Archery

Weblog 2005

Now that I have attained Bowman and a UK ranking, I need to maintain this each year. I have done a couple of shoots this year already and have already beaten my previous personal best on a FITA, moving from 1092 to 1166.

Cleve

A good weather day. Saturday starts out with overcast and absolutely no wind. This was a good day to shoot and lots of personal bests where shot. On the fourth end I finally got my Six Gold End, which the judges announced to the entire field.

I shot a personal best, but on the final end I felt the pressure of getting close to 600 and dropped two arrows out into the white. I still ended up with 581, but it could have been closer.

In the eliminator, I was drawn against a guy ranked 19 to my 14 and moved up to the next round fairly smoothly, where I met Paul Limb (3). After a tough match we were even at 147 and it went down to a single arrow shoot-off. I put in a 9 but Paul put in a 10. Even so, the best result I have had.

Sunday the weather turned completely around. Heavy Rain and string winds sent a lot of archers home before sighters and most of the rest quit after 3 dozen. After lunch the rain stopped but the damage had been done.

Clophill

Euronations 2005

WMAS Double FITA Star

First big shoot of the year for us. Andrea as moved over to compound this year and this is her first shoot at Lilleshall.

As soon as the first end of scoring arrows started the rain started. The rain got heavier until the 70m was over, but cleared up after lunch. It ended up being a nice afternoon. I shot a personal best, just short of the magic 1100.

Sunday and the weather was better, although not perfect. My score was helped by the following wind, and I ended up with 1166, and the final score needed for 'Bowman'

Weblog 2004

This year I am trying to attain a UK Ranking. To this end I am attending a few premier events throughout the year.

Final Ranking 54th (Published in Archery UK)

NCAS Fita Star and York/Hereford

The NCAS Fita Star was the first event my wife shot in her own right. We shot the Saturday, both shot poorly scraping a 1002 for me.

Sadly a family emergency occurred at the end of 90m affecting both of us. We finished the day but were unable to shoot on the Sunday.

NWAS FITA Star and York/Hereford

Last event of the year on my home ground. Always good fun. As I had got our entries in quite late we were on the end targets of the gents and ladies line respectively.

The Saturday started out wet and I struggled on the 90m but the day dried out and I settled down. I was shooting with the longbow archers and was enjoying the company.

The FITA was reasonable considering the weather and the poor start - 1026, improving my ranking score.

The Sunday started out clear and dry after overnight rain. After drying everything out settled in to the days shooting the York. Whole bunch of longbow men now so we had a great laugh. Found the practice at 90m put me in good condition for the 6 dz at 100yards. I came very close to 6 golds ends at 100 yards on two occasions.

By the time 60 yards had arrived I was firmly on course for a personal best, smashing though with over a dozen to spare. Finished on a perfect dozen to give me my Black Rose award.

Final Ranking score of 4481 to send to GNAS. Now I sit back and wait to see if I qualify.

Cleve Weekend

The Cleve FITA weekend was held on the 17/18th of July at Yate Sports Complex, and I went down for the weekend. At the end of a long stressful week I was looking forward to a good shoot.

The ground was a bit smaller than I expected for a Premier Event, but the weather was okay. The wind was very low and from directly behind the shooting line. Saturday threatened to rain most of the day but brightened up a bit for Sunday.

A FITA 70m round was the order for the day on Saturday followed by a Head to Head in the afternoon. I shot okay, not up to the standard of the weekend before at Clophill, this may have been down to the short amount of time between the shoots. My score came to 520, leaving me in 16th place for the head to head. The elimination round was going okay until the last couple of arrows which drifted down. losing me the round.

Sunday started well on the FITA Star. I had better sight marks and shot a good 90m (for me). Half way through the 70m, my arrows started going to the left and I had to aim off to keep my scores up. This lasted until the end of the 50m when they started to come back in. I still can't think of a reason for this to occur.

An improvement in the score for a FITA of 1056. Not as good as last year but getting better.

Clophill Olympic Weekend

The Clophill Olympic weekend was held on the 10/11 July.

A 70m Round followed by Head 2 Head on Saturday with a double 70m on the Sunday. As this was being held near Milton Keynes this was a long distance for me. I shot the Saturday and the first Olympic on the Sunday.

The weather was excellent with scattered clouds and a following wind. Arrived half way through practice and hurried through setting up, registration, and inspection to allow 2 ends of practice before assembly. Shot quite well in the morning coming in with a new personal best of 534.

Very pleased with myself I went on to the Head 2 Head. Ranked 29th I shot in the 1/32 against a young lad ranked 36th and coped quite well with the stengthing wind. Got though with an 18 arrow pass of 130.

Then I came up against Sandy Gleeson, a GB Paralympic archer ranked 4th. Fine I thought, he'll easily beat me and I'll have the rest of the afternoon off. So I relaxed and shot very well indeed, keeping up with him all the way down the line. Sandy went through with 146 against my 145. A good end to the day until I copied my score down and realised that Sandy's agent (who had been marking my score) had added my score incorrectly. I had scored 149! I was gutted, I had signed for a incorrect score and should have gone through to the 1/8 round.

Spent the rest of the day kicking myself.

Sunday came around and arrived late again, but was ready was minutes to spare.

Sunday's weather was much darker with rain much more likely. With an eye on the clouds I just enjoyed myself, knowing that I would be heading home after lunch. With this in mind I shot very well indeed (for me) and kept my eye on the ball. Last end before the 3 dozen comfort break I missed a 6 gold end by about 10mm. This put me on track for a Target Award and a new personal best. Spent the rest of the morning trying to not let the prospect of a new target award from affecting my shooting.

Finished the day with a 566 and a Black Target Award.

WMAS FITA Star

The WMAS FITA weekend was held on the 2nd of May at Lilleshall, and I went down for the day, opting just to shoot the FITA Star round.

The weather was very good, although the ground was a bit wet. I shot badly, with poor sight marks. During the 90m distance my arrows kept dropping and I kept dropping the sight, but they kept dropping. This really put a damper on my score.

A score of 1023 to start the year.

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Personal Bests