Some readers may already know Trish, either from her role as National Field Archery Society president or from the European bowhunter championship which she regularly attends.
I know her from the many NFAS shoots she attends, up and down the country as she continues her “presidential” tour, trying to get to as many NFAS shoots as possible. Before then though she has been a familiar figure at NFAS Championships, as a competitor.
I was lucky enough to catch up with her recently and she agreed to be the subject of this walk and talk session.
Anyway onto the chat…

Trish Jones

Rob – For those people who don’t know you, how would you describe yourself?

Trish – Outgoing, Happy disposition, friendly, passionate and very vocal!!! Polite way of saying I can often be very loud!!  Especially my laugh!!

Rob -How did you first get into archery?

Trish – It all started when we had new neighbours who were members of the NFAS, when you have two young sons and the folks next door are in the back garden practicing their Archery… it was inevitable that the boys were going to be interested….
The eldest son started first and after a while and after walking round some shoots with him… my youngest son and I then decided to have a go… and the rest as you say is history…..

Rob -You shoot in a number of different classes in the NFAS and other organisations, but what makes archery such an ongoing draw for you?

Trish – Archery to me is fun and a way of getting out and about and seeing the countryside and visiting other countries….. being able to try different bow styles makes it even more interesting……. but no matter what you are shooting it is always the fun of pitting your skills against the course layers….. who often get one up on me and therefore the aim is to try harder next time so the challenge continues…..

Trish in Austria

Rob -Can you explain what your love or passion is that drives your interest in archery?

Trish – Archery is something that can be done by all age groups and abilities and is a wonderful way of making friends and helping others to enjoy a wonderful sport.  I love helping others and if i am doing it whilst doing something I love to do…. then its a win,win situation.

Rob -If ten years ago I’d told you where you’d be today, how do you think you’d have responded?

Trish – To be honest when I started which is nearly twelve years ago now, If you told me then that I would be the President of the NFAS, won medals abroad, and several 3D champs and National Titles in different shooting styles I would have just laughed at you……..
I was not a natural archer and through persistence and perseverance and pure determination i managed to get were I am today….. and am very proud of all that I have achieved.

Rob – I find that an interesting and telling statement as many who see your successes might find it hard to believe you didn’t have an aptitude for the hobby.

Trish shooting barebow

Rob – so do you consider yourself an instinctive archer basing shooting on how it feels at the  time rather than a conscious process of steps which some people follow for distance judgement etc. ?

Trish- yes I am defiantly instinctive, and have no idea how I do what I do, I look at a target aim and when it feels right I let go!!!

If I missed judged it then I try again…… simple as that!

Rob -We all face our own challenges in life. What do feel has been the biggest challenge you’ve encountered to date with your archery? How did you overcome this challenge?

Trish- shooting her compound

Trish – The biggest challenge I have ever faced is trying to maintain the NFAS as a Society that is Family friendly and Inclusive to all ages and styles and abilities….. as this is why the Society was founded in the first place…… and my way of overcoming this challenge was to become the president….. through experience, hard work and pure bloody mindedness i hope that I am helping maintain the NFAS ethos but still allowing it to progress.

Rob – I know there is more than just archery and the NFAS. When not out shooting or coordinating a national society what do you enjoy doing?  Are you out walking or a secret foodie at heart?

Trish- I enjoy swimming, walking and the occasional baking of cakes, but to be honest most of my free time is dedicated to Archery in one form of another.

Rob -If you could reach every newbie archer out there with one single piece of advice what would it be?

Trish – Have fun, enjoy your archery and just be the best that you can be.

Good advice for all archers, I think there from Trish

For those of you who aren’t aware of What the NFAS is I’ll do my best to try and explain. The NFAS is a national society set up to support the hobby of field archery across the UK. There are clubs from Cornwall to Scotland with over 6,000 members national wide. Every weekend there are competitions up and down the country and each year it holds 2 national championships, the 3D champs in late May and the Nationals in September.
If you want to find out more about the NFAS here is a link to the society website http://www.nfas.net/home.asp

Thanks for reading