Category Shoots Reports

Write up and photos of shoots I’ve attended

Sep 9 2013

Shoot report – Doverdale September 2013

 

My grandparents raised me when my mam went out to work. They always said if you can’t say something good don’t say anything.

I don’t entirely believe in that as constructive comments can be very helpful.

So here goes. On Sunday we headed about 15 minutes drive down the road to Doverdale shoot ground, a local club who have seen a number of changes in recent months.

We’d shot there previously and been demoralised by their tendency to stretch distances to shots. Stretching is a term I use when the target face or 3d is set further than the norm i.e. if a target is normally set at say 20 yards it might be a challenge at 22 yards but stretched if at 25 yards or more. (under NFAS rules all targets are shot over unmarked distances)

I know a few members of our club had not booked on the shoot because of past experiences, but we thought we would give them the benefit of the doubt.

Sunday was sunny but had a slight chill in the air, fortunately it stayed dry all day. Some 80 archers attended the event which would see a mix of 3d and paper faces. They have a mix deciduous mature woodland with a few dips and avenues.

So on to the course. Well I would say some targets weren’t stretched they were plain ridiculous.

Can think of two out of 36 that were sensible distance.

To give an example of the type of shot we faced. JVD, a paper target face publisher, produces a pheasant target face you often see on shoots. Normally it is set at 15 -18 yards for the first shooting peg, maybe 20 yards at a push. That day it was set at over 30 yards!!

pheasant

We shot (or attempted to) a paper face mallard that could have been a duckling for the distance.

duck

The shoot was immensely depressing to shoot and I must admit to giving up half way round. The only redeeming feature was the company as all of us were fed up.

I have never walked off a shoot but came close at lunchtime as did a number of others. I think many will vote with their feet next time and simply not book for their next shoot.

The day before we did our club shoot, which was a 36 target 3d course. Sharon scored 536 on Saturday and at Doverdale she scored 412, that was the winning score. I shot 670 on Saturday and 500 at the open shoot. Although we were both placed we were immensely demoralised by the shoot. Heaven knows what others thought.

Thanks for reading.

Sep 2 2013

Shoot report – South Cheshire – September 2013

First day of September started with an autumnal chill in the air and definitely a cool breeze. Fortunately the day remained dry and did brighten up with us quickly warming up as we got into the woods.

The last time I shot  South Cheshire  my shoulder was still causing me issues. Then we shot with Bob and Jim from Black Arrow. Sunday saw us start on peg 13 and shooting with the pair again. This proved to make for a great day filled with laughing and dry humour. Thanks guys.

South Cheshire grounds are over an hour and a half drive (subject to motorway being clear) so was an early start to get there for 9:30.

The course was a mix of 3D and paper targets, with some lovely set targets including a great one on a log.

Jim shooting Mountain lion on log

Jim shooting Mountain lion on log

One thing we found annoying was how some targets had trees behind them. There must have been at least 5 targets that directly behind the animal high score area there was a tree. Often the targets were 3d deer so if you over or under shot, your arrow would end up in a tree. I wasn’t the only one to fall foul of this and it did cost me a broken arrow and Sharon a bent one.

Due to the geography of the woodland South Cheshire have to break for lunch. Having said this it was a very free flowing day with no hold ups I think because numbers were low.

Some of the home made targets weren’t always easy to identify with a few being a little sticky; made for messy arrows. The club made good use of ground with great use of dead ground to trick the archers.

South Cheshire has a reputation for home made targets and one was great, so long as you aren’t arachnophobic as Spider shot was impressive.

spider from red peg

spider from red peg

Here is a close up.

spider close up - sadly my second arrow

spider close up – sadly my second arrow

In all it was a good shot made better by the company. We were the only ones from Severn Valley that were there but both came away with first paces. Bob came second in Longbow too.

Thanks for reading.

Aug 20 2013

Shoot report – Wolverine – August 2013

Wolverine - archers waiting to start

Wolverine – archers waiting to start

The night before there had been heavy rain and we had wondered whether this was going to make Wolverine a slipping and  sliding shoot, it turned out to be a bright and not too warm day. Ideal shooting weather.

Our group was made up of 3 fellow SVYF Sue, Jason (both shooting AFB) and Tom shooting bare bow, joined Sharon and myself. This was to be Tom’s first open shoot and I think he might be back judging by his smiles during and at end of day.

Wolverine group - Jason, Tom and Sue

Wolverine group – Jason, Tom and Sue

The course itself was very challenging, comprising of a mix of 3d targets, a couple of hessian or home made ones and a selection of paper faces. There was a lengthy debate at one home made hessian target when we tried to work out if it was a brown bear or kangaroo. After we had shot it and when we got close enough to see it we discovered it was actually a curled up lion. Think we need new glasses!!

Wolverine’s ground is a wooded hillside with an open field at bottom for a few very long shots. Comprising of mature deciduous trees it is quite open allowing for mixed undergrowth and some very nicely framed shots like the mountain lion. (If you can see it past Sharons very bright hat)

Wolverine - Sharon blinding hat

Wolverine – Sharon blinding hat

I know I shoot best when the event flows and there are few hold ups. Unfortunately after the lunch break and for over 10 targets we were delayed by the group in front waiting to shoot as they were being delayed. I know it affected them as I know a couple of them (Danny aka Toast who i shot with in Scotland last year and Rob Cook). Unlike last week I don’t think the delay was due to too many archers just a few slow ones combined with a challenging course.

Toast and Cookie

Toast and Cookie’s group waiting to shoot

Here is a good example of what looks easy yet many archers over shot this 3d hitting the backstop behind.

Not as easy as it looks

Not as easy as it looks

I do really need to work on keeping concentration up though when waiting to shoot. It cost me at least 40 points.

The one downside to Wolverines location is down to the nature of the geography. Wolverine have to have a break for lunch as all the catering and administration are at one end of the woodland. This breaks the flow of the day but is sadly unavoidable.

Sharon was definitely having an off day but managed over 560. Maybe the delays got to her too. Having said that she did have a great shot of the day through the fork of a tree to hit a 3d cheetah.

Wolverine-shot of day by Sharon

Wolverine-shot of day by Sharon

Despite not shooting well, losing concentration due to delays and getting a blank on a target i really should have nailed easily I came in with 626 which got me first place.

In all it was a good shoot with some challenging shots.

Thanks for reading. We are off to a new club next weekend Windrush for a 2 day shoot so hopefully the weather will be kind to us, even if it is August bank holiday.