Tag Archives: flatbow

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.

Shooting group at Wolverine
May 2 2018

Shoot Report – Wolverine Archers – April 2018

Wolverine Archers

Wolverine Archers

So we loaded the car on Sunday morning for the drive up the motorway to the Wolverine grounds, while still being slightly jet lagged from our Canadian ski holiday. Due to multiple sets of road works it would prove to be a slow drive north and equally slow drive home at the end of the day. You can read a write up of a previous shoot visit here.

This time there were some 105 archers making the trip and enjoying the shoot, a few less attendees than normal, though still a good turn out. Maybe a few had been put off by the prospect of road works. We were very fortunate to have a great group with Lynne and Mark from Centaura, Lynne shooting Barebow and Mark primitive. Though I have to say that at times we weren’t being overly serious.
Wolverine has got a bit of an unfair rep with some for having parking issues if its wet, which I feel is a little unfair as if you drive carefully you shouldn’t have any problems and there are always plenty of people willing to help if you get stuck.
The course on this occasion would comprise of 36 target comprising a mix of paper and 3D faces, with more 3Ds than paper faces.
Tricky shot at paper face mountain lion between trees

Tricky shot at paper face mountain lion between trees

Downhill 3D boar shot at wolverine

Downhill 3D boar shot at wolverine

3D leaning bear seen from red peg

3D leaning bear seen from red peg

Sharon shooting at Wolverine

Sharon shooting at Wolverine

Sharon shooting at 3D

Sharon shooting at 3D

Lynne shooting at a small 3D dragon up the the hillside

Lynne shooting at a small 3D dragon up the the hillside

Lynne shooting at paper face target between trees and uphill

Lynne shooting at paper face target between trees and uphill

Another 3D boar shot at wolverine. It was actually shoot from the right off a bank

Another 3D boar shot at wolverine. It was actually shoot from the right off a bank

Shooting group at Wolverine

Shooting group at Wolverine

 

I think the laughing round and good humour must have works as we all four of us came away with medals, with 3 first places Sharon, Lynne and myself with Mark getting a second.
Thanks for reading.
Sharon shooting 3D deer
Apr 6 2018

Shoot Report – Harlequin Bowhunters – February 2018

Harlequin Bowhunters

Harlequin Bow hunters NFAS shoot

It had been almost a year since we’d shot Harlequins course, not for any reason other than something always came up, so we were curious to see how it had changed. So on what was a bright but cold Sunday morning we headed north up the motorway to Harlequins grounds. Those interested can read a previous shot report here.

Julie about to start the show

Julie about to start the show

Sadly the start of the shoot was slightly delayed as they suffered from quite a few no shows (over a dozen) which caused the mighty admin team of Julie and Sam some hassle on the day as they tried to re-arrange the remaining 120 or so archers.
There would only be four of us in the shooting group, with big voice and little voice as they were nicknamed or better knows as Colin and Corinne both from Centaura Bowmen joining Sharon and myself.
2D bobcat target in the cover of the tree

2D bobcat target in the cover of the tree

Harlequins ground is pretty flat with dense area of evergreens of Laurel or Rhododendrons, and deciduous woodland, which houses there 36 target course. This being a mix of paper,3D and 2D targets. I have to say I’m not a huge fan of the 2D targets as it can be a real struggle to draw arrows from.
Sharon shooting 3D deer

Sharon shooting 3D deer

The low winter sun and lack of leaf cover on the trees, resulted in us struggling with some shot as they proved very hard to see.
Sharon shooting into the sun between trees

Sharon shooting into the sun between trees

I’m not sure if it was the low level of the sun (I hadn’t picked up my reactolites glasses) or something else, but by lunchtime I had developed a headache, which gradually got worse as the day progressed. The shoot was a shoot through with a couple of opportunities to pass catering and grab some hot food or drink, definitely something that was needed on the day. It was good to see Harlequin seemed to have recovered from the vandalism they suffered last year.
2D Tiger target between the trees

2D Tiger target between the trees

I thought the course was ok, with a mix of short, medium and long shots. There were a few familiar shots along with several new shots that worked well. My only observation was it felt quite tight in a few spots where you were close to next or previous shot, especially if you were the second group waiting to shoot. Having said this I know that they are looking to reset the course in readiness for their next shoot.
As the sun went down so did the temperature, along with making a few shots more challenging to see with the sun in your arrows.
3D target set between the trees

3D target set between the trees in dappled sunlight

Of all the shots I think the one I liked the most was the 2D Kangaroo target in the hollow, it was framed really well and just looked good. Always think if a shoot looks good, archers will enjoy shooting it.
2D Kangaroo target set between the trees in a hollow

2D Kangaroo target set between the trees in a hollow

Though the day was a bit slow especially in the second half, seeing us waiting on most of the targets, we had a good laugh which helped to keep my mind off my headache. By the end of the shoot my head was pounding and painkillers weren’t doing much. For that reason we decided to leave early. This was the first time i’d left a shoot before the prize giving but knowing we had over an hour drive home, due to road works I wanted to get home.
In some ways I was glad we left when we did as by the time we had got home my headache had got worse despite the painkillers. I was worried it might be developing into a full blown migraine, which sadly it did by Monday. I ended up spending most of Monday in bed, with the curtains drawn. Thankfully I don’t get migraines often.
Thanks for reading.