Tag Archives: archer

Aug 4 2015

Equipment review – Walking boot review

Being a field archer means you are on your feet a lot, normally from 9 am in the morning when you get to the shoot grounds until 5 pm as you are leaving. You’ll be walking across mixed terain often including swamps,  streams,  rivers and steep hills.
This makes decent shoes or boots a must.
Sadly my old walking boots were approaching the point where they are promoted to gardening use only  (they had lasted 10 years of abuse so retirement is only fair). Though the soles and tred was still good on the old boots the heels collapsing and the rubber seals were cracked and torn. Still not bad for a decade of abuse.

Old walking boot

Old walking boot

So it was time for a new pair.
I didn’t want a leather pair and was wondering about a three sessions boot with a softer sole for better grip.

Local to us is a Cotswolds outdoor shop and I paid them a visit to see what they had to offer. I  was helped by a very patient and knowledgeable young sales assistant who took the time to accurately measure my feet and then suggest manufacturers that would be best suited to the shape and movement of my foot. I must admit to being very impressed by the quality of service and knowledge of the young lady on both the boot fitting process but also the differences in manufactures. It transpired that she was a very keen hiker and knew first hand the importance of decent boots. Top marks.
So I  ended up by in a pair of Salomon boots (Salomon quest 4d 2 gtx) which weren’t the cheapest option but felt the most comfortable at least in the shop offering support for the arches.

Salomon quest 4d 2 gtx

Salomon quest 4d 2 gtx

Having worn them round the house and a couple of time out and about, their real baptism of fire would be the USA road trip which would see them used in city walks and hikes up and round the Yosemite national park and Lake Tahoe trials.
Here are a few things I have noticed

  1. They are more snug fitting than my old boots and this means greater support. The best description I can give was when going from my old ski boots to new custom fit ones.
  2. No need for thick walking socks
  3. Good grip in wet conditions. There was a huge thunderstorm when hiking down the from the Upper Yosemite falls trail and in the 2-3 hours hike down they slipped on the loose grit and stones only a couple of times.
  4. Not ideal for summer and very warm weather as they are a bit too warm.
I  must say I have been really impressed by them. Obviously they wouldn’t be ideal for all people subject to their foot shape etc but so far so good.
Thanks for reading.
Jul 23 2015

Shoot report – Liberty archers – July 2015

Liberty 2015

Liberty 2015

Liberty shoots have a reputation for being a fun shoot to attend as the club always put a lot of effort into making sure it’s fun. This shoot was their annual two day event with a party bbq on the Saturday night. We had decided to camp again this year with a few of the SVYF  members and booked the Friday and Monday off work. So early Friday morning we packed the car for the three hour drive to Liberty arriving just before 11 am so plenty of time to pitch the tent and settle in.
Liberty Archers campsite

Liberty Archers campsite

The camp site was already very busy with caravans and tents popping up along the access road, with some having arrived the previous day.
Liberty Camp chats

Liberty SVYF camp chats

Friday night meal was the traditional fish and chips from the local chip shop washed down with a couple of bottles of cider whilst sat chatting.
You can read a shoot report from last year’s event here.

One really nice tradition that Liberty Archers do is when a member leaves (they have several members that are associated with the armed forces and are transferred to other bases or countries) the archer shoots an arrow into the leavers tree.

The leavers Tree

The leavers Tree

Saturday night party 
This years theme was a Night at the movies which resulted in some fantastic costumes on show for the Saturday night party. Including a full Sister Act quior,  Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, Beetlejuice and Marilyn Monroe not to forget the jedi knights, Snow White and Mr and Mrs Shrek  wondering round. Sharon was as always magnificent going to town on a Maleficent costume.
Sharon, Jane and Jill were sponsored to shoot the Sunday course in full fancy dress costumes so we had Marilyn Monroe Beetlejuice and Maleficent wondering round the woods.

The charity team

The charity team (from left to right Jane, Jill and Sharon)

Felt sorry for any cars driving past the site as they caught glimpses of these characters. At least one motorcycle pillion took a double look. The charity to benefit is the British heart foundation and to dare over £135 has been raised. A just giving page has been set up too here is the link.

The course 
All 42 targets on the courses had a film theme from Star Wars to Citizen Kane with some requiring audience participation such as the Monty Python shot at a vampire rabbit where your fellow archers were to use coconut cups to make the sound of horse hooves as you were shooting.

As course sites go Liberty is very flat and covered in open woodland of silver birch and oaks. Thankfully this year the weather  wasn’t as hot as last year which made it a more  cumfortable couple day in woods.

Tegan and Sam

Tegan and Sam

Shooting group on both days would include Sharon and myself along with fellow Svyf members Sam and Tegan. On Saturday we were joined by Simon but he didn’t shoot Sunday.

I didn’t shoot well on Saturday and it was obvious in my score of 600 points fare lower than I wanted and in the number of second arrows I took. I seemed to be going over the top of everything.
Sharon shooting a bedded deer

Sharon shooting a bedded deer

One thing with Liberty is the ground swallows arrows as it’s quite sandy and grassy so we spent a lot of time searching for arrows. There is still one of mine somewhere out there.
Sams luckiest shot of weekend

Sams luckiest shot of weekend

Robo Deer made an appearance though with a new paint job.

Robo Deer with paint job on Sunday

Robo Deer with paint job on Sunday

The course is a full 42 targets with 3d targets of all shapes and sizes from mosquitos made up to be giant butterflies to a Magnificent Seven shot which was a herd of deer 3ds in the field. This changed to the seven samurai on the Sunday.

SVYF on the next peg

SVYF on the next peg

One target that was really tough for lighter poundage bows was based on the psycho movie, where you had to shoot through a taught shower curtain to hit a 3D bear. The curtain caused the lighter bows to either fail to penetrate the plastic sheet or deflect when their fletching made contact.
I wasn’t looking forward to Sunday following my awful shooting on Saturday.It wasn’t helped by my sinuses playing up, thankfully Sue had some nasal spray that helped clear my head.Matters didn’t improve when on my first target I sailed over the top with first arrow only to have second shatter into multiple pieces when it clipped a tree.

Another Liberty shot between trees

Another Liberty shot between trees

For some reason my head slowly started to  work as the day progressed but any chance on placing was long gone due to poor shooting on Saturday but at least I wasn’t feeling a complete failure.

Sam shooting the singing in the rain themed target

Sam shooting the singing in the rain themed target

Sharon shooting on Sunday in costume

Sharon shooting on Sunday in costume

There were a couple of shots on Sunday that I thought could have been improved with better peg location as shorter archers found them near impossible to see due to undergrowth but in all it was a good course.

Hard shot through the trees

Hard shot through the trees

Sharon proving she can shoot in costume

Sharon proving she can shoot in costume

Sharon came away with first in ladies hunting tackle so she now has an Oscar to fit in the trophy cabinet.

Thanks for reading.
Jul 7 2015

Shoot Report – Hawk Archers – July 2015

Hawks parking

Hawks parking

Hi all, it seems like ages since I wrote a shoot report so here goes.
Last Sunday saw us heading to South Wales for Hawk Archers shoot (here are links to the 2 shoot reports 2014, 2013 if you fancy a read)
I am amazed that not more people make the journey to this shoot, as it is one of the best set, challenging courses on the NFAS circuit. It offers the archers the opportunity to shoot in beautiful woodland and shots seldom seen elsewhere on the circuit, like 20-40 yard up or downhill targets. This little hidden gem of a course in the Welsh country side is well worth tracking down.
Hawk - uphill 3D deer

Hawk – uphill 3D deer

At Hawk’s grounds they have ample parking spaces in a field a short stroll from administration and unlike some grounds the field was bone dry so you weren’t slipping and sliding trying to park up.
first target of the day - hessian

first target of the day – hessian

On Sunday we would be joined by Scott and Lisa-Marie from Druids to shoot round Hawks course.

Shoot group

Shoot group

So our group would be three flatbow and Sharon on hunting tackle. We had a great laugh and despite  a brief shower just before lunch an otherwise dry and warm day.
3D Deer in the sun

3D Deer in the sun

Considering there were I think 5 people who set this 36 target course it was an amazing achievement. Sadly the club recently lost one of its members to cancer and for this reason they ran a collection in aid of the Sue Ryder fund. The course was comprised of 36 targets, mostly 3d targets with a few paper and hessian targets.

3D Bedded antelope

3D Bedded antelope

One great shot was the double predator prey, where you had to hit both predators before you could take a shot at the prey. I managed only two of the predators so never got to try my hand at the deer.

Sharon studying a shot between the trees

Sharon studying a shot between the trees

Speaking to a couple of archers at other shoots and I mention I’m going to Hawk Archers their response has been “tough shoot or stretched targets.” I feel this is a little unfair, Hawk is a great course to test you and your archery skills. They have well set targets that will have you reaching for your second arrow because you misjudged the distance or misread the ground and not because the target is stretched. The other thing is the atmosphere at the shoot is always relaxed and friendly.
I think Sundays course was one of the best courses I’ve shot there and great fun. Despite Sharon feeling she shot badly she came away with a first place in ladies Hunting Tackle with a very respectable 492, by some miracle I managed 546 which got me a first place in American flat bow.

Thanks for reading.