Dec 16 2014

Shoot report – Spirit of Sherwood – December 2014

Spirit of Sherwood Christmas shoot

Spirit of Sherwood Christmas shoot

Seems ages since I wrote a shoot report but then again it’s been ages since I’ve been to a shoot.

Spirit of Sherwood were hosting their Christmas shoot and it was to be a wooden arrow only one. It’s a long drive for us but Karen kindly put us up for the Saturday night returning our hospitality for when she crashes at ours for Svyf shoots. Huge thanks for cooking us a great meal, camp fire stew yummy.

We hadn’t shot Spirit of Sherwood for a few years and the club has struggled recently due to forestry work taking place in their woods. Considering that they put on a great course with some clever shots using tree stumps from which you shot or on which positioned the targets. Loved the longhorn ram, looked great.

3D Longhorn Ram

3D Longhorn Ram

Our shooting group would be made up of Dave and Lynn Sabo who we had had the pleasure of shooting with before and Paul who was on only his third nfas shoot having just swapped to wooden arrows.

The course was to be a mix of 3d and paper faces set in a clover leaf formation so you would pass catering 3 times. The result was an easy flowing day with no hold ups or delays with everyone having finished and getting away by 3:30. Not bad when you consider there were over 140 archers. We were also lucky with the weather having only a brief shower in the afternoon.

First target was not a great start for me. I  blanked it,  think the lack of practice and distance judgement being to blame as my arrows flew over and under.

Second target of the day, shot off an old tree stump.

Second target of the day, Dave taking shot off an old tree stump.

There was a really relaxing atmosphere and good spirits, maybe it was the festive season or simply because everyone appeared to be having a good time.

There was an interesting moving target which was a large 3d crocodile wished I’d taken a photo of that now. Suspended on pulleys a few inches off the ground it looked really good as it slid down the slope.

Sharon won ladies hunting tackle so has another trophy for the mantlepiece. I only managed second in gents class missing out by 6 pts. Still a personal best for thirty six targets 686 despite a blank. Would like to make a special congratulations to Chris Harley who shot her first round with no blanks. Well done Chris.
Thanks for reading, have a Happy Christmas and Good luck for new year.

Dec 10 2014

Responses and feedback on binoculars in archery

Big thanks to all the readers and followers of this site for their comments, thoughts and opinions on the topic of binoculars in archery. The original post can be read here.
It has been very interesting to hear what the views of the advantages and disadvantages are of their use along with peoples’ experience of using them.
As far as their use in the NFAS, well following what might be seen by some as quite a heated debate at the NFAS AGM, the proposal was dropped by the proposer.
Why?
My understanding of the reason for this decision was that following the debate  the NFAS committee decided it was not a style change for sighted archers but something that affected all members of the society and therefore would need to be an open vote for all in the society. The proposer of the motion did not agree with this and for this reason withdrew the proposal.
I think that is correct but if anyone wishes to correct me feel free.
Personally I can see both merits and flaws with the use of binoculars as I said in my previous post and would have liked to see them brought in on a trial basis to see how they might affect shoots but people didn’t appear to like that suggestion when I made it.
Just as a point of order on this. Whilst I  might not necessarily agree with the NFAS committee’s decision I’m not having a dig at them. They are all unpaid volunteers and work exceedingly hard in supporting the society. Doing their best in an environment that is not always friendly or supportive.
Another person who works exceedingly hard and in my view goes above and beyond to help the society as a whole as well as individuals is Dave Haynes of Pride Park Archers in Derby.
Dave Haynes

Dave Haynes

I like many others were delighted to see him awarded the NFAS Presidents trophy in recognition of all the time and effort he devotes to the society. Congratulations mate you deserve it.
Anyway thanks for all the comments.
Thanks for reading. Happy Christmas to you all.
Dec 8 2014

So Much to Learn … About Arrows

Some good advice and information in this article.

Steve Ruis's avatarA Blog for Archery Coaches

The following question came in recently from a “non-beginner:” “If an aluminum arrow has a dent in it, is it still usable?”

* * *

Coaches need to be aware of how much our students do not know about archery equipment. It is easy for grizzled veterans of archery to forget how much there is to learn.

As all-carbon arrows become more prevalent, archers get less and less experience with aluminum arrows, even though the pathway up from a “beginner” usually is paved with aluminum arrows. There seems to be a growing opinion that aluminum arrows are “obsolete,” but this is incorrect. Marketing forces are always on the side of “new and improved” (an oxymoronic claim, by the way) and seem to denigrate the prior models as “old” or “inferior.” So, an impression is created that older designs are less capable, limiting performance somehow. This is not true.

There is…

View original post 532 more words