Unforseen Problems

Greetings once more, I am sad to say a recent tragedy has struck my shooting. My new longbow is already delaminating, so its got to be returned to the bowyer. Not a good thing only after a few months, and to make matters worse, despite it already doing three trips neither Parcel Force, or the Post Office are willing to send it because of its length, so having to find different couriers who are willing to send it for a decent price.

Since this delamination has started I've admitted that I've had to go back to my previous lighter bow and I will tell you something. After a few months of using the heavy bow, the lighter bow now seems to have no draw weight by comparison. Seeing as the lighter one is about 20lbs lighter its understandable, but it till makes shooting harder in a way, not because of the draw because drawing it back is almost as easy as pulling your arm back without a bow in it, its the whole frame of mind. I've said before that I shoot instinctively and shooting a bow that I've not practiced outdoors with for 6 months, I'm having to re-learn where to aim with it, and since my old arrows aren't really the right length compared to the new bows arrows there are difficulties. I might shorted the arrows when I get time, give me a bit more cast, but at the moment I'm having to make do with what I have. Hopefully though at the latest my heavy bow will be back and repaired with me before Keddlestone, so I can re-practice. But in the mean time I will continue to practice with the lighter bow, just to keep my body used to the movements.

What is also a pain is that this month has quite a few shoots and competitions, and though I admit I could shoot the short versions of the round I would prefer to join in the longer distances, esp as I've now achieved my 2nd class I want to go for my 1st class, but I need the cast and weight of the heavier bow to reach the distances. Plus I find it easier shooting the longer distances, not for hitting the target but for drawing the bow. Also I currently be behind our current more experienced longbow archers, but bit of practice and could close the gap. Always gives a secondary sense of achievement, when I get close to some scores, or manage to beat others scores during certain ends, esp as I'm using arrows I've made, not ones that have been bought.

Catching The Wind

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers (and sisters). Yes my friends another month has almost been and gone. Now in the month of May, and what a month April has been. Tradition has 'April Showers', this April though has been anything but wet, but infact has been gloriously sunny, so much infact parts of me are a little pink from it.

Last entry I ended just after the monthly medal, which I now have a picture for you:

This is the longbow medal, and the other three are similar to this with only slightly different shaped medal and designs on the medal itself. Technically you're meant to wear them at club shoots, but very few people do. Its a shame really, you do see a number of badges on peoples quivers (I have a few myself) but never really see any medals. I'm hoping when we get a new club house we'll have like a little trophy cabinet. We might not but it would be nice.

Since the monthly medal we were scheduled to have the clubs AGM and The President's Cup, both of which had to be postponed for various reasons, which came with mixed opinions from members.

But we did manage to shoot the FITA. Now this was the first time I'd shot a FITA and it was longer than I expected. A FITA is 12 dozen arrows: 3 at 90m, 3 at 70m on a big face. and then 3 at 50m and 3 at 30m on a smaller face. I'd never shot these distances and this amount of arrows either, and with my heavier bow it was a challenge esp on my finger that has blistered since using this new bow. But for  a bow I couldn't string when I first got it, I can now string by hand and shoot with comfortably.

Despite the long distances I did reasonably well shot to a 2nd class standard, which is one up from last years classification. This was also the first outing of the new flock of ravens, who are cut down compared to the previous ones, and have 4" fletchings, and 125grain field tips.

The next day there was a shoot against Bruntwood but unfortunately I was unable to attend, six of our members did represent us but unfortunately we were beaten. But I'm sure we gave them a run for their money.

Thanks to the Royals the previously cancelled York shoot was back on the the board, re-scheduled for us on the Friday. Now a York is another long shoot and one of the few you can reach Grandmaster Bowman status (not that I'm anywhere near that yet). Again this had distances I had not shot before as its a 12 dozen arrow round, 6 dozen at 100yds, 4 dozen at 80yds, and 2 dozen at 60yds. This was a very windy day and you could see arrows flying sideways when the wind caught them. What didn't help was that the wind wasn't constant in two ways, it gusted so sometimes it would be blowing a gale it would knock the arrow off from the rests and other times it would have dropped that when you shot compensating for wind, the wind wasn't there. It also wasn't consistent down the field, so you'd have crosswinds as the arrows travelled. So this wasn't the best day for my first York, but despite the conditions I don't think I did badly, again I shot to a 2nd class standard, and was only 40pts off first. I know that sounds alot but in retrospect 40pts lost could be just a bad end (6 arrows). To our surprise, few archers turned up (must've been enthralled by the royal wedding). In fact there were only 3 of us, we shot 12.5 dozen arrows in under 4 hours including time for lunch. So seeing as the calender said a National was to be shot at 2pm as well, the two longbowers of the day Steve Dunn and myself shot that as well. David Campbell didn't shoot the National with us but loosed a few to sort his bow out and get sight marks, as well as very kindly scoring for us. Steve did beat me in the York and National, but was still fun. 222 arrows later on the return home though I discovered despite keeping to the shade for a good part of the day, the sun had hit me enough to turn part of me pink.

But a days rest to relax the shoulders, brought us to the Presidents Cup, which was a St.George to be shot on May Day, another day we celebrate with pagan history. Now a St.George (yes I know it would have made sense to shoot it on St.Georges day but can't have it all) is 3dozen at 100, 3dozen at 80 and 3 dozen at 60. Again this was a very windy day so much so you'd pick up arrows from the boss and ground at very odd angles, as they've been pushed sideways through the wind. What didn't help either was one of my eyes decided to constantly water and by the end was rubbed raw (blaming suncream getting into the eye). But despite difficulties I shot again to a 2nd class standard and under 20 points away from first class, so gives me hope that I might reach 1st class by the end of the outdoor season, (hopefully with some calmer days).

Unfortunately for Shaun and Steve, both lost some arrows as they broke on impact when hitting legs or metal pins, lucky for me though the only damage I suffered was some knocks that barely scraped the oil on the wood.

sighters for that.

I have signed up to shoot at Keddlestone, which I'm quite looking forward too. Being a longbow only shoot it'll be nice to see I suppose a band or even regiment of longbow archers, giving an impression of what it must've been like centuries back. Also being a longbow shoot the rules are a little different. For a start you don't get sighter arrows to gauge your range, you also don't get a second shot if your arrow bounces out of the target. Upside is though at the end of each distance you get cake and sherry(not my preferred drink but still an incentive).

Despite the wind its been a pleasant time of shooting this month and its a shame other archers haven't been coming out to enjoy it. To be totally honest I'd like to see some of the members who only seem to be names on the website come and shoot, I'm sure they have valid reasons why they don't shoot but its just a shame to have so many members but only a fraction of them shooting. Well the night marches on and the long bank holiday is over, so I will say Goodnight to you all, and happy shooting, may your arrows find their mark, and not sore too high on the winds.

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.

Spring Is Coming

Hail and well met for those returning, or for first time readers. With the last club competition (or at least the last one I'm doing, archery darts is rather frustrating with a longbow) just gone and the end of the indoor season looming its time for a recap of the past events.

This month had in store the Club Indoor Championship, the last Frostbite, and the Monthly Medal.

Luckily my raven's have survived up till now, though some are in better condition than others, as most if not all are curvy, esp one in particular which has decided to bend in two places. There will be a new flock of ravens shortly as I have picked up supplies to work with the new longbow for the outdoor season. The new longbow is very nice but I know I will have to build up muscles to shoot it properly, but I suppose as the wood learns to bend, my muscles will learn to draw the bow and as such we'll grow used to one another.

But back to the monthly news. This year's was a Portsmouth round, and despite not shooting up to my best I shot well enough with a score of 397 59/7 (yes I don't know why I've been missing recently on this target). So very pleased with myself, though Doug Shaw since putting down his recurve for a longbow is becoming some stiff competition as after the first dozen he was ahead, but I managed to push past in the 2nd dozen and stay there. Elsie Smith shot very well with a score of 414 making us both wonder why weren't we shooting better at Chester the previous month.

The next round to come was the Frostbite, now since longbows don't generally tend to get high enough for Frostbite score submissions, barring the occasional scores by Shaun Allan or no recurves turning, neither of these factors stopped three longbow archers coming out into the open air to shoot, myself being one of course. Because we were outside I decided to use my short winged ravens (they only have short fletchings), so picking up my straighter ones ventured out to the shooting ground, and though I shot worse than the last Frostbite which we shot in Knutsford, I still managed to stay ahead of the other longbowers though it was very close, one point.

Last but not least was tonight's monthly medal which was a Bray 1 round, though there was definitely something in the air tonight as everyone shooting longbow seemed to do badly in comparison to usual. I don't know what happened, esp the previous Tuesday I had shot a Bray 1 round, of 162 seven off my personal best with only two misses. Tonight I just scraped to 100 with lots of misses, to show how badly we were shooting I don't think barring Shaun any longbower tonight got 100+ after the first two dozen, four of us stayed to shoot another Bray1 afterwards, and even though we all improved by some varying degrees we still weren't shooting well and each end seemed to last forever. Now a Bray1 is only 30 arrows, very quick round, but when your shooting bad arrow after bad arrow and not knowing what your doing wrong it just drags on and on. But congratulations to Alex Smith(scratch), John Stubbs(Compound), Shaun Allan(Longbow), and Joe Shaw(Handicap) this months medal winners.

In all honesty I have a suspicion that my shooting is going down is that as well as being tired most archery nights, I'm bored with shooting indoors. Last indoor season I was using a home made longbow, and just starting so was a challenge to hit the target, then when we went outside I had a new pro-made longbow and I was learning the distances and enjoying the weather and all its variables that effected the shooting. Being able to shoot six arrows at a time in competitions, or dozens while practicing, and being able to spread out between archers and open up the body. Now back inside the challenge was just to reduce the handicap and I have done from a 79 to 60, possibly try to make it a 59 before the month ends and the season really closes, but we'll see. Now I just want to get out again and enjoy real archery (longbow, with no aiming aids) and all that comes with it. Yes I know shooting a longbow without an elastic band or an aiming stand is not the best but to me, its proper archery, I often wonder if those aids were removed from longbow archers would those high rankings be so high or would they drop? would they drop alot or a little? But that's my thinking, I'm sure other longbow archers will say that its target archery and if I want instinctive go to field archery, everyone has their own style of shooting and that's mine.

The next post I shall post up my high scores and average scores for this indoor season and allow those who shoot to compare. I should have pictures for the next post too of the new flocks. Goodnight and good shooting.

Oh just remembered this month, as my chainmail shirt is now of a wearable state of completion I've worn is a couple of times to archery, and despite needing some minor adjustments it does feel nice shooting in it, and doesn't effect things that much. Ok true to do get warmer in it and does weigh your shoulders down, but that's just needing to get used to the weight and build up the muscles to cope.

The Flight Of The Raven Isn't Always Straight

As February draws to a close I thought it was time for another update. This month has been a busy one to start with a new session of beginners has started so Tuesday's shooting has become more relaxed as the beginners shoot in three details with advice and coaching throughout. So to cut down on waiting time its normally filly up the quiver and loose at the target. Though being an instinctive longbow archer I can normally shoot 5/6 arrows in the same time some recurves shoot 3/4 so still have to wait for a while. The main problem I'm having now is that the 10 of my original ravens (arrows) I have left, one is currently awaiting to have its head re-glued, and the other 9 all have some curvature to them. So shooting is less concentrated than it was, though as these are the only ones I have at present they are the ones I have to use. I do plan on making more, but having to wait till I can get to the archery shop, so if anyone is going and doesn't mind giving me a lift then feel free to mention.

17th February saw the shoot for the Valentine's cup. This is a Portsmouth normally shot as close to Valentine's day as possible, hence the name. Despite some shooting that all I can say was erratic at best I managed to get the top score for the gents longbow with 357 56/5 (yes 4 misses on a Portsmouth I'm ashamed too), though overall longbow was won by Elsie who was shooting very well that day. One complaint about it though is that all of a sudden we've started having breaks halfway through shoots, which for me is rather tough as unlike other archers I have no sight or PoA to go back to. I don't mind breaks outside when the targets get moved and such but for a shoot of 5 dozen indoors its just annoying, esp on a Thursday evening after work. But I suppose I should get used to them incase I do anymore external competitions, though still don't see much point in them. Despite the misses though the score was better than previous so I'm am coming out of the rut I went into.

The 20th brought in this months Frostbite, and this was well named. Due to erm booking problems shall we say (politely) the frostbite took place at Knutsford Sports club. The temperature was not the best to shoot in, but it was the icy wind that really put a shiver down the spine. So next month if its like that the cloak and possibly furs (yes real fur, and seeing as its probably 50+years old I see no problem with wearing it) will be coming out. Shaun came top of the longbows, but seeing as his is a master bowman that's hardly surprising. But despite the wind and the curved arrows I managed to beat my PB for it, and only got 4 misses, which isn't bad seeing as its 30m (12m longer than inside).

Now comes to yesterday 24th, was the clubs monthly medal. This month it was a Vegas which I've never shot before, and all I can say is, its not the best round to shoot after a frustrating day at work, and longbow and with curved arrows isn't the best to shoot it with. For those unfamiliar this is a Vegas target, the 3 mini targets are the five inner rings of a Bray target and scored the same 6-10, so at a guess I'd say they are 20cm across. What you have to do is shoot 60 arrows in ends of 3 arrows into each one of the targets, but to make is slightly more difficult you have to nominate which arrow will go into which target before you shoot it and if it doesn't go in that target then its a miss. So not only do you have to say where each arrow is going you have to move where your aiming.

It was a good turn out with roughly 19 archers five of which were longbows. I managed a score of 184 24/3. Again curved arrows weren't helpful in this, esp my no.3 arrow who insisted that it didn't like its target and preferred the other two. This month it was Robert who won the scratch, and to his surprise we actually had the medal (he'd won it a few times and it had not turned up), Compound was by John Stubbs (no surprise there seeing he is a grand master bowman and a paralympic gold medalist), Shaun won the longbow medal (again no real surprise), but big congratulations to Doug for winning the handicap medal with his longbow, seems rubber ducks are he way forward in the sighting stands.

Wednesday saw the delivery of my new longbow (the right one this time), though I have to ease it in and allow the strong to stretch before I can really shoot with it, which is alright with me seeing as I got it to shoot outdoors with. Though its another reason why I have to go to the archery shop for supplies. This one is by Adrian Hayes, and is bamboo, ipe, and ipe, with a horn arrow pass, and 55lbs @26".

That's about it for now. Good shooting everyone.

On The Wings Of Victory

Hail and well met archery fans, its been an interesting few weeks, and if it all goes well I should have a treat for you all. Yes that's right I have finally managed to take some pictures. Took me long enough I know., problem is though I haven't been on here for 2-3 weeks so I might just spam photos.

Firstly the bad news, seemingly accord to the scores I've been putting in, my averages or at least in the Portsmouth has been going down, which was a rather large concern with the Chester County Shoot coming up and which is a Portsmouth.

But first was the club's annual dinner and award ceremony, which luckily for me was at Altrincham town hall. It was a pleasant evening nice food and ceremony, and to top it off a nice and unexpected pub quiz.

Angus cutting the clubs 61st anniversary cake. 

The award ceremony also brought my first (and hopefully not last) trophy and medal, or at least medal that I get to keep. It was for getting the best handicap score at the club handicap shoot in September. The trophy I get to hold for a year (or until I move which may happen due to out of club circumstances, personally I'd like to stay but we'll see).

  As February came, in preparations I've only really been shooting on a Portsmouth face and seemingly from the score I've put in, I got worse. But with the knowledge I can do better the Chester shoot came round and we set off.

The shoot was going well, the final 3 bosses were mostly longbow archers with the odd sprinkling of recurve and in my case compound archers. Not the best combination I might say. All in all I was not at my best performance at the shoot, and the mid break did seem to put me off. As it took me a while to get back to form, e.g last half dozen before the break 46, first half dozen after then break 25.........not good, but despite not shooting my best, I was keeping an Alsager longbow archer on his toes (which was good seeing as he had been shooting for 20 years) and I was beating a New Century longbow archer. Even despite my arrows staying away from the 10s and only on occasionally hitting 9s. I don't think they wanted to go near the compound archer's arrows/area.

At the end of the competition we were waiting for the results at the awards, congratulating other's shooting till at last the longbow scores were called. After 4 dozen we were 15pts down to Alsager, not bad seeing as they were the clubs main rivals so were were expecting to be in a close but solid second. But to the shock of at least 3 of our 4 longbow shooters NCB was called to be the winners. It had turned out that in the last dozen NCB longbows had made up 25 points and overtaken Alsager. I didn't get a real look at the results of the other teams, but congratulations to Shaun, and Elise for placing in the top 3, I was 8th out of 15 in the longbows which isn't bad seeing as this was my first competitive shoot outside of the club, and I've only been shooting for just over a year. Also congratulations to the other longbowers of the team Shaun, Elise & Steve. Also well done to all NCB archers and all other archers who took part, pleasure shooting with you all. Big thanks to all the judges, and personal thank you to Angus for taking me there and back and for supporting the team.

My medals........btw yes I know its a recurve bow on the longbow winners medal, but its a standard medal or so I'm told so its ok.

That's all for now, stay tuned for more soon.