Long time followers will know that I have a soft spot for Black Arrow Field Archers Club or BAFAC. It was the first field archery club we joined and we learnt so much there from the great coaches and people.

First off though I’d like to say how good it was to catch up with Clwyd_Archer Nathan and chat. Add to that the good company we had in our shooting group with Joy joining us again, seems to be the norm for Black arrow shoots. She must be a gluten for punishment or just enjoy my dry sense of humour.

Before I dive into the write up here are the links to the episode for Amazon music and Spotify

Pre shoot preparation

I was not feeling confident physically or mentally for the shoot. I’d been playing around with Barebow for the previous few weeks and then remembered I’d booked in hunting tackle so it was a sudden rush to try and find some suitable wooden arrows. I found some that were working okay but I wasn’t feeling the confidence even after a Saturday at the woods.

In the end I decided to swap to my old Blackbrook tdr (take down recurve) even though I had been struggling a bit with the heavier draw weight.

An early Morning

Bafac is just over an hours drive for us so, an early start not helped by the clocks going back on Saturday night so an hour less sleep. We all know I need my beauty sleep. As I said earlier we would be joined by Joy in our shooting group.

The course was all 3D targets and we started on target 16 a shot across a couple of mounds, followed by a cleverly set ram in a hollow that made you wonder if it was a bedded ram. As we started on target 16 we would be having our first stop between 18 and 19. We decided not to bother stopping for food and drink and headed off to target 19 a small dragon 3d, which I do like. I normally don’t like fantasy targets but this one was pretty cool.

Sorry there aren’t many photos as the weather turned in the afternoon making it a wet and cold end of the day.

After about 8 targets things slowed down lots as we caught up with the group in front. From then on until we stopped at target 36 for the next break, we were waiting on nearly every shot as they were delayed by the group in front and we were waiting for them. I think there was a bottle neck somewhere in a couple of groups in front but not sure.

The afternoon was tiring as I think we were all getting cold and a bit tired by that point, possibly due to the loss of an hour sleep. The hot chilli at lunch break was really needed, the perfect mix of slightly spicy and very warming. By the time we got to have food we’d shot over 21 targets and needed food and to warm up

There was a nice new 3d target I hadn’t seen previously, a large male bedded lion, shot through gaps in foliage that made the distance hard to read for many.

There were a couple of clever shots where I misjudged myself and kicked self as I went over the top, I think that is partly due to not having shot the bow for several months or longer with wooden arrows. I prefer using woods with the TDR than carbons.

There was only 1 shot I felt uncomfortable with and that was the 3D owl on target 11. Not because of the angle or distance but because as I drew up to take the shot I saw a group of archers walk behind the target. The target was about 20 yards, with catching bosses another 5 yards behind. The thing was as I drew up I saw movement some distance behind the catching bosses approximately 20 yards but it caught my eye due to lack of foulage on the trees, and the first archer wearing bright red. There followed 2 other groups and martials so we stopped shooting for a while to ensure it was clear. I think the shot was safe but could have been improved with some form of screen such a net or taller boss to block the view.

Looking back at score card I had 1 x 3^rd arrow which was a bear down a stream bed,  8 x 2^nd arrows the rest 27 were 1^st arrows and 4 spots so in hindsight not that bad. Sadly I did break a couple of arrows, both when I hit the target and the arrow flicked off and hit the boss behind, with a horrible snapping sound.

Overall it was a good shoot, just a bit slow at times, which made it feel a long tiring day. I’m glad I carry disposable hand warmers in the car as these were needed after lunch just to warm up you hands. So even with the delays there’s little doubt we will be back.

I managed a second place in Hunting Tackle, with Sharon placing second in ladies flatbow and our son 1^st in unlimited. He decided to shoot off the yellow pegs rather than the orange for nearly ever target as he moves up after his 9^th birthday.

Thanks for reading and support.