we did lose the match, they were still a very friendly group to shoot with, and one boy to my interest was shooting a Mongolian bow. To be honest I was tempted to ask if I could try it out, but decided against it. Would seem a little odd a stranger coming up and asking to have a go with your bow.

The downside at the moment is that my club is still waiting for its new indoors range to be built, and until it is we are lacking an indoor range to shoot in at all, and with winter closing in tension is running high, and a chance to practise outside is slowly ebbing away as the nights draw in. Though saying that, the other day when we were shooting our club handicap shoot, it was a lovely day, not too warm, not wet, and little wind. Did pick up towards the end though, and I almost managed to reach my personal best, just missed out equalling it by two points.

So I close this update with a quote from an unknown archer:

So long as the new moon returns to the heavens a bent beautiful bow
So long will archery hold the hearts of men. (unknown)