Tag Archives: new year

Jan 12 2017

End of 2016 and questions for 2017

I don’t feel that I can say 2016 ended on an archery high note for Sharon or I.

Despite through the year we were placed at several shoots and with both of us securing placings at the NFAS National Championships again this year. We feel pretty low archery wise.

So why is this the case?

Simple, In December we were sent a formal letter from the club committee, informing us we have had our club membership for 2017 refused, in effect thrown out of the club. So despite our efforts in winning medals, reroofing shelters and setting courses at the club, we weren’t wanted. As is so often the case the rumours in the archery grapevine have already started as to what has caused this. Don’t worry I’m not going to have a whole soap opera style hissy fit or start throwing accusations. What’s done is done.  So Why did happen or trigger this?

There were a number of reasons cited in the letter but in short  we’d upset long standing members of the club by our actions and behaviour, having an over-officious attitude possibly when setting course or doing safety checks. We don’t know and since there is no appeal we can’t find out.  These members had complained in writing over several months to the committee. Apparently they also believed we wanted to take over the club. I’m not going to cite the entire contents of the letter but I think you have the feel of it.

Why didn’t they just talk to us in person or committee mention the concerns rather than leave it to this final action? Who knows, guess only they do. 

What I do know is the end of the 2016 found Sharon and I clubless and thinking long and hard about our future in archery. Sharon has been very hurt and upset by the whole thing, as have I. 

We’d both like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who when they heard or read our Facebook posts and comments have offered support. Not forgetting those who have called or spoken to us directly. Please  believe me when I say we both appreciate it greatly. 

The whole thing has left me feeling numb and second guessing myself. You try your best to contribute and support your club, but I now wonder whether our actions were wanted. You do your best to set a good standard of safety and support to all members, new and old, but is it seen as a threat? As I’ve said I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and second guessing myself. It’s also made me question any future role in any club, society or whether being a panda is better plan.

Why a panda ? Well it’s a phrase I heard from a fellow archer some years ago.

Eats, shoots and leaves: a Panda doesn’t look to do anything else other than turn up, shoot their bow round the course and leave or in short just turn up and shoots without the complications or involvement. Guess it is a good way to avoid being hurt. 

Normally at this time of year  I would be looking at the shoot calendar working out which ones to book on but not so sure now.

So 2017 is a year we start clubless and unsure whether any club would now want us as members having been thrown out of a well established previous club. It’s also made me want to step back from archery. Sharon is still passionate about archery, wanting to get back out shooting. I’m less comfortable with the thought of this right now. There are many people who I miss seeing but have in the back of my mind the thought that some of the supposed friends weren’t or maybe weren’t as honest as we thought. Also wonder what people will have heard about us, after all we’ve effectively been thrown out of a club for our behaviour. 

It is said that memories last far longer than the events which trigger them and I am cursed with a long memory .

Thanks for reading. Good luck to all in 2017.

Jan 9 2014

New year resolutions? Don’t keep them for new year..

Sunrise on a new year

Sunrise on a new year

I know this is the time of year that many people start thinking about the future months and make various new year resolutions from, losing weight and eating healthily to quitting smoking etc. In archery terms its more likely to be related to I will practise more, I’ll try and increase my average or personal best etc.

Personally I’m not a big one for new year resolutions.

Why? Well I guess I think if these changes are so important why wait until the new year?

Though I can understand that many people use the start of the new year as the reason for a change which is fair enough. But what I would say is don’t let an early failure or set back stop you. We are all full of good intentions after Christmas, wanting to achieve stuff etc but as time goes on our good intentions don’t always materialise into ongoing good actions.

This can be down to a lack of motivation, working life impact on spare time or health issues.

Take me for an example. Since Christmas I had planned to get to the gym and do more archery practise, this has failed thanks to having a chesty cough / cold for over 2 weeks. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to make the change, just that its delayed.

Guess what I am saying is, if you don’t get to the gym or have a relapse into unhealthy eating, don’t let it stop you from having another go. It doesn’t have to be New year resolution to make a change. You can make a change two weeks in or two months. Remember few things that are worthwhile work first time. Think back to when you were a child, chances are you fell over a few times before you managed to learn to walk.

One last thing I’d say…

Lots of people make new year resolutions that focus on themselves. Why not think about a resolution to help others or your club?

BAFAC workday04

Volunteer to help out at your club

All archery clubs need the support of their members, not just in turning up to shoot the course but in maintenance of the facility, clearing paths, repairing targets etc. Why not make one of your resolutions to be give up a afternoon a month to help maintain your clubs grounds or help out at a have a go session.

Anyway Happy New year all and good luck with all your endeavors this year and the future.

Thanks for reading.

Jan 1 2014

Equipment Review – Bohning fletching tape

With the stormy weather hitting the UK at present, many archers are retreating to the indoor ranges or their making and doing rooms and sheds, fletching arrows and sorting gear for the new season. It’s been not so much of a white Christmas and New Year as a very, very wet one.

Here is hoping everyone is safe, warm and dry.

I thought I might take this opportunity to post my findings on using Bohning fletching tape. Been a while since I’ve written a review so here goes.

Just to make this clear from the outset. These are my views and opinions. I have no commercial interest in these products I review or the companies.

Double sided tape

Bohning Double sided tape

For years I have been using fletching glue to attach my feather fletching to the wood shafts. HMG has been my glue of choice. The only issue I’ve had is the time it takes for the adhesive to cure which is 15-20 minutes depending on air temperature.

For plastic vanes I’ve used simple bostic glue from local hardware shop which seems to work well on Sharon’s aluminium eclipse arrows.

At a shoot last year I was mentioning this and Bob one of our old club members from Black Arrow mentioned he used double sided fletching tape for all of his arrows and had never had any problems. Bob shoots longbow for both field and roving so his arrows can take some abuse. No offence Bob if you are reading this.

Initially I found applying the tape a little fiddly. Not so much when taking it off the roll and applying to the feather, but when trying to take the second covering layer off the tape when applying the fletching to the arrow shaft, but you get used to it.

Make sure you have aligned the fletching right as the tape adheres fast so you don’t have the time to re align if you make a mistake.

Quick tip. Ensure the shaft is dry and free from any dust which would cause poor adhesion. I don’t oil or varnish the shafts prior to fletching them.

Using the tape saves a lot of time as I found it quick and easy to use once you got the hang of it. I was able to fletch half dozen arrows in 15 minutes a significant time saving as it used to take 45-55 minutes using the glue to fletch one arrow.

Allow a little more at each end

Allow a little more at each end to make it easier to apply.

Leave a little extra at the front and rear of the fletching as it makes it easier to remove the second side of the tape and easier to apply the fletching to the shaft.

Extra length at front

Extra length at front

I was concerned the tape might come off in the rain but so far so good. I’ve been using the arrows for a little over six months and they seem okay.

My other concern was if the fletching might peel off the shaft, but this hasn’t happened either. I don’t know if this might be different if you varnished the wood first.

They have stood up to all the normal abuse I can throw at them, from being soaked in the rain, to encounters with trees and other vegetation. I’ve also used the tape for a new set of wooden arrows for Sharon and they seem to eb working well for her too.

Not sure how well it would work on plastic fletching but I am thinking of testing this shortly so it might be an update in near future.

The tape is available from most good archery shops, I got mine from Merlin in Loughborough. (http://www.merlinarchery.co.uk/bohning-feather-fletching-tape.html) I’ve used less than half the roll so far and produced a couple of dozen arrows so its pretty good value for money at just under £7 a roll.

So in short my verdict is thumbs up for Bohning tape, a good product that can save you a lot of time. 9/10 (could be higher if I had chance to try it on shafts other than wood)

Let me know if you have any experiences with this or anything else.

Happy New Year and as always thanks for reading.