Tag Archives: arrow

Mar 17 2014

Shoot report – Centaura Archers – March 2014

Sharon getting ready for shoot

Sharon getting ready for the shoot

This last weekend we took a break from sorting the garden and on Sunday we headed north to just outside of Derby for a return to the Centaura Field Bowmen grounds. It had been a couple of years since we had last shot this ground and not since Pete Bates had passed away. Pete had been a very well known character on the field archery circuit in the Midlands and had been the driving force behind Centaura for years.
Bench donated to the club in memory of Pete

Bench donated to the club in memory of Pete

Considering the very wet winter weather we have endured in the UK, Sunday  was an absolutely lovely early spring day. Bright sunshine and blue skies all day, with our temperature gauge in the car showing 15 degrees when we left to head home late afternoon. Pub beer garden weather or better still shooting weather.
Practise bosses before the start

Practise bosses before the start

The shoot was to be a wooden arrow only shoot, with the course being a 36 target, mix of 3D and paper faces. Normally wooden arrow only shoots have a low turnout but there were over 100 archers split across the different classes of longbow American flat bow and hunting tackle attending the event.

Great Atmosphere

I think it would fair to say  that the shoot was probably one of the most relaxed and laid back shoots I have been on for a very long time. Everyone was smiling and relaxed with very few hold ups on the course.
There was a brief lunch break between 12:30 -1:15 which was necessary as the club ground doesn’t really make for a shoot through.
Post lunch break

Post lunch break

Woodland regeneration

The club is presently working with the local council on a 10 year project of woodland management to rejuvenate the woodland. It’s very obvious how much work has started with clearing and felling of some trees which has opened up areas.

The course

As I’ve said earlier the 36 target course felt split into two main sections one part having the shorter more technical shots dictated by the terrain.

Polo shot

Polo shot

We started on peg 11 which I will call the polo shot. A hole had been cut into a foam boss with a second boss positioned some  5 yards or so behind. You had to shoot through the hole to hit the target, a paper raccoon.

Starting Peg with Sharon, Dave and Graham

Starting Peg with Sharon, Dave and Graham

We were delighted to see Dave and Graham waiting on the peg, longbow archers we’d shot with before.  Our day was filled with jokes and laughter with little consideration of the competition and more about having a good fun day shooting with friends. Thanks guys.
There were some challenging shots out there though an Ermin at 3 yards and low to the ground. Sharon nailed this with a near perfect shot. In fact she nailed the 2 smallest targets on the course,  scoring 24 points on each.

Sharon as she shot the ermin

Sharon as she shot the ermin

There were a couple of predator prey shots one being a crocodile 3d with a 3D goose in its mouth.
There was also a deceptively difficult little 3d fox which caught a few people out.

Graham on 3D fox

Graham on 3D fox

Another was a nice herd shot of 3 3Ds all deer of different sizes and distances.

It was good to catch up with so many old friends who we hadn’t seen since moving house 18 months ago. SVYF came away with a few placings Chris Harley came second in longbow and Sharon and I managed to come away with firsts in Ladies and Gents Hunting Tackle.

I’m sure that with the work the club has already undertaken and are planning it will go from strength to strength.
As always thanks for reading.
Mar 4 2014

Early spring weekend activity

spring is almost here - snowdrops

spring is almost here – snowdrops

In one quiet less muddy corner of the car park there were a few signs of spring.
Whilst at the wood this weekend helping to prepare for next month shoot we bumped into a couple of friends Irene and David walking off the course having been down to the wood early.
In hand was an example of good grouping. Dave had been shooting his compound bow at the target but lost sight of where the arrow hit so thought he’d have another go.
A Course - Target 10

A Course – Target 10

The result a “Robin Hood” on the first arrow.

Robin hood arrow shot

Robin hood arrow shot

If you look closely you can see the carbon threads. Good shooting Dave though a bit costly on the old arrow front.
Just a quick note to Chris, Keith, Badger and Denzil. Well done guys on getting the new B course up and running over the weekend, 20 new shots all set up in 2 days is great going.

Also thanks to other members of the club who helped laying gravel on the entrance path  (50 odd bags of it) along with the 2 bags of hard core that went on filling in the ruts in the car park. Really good to see so many members helping out.
Thanks for reading.
Feb 24 2014

Shoot report – Paget de Vesey – February 2014

Well the Field archery season has started with a very, very windy Paget shoot thankfully the rain stayed away.  (An unusual event this winter). Though not officially the start as you can shoot all year round, I always think of Paget as the start of the shooting year.  (Previous reports can be found here 2013)
On this occasion we were joined by Roy and Karen from Frankley Bowmen each with new bows or limbs in Karen case and a new longbow for Roy. Our thanks to them for making it a really enjoyable day.
Sharon and Karen at Paget

Sharon and Karen at Paget

As always the food was fantastic with two separate food huts providing ample quantities of hot food, cakes and gallons of tea and coffee.

The course

The course layers set a challenging course made more so by the extremely strong winds in a couple of areas of the woods. The Paget ground is made up of 2 woods and the course was split between the 2. In hindsight I think it might have been better to move a few pegs closer in to the targets to make shorter shots that would have been less affected by the wind. Though it is a challenge enough to set a course that works, factoring in the weather makes it really hard.
They had also suffered from falling trees in recent storms resulting in course changes. Well done guys .
The course itself comprised of 36 mixed 3Ds and paper faces. The club capped the total number of competitors to 180 but with a few no shows on the day it meant most pegs had 4 archers making for an easy flowing day.

3D lion in tree

3D lion in tree

Another great shot was a 3D crocodile between tree stumps which gave a lovely window shot. Sorry I didn’t get a photo of this one. I did manage to get one of the mountain lion in the tree which was a lovely setting.

Arrow Casualties

With the strong wind it was somewhat inevitable there would be a few casualties, with Sharon breaking one but it was Roy who won the prize for the most unusual casualty. It’s not uncommon to see arrows snap behind the pile or in half if they encounter a branch, but I’ve never seen an arrow split like Roys.
Roy misjudged one target and skimmed the top of the boss. Clattering into some branches. After a short search we spotted it and appeared fine until you picked it up.

Image arrow looks fine

Image arrow looks fine

It had split down the line of the grain.

Split down grain

Split down grain

They say imitation is a great compliment if so I’m feeling very happy. In a recent post I made reference to a different kind of shot where there was 1 target face but at different sizes. Paget members who had shot it at our shoot liked the idea so much they copied the idea putting out a very similar shot.

Ironically this was the only target I missed all day as when I drew up for it a combination of wind and hand slipping resulted in me releasing early 😦
Neither Sharon or I felt we shot particularly well with the lack of practice evident but it was a good day shooting and catching up with friends.
SVYF did well coming away with a few medals. Well done to Chris Harley on her placing in ladies longbow. Next time keep focused and stop getting distracted. Congrats to young Alfie in placing in his first ever shoot.
Thanks for reading.