Tag Archives: blog

Feb 1 2019

NFAS proposal votes – in 2 minds

It is that time of year again when the NFAS or National Field Archery Society to give its full title open the doors to voting by its members on various rule changes or amendments. It is a great way for the membership to contribute and offer ideas for change. This year is a little different though as the NFAS committee has called on its members to support one rules change or rather, as the committee have put it, a rules clarification.

The amendment is to the shooting rules and is to clarify that archers are not allowed to use binoculars. It is this which I am a little conflicted over.
I want to show my support for the committee, who are all volunteers and are doing what they believe is in the best interests of the society. They want to remove any possible confusion concerning the rules which does make sense.

However, I have for a number of years been supportive to the idea of using binoculars. This I know is unpopular with some in the society who have a different opinion. It is my belief that with the tendency for some course layers to push targets further and further back, making it harder and harder to see if the arrow is scoring or not. I see this being a particular problem with paper faces as with a 3D you can normally tell if you are in by the sound of the arrow hitting the 3D. After all the sound of an arrow impacting a paper face is the same if it’s in the scoring area or not.
My feeling is that binoculars could help this by removing some of the ambiguity allowing an archer to see if they are in or not and potentially resulting in archers not having to take multiple arrows. I know some say it will slow a shoot down, but having shot at the 3DA competition where binoculars are allowed it didn’t appear to slow anyone down.

Can you see it?

Can you see it?

So there is my quandary do I support the committee and vote for the proposal or against the committee and vote to reject the proposal and in turn possibly have binoculars in the society.
I’m really not sure.

Thanks for reading

Sharon shooting a 3D between the trees
Dec 14 2018

Shoot report – Spirit of Sherwood – December 2018

Spirit of Sherwood December shoot

Spirit of Sherwood December shoot

On a chilly and slightly damp Sunday Sharon and I headed to the Spirit of Sherwood grounds. It is a course we have shot numerous times before and you can check out the previous review here. This shoot would be a wooden arrow only

Sadly this was the first time I have ever had to withdraw from a shoot but after falling fowl of a chesty cough I did not feel up to shooting the entire course and withdrew after a few shots. A couple of days later and following a visit to the local doctors surgery I would be diagnosed with a chest infection and on a course of antibiotics. So this is a bit of a short review.

Anyway back to the somewhat brief shoot report. There were 36 targets on the course mostly 3Ds, sadly I only got to see a few, but he ones I did view were set to the normal high standards expected of SOS courses.

One of the more open shots

One of the more open shots

I spoke to a few people who said they had a long slow day, having to wait on targets. I think might be due to the popularity of Spirit of Sherwood. It attracts a lot of archers of all levels, which is great but can sometimes cause delays.

Sharon shooting a 3D goat

Sharon shooting a 3D goat

Of the few shots I did get to see was a very nicely set Ram 3D positioned by a tree stump. I think it was a great bit of course laying and what made it a good shot was that you weren’t sure of the size of the target or exact angle of the 3D.

Close up of the 3D goat shot

Close up of the 3D goat shot

I think Sharon probably had the luckiest shot of the day where she managed to get a very lucky shot on a 3D bear.

Sharon showing off her trick shooting with a lucky shot on a 3D bear

Sharon showing off her trick shooting with a lucky shot on a 3D bear

As has become a trademark of the Christmas shoot at Spirit of Sherwood there were boxes of quality street boxes located round the course.

The woodland terrain is flat with the course arranged in three loops round a central admin and catering spot, making it pretty easy to get round.

The course layers make good use of the tree covers affording for framed shots using the trees to provide avenues for archers to negotiate.

Another thing that Spirit are famous for is their cake stall and if you ever have the chance of shooting there make sure you get the cakes early as they disappear very quickly.

Archers gathering at the Spirit of Sherwood cake stall

Archers gathering at the Spirit of Sherwood cake stall

I do wonder what the future will hold for the club as their grounds are due to be visited by loggers in the next few months and going by the number of trees marked for removal I wonder what the woods will look like. Here’s hoping for the best for the club as they set some of the best courses in the NFAS in my view.

As always thanks for reading. I would also like to say thanks for following this blog over the past year. I appreciate all the comments on here or in person.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Christmas, with safe journeys and great memories. Good luck for the New Year too.

Close up of bear and forester
Sep 7 2018

Shoot Report – Spirit of Sherwood – August 2018

Spirit of Sherwood muster

Spirit of Sherwood muster

Firstly before I start this shoot report I along with Sharon would like to say a huge thanks to a wonderful host Karen for putting us up for the night and for the great Bar-B-Que on Saturday night before the shoot. The grounds are quite a long drive for us, so being able to stay over the night before was great. Anyway back to the important thing for you, the shoot report.

Spirit of Sherwood’s is a favourite for ours and has been for many years.  You can read a previous shoot report here if you are interested.

As normal Spirit of Sherwood is well attended

As normal Spirit of Sherwood is well attended

For those not familiar with Spirit of Sherwood’s grounds, it offers pretty flat terrain with a mix of woodland and as always is well attended. The course would comprise of 40 targets of mostly 3D targets.

As normal with Spirit of Sherwood’s course it is organised into 3 loops as it meanders round the mix leaf woodland around a central catering and admin point. There would be 5 of use in our shooting group that Sunday Derek, Chris and Nigel, joining Sharon and myself.

Sharon on the peg at Spirit of Sherwood

Sharon on the peg at Spirit of Sherwood

It would prove to be a very warm day which took a toll on many of the archers, ourselves included. To combat this Spirit had organised a series of water stations on the course, where people could top up there bottles. One very considerate factor was including a water source for the dogs too.

shot from the tower returned

shot from the tower returned

There were some familiar shots to those that have shot Spirit before, such as the shot from the tower, though it must be said that there has to be a very artistic member of Spirit of Sherwood clan as there are a couple of really amazing hand painted target faces. This includes the orc from the tower and a very cool large spider.

Shot between the trees at the Spirit of Sherwood shoot

Shot between the trees at the Spirit of Sherwood shoot

In contrast there was one paper face that was pretty tough to make out, that of the badger which was pretty hard to make out even when next to it.

3D target at Spirit of Sherwood

3D target at Spirit of Sherwood

As it was it would prove to be a slow day and I think this was largely due to the weather, sapping peoples strength, though I did here there were a couple of slow groups, which may have added to the delays. Possibly Spirit is a victim of its own success as it is known for being a good shoot and is very popular amongst many in the NFAS. It is also a shoot popular with newbies as the target are set at sensible distances and the terrain is fairly easy to navigate.

Sharon shooting at Spirit of Sherwood

Sharon shooting at Spirit of Sherwood

One shot which I thought showed a great level of creativity was that of the tree surgeon or forester stuck up a tree with a large black bear 3d below looking hungrily upwards. Great bit of course laying as the bear was set at a good sensible distance and nice scene setting.

3D bear and forester shot

3D bear and forester shot

The fun shot of the shoot saw the return of the moving target, the now famous or should that be infamous barn door. Complete with the sticker for those that missed.

View from the peg of shoot between the trees

View from the peg of shoot between the trees

Tough shot between the trees at a small 3D

close up of shot between the trees at a small 3D

Think the only down side of the event was outside of the organisers control, as the caters ran out of water! Not great as I think everyone was gasping for a drink by the end of the day.

Sharon didn’t shoot well in the afternoon and I think this was down to feeling tired from the heat and though she denies it I think having a sausage bap at lunch when feeling warm was not a good plan. We both came away with second places in flatbow.

Thanks for reading.