Happy New Year! With the passing of 2013 I thought it was high time that I put fingers to keyboard and put together a quick review of my year in archery. Actually, it isn't quite a year as the first lesson of my beginner's course was on 26 January, and a lot has happened since.
Looking back, I think I can say that I have made some good progress. I am never going to become an Olympian and there is plenty of room for improvement. However the improvement in my handicap over the last year (80 to 53) was one of the best in the club so I am quite pleased. As I did not have a handicap at the start of 2013, I am not eligible for the GNAS Handicap Improvement Medal, but Mrs EA is one of the four members who will be having a shoot-off this weekend to decide the winner.
So what were the best bits of my first year in archery? Above all, I have to say that the very best part of last year was meeting and shooting with a great bunch of people and making some very good friends. There is nothing to beat having a chinwag between ends, and it's nice to get together away from the field, too.
Also high on my list is having entered three external competitions: two outdoors and one indoors. If you haven't shot outside you club yet, don't be daunted and have a go - the organizers are usually very helpful and the more experienced archers are always encouraging to newbies. If you are with other members from your club so much the better.
At this time of year it as also fashionable (me? fashionable?) to outline your goals for the forthcoming year, so here goes.
1. Improve my consistency
2. Achieve my 2nd class classification
3. Regularly shoot at 70m and above
4. Enter at least three outside competitions
The first of these is the least measurable of all of the goals, so I had better explain what I mean. Over that past three or four months I have not been able to shoot as often as I would like and I have noticed a definite downturn in my performance from my best of last summer, and this is borne-out if you look at the graph on my shooting records page. Some of this is definitely down to poor technique and the return of bad habits, but I also think that I am pushing my current equipment to its limits, especially at 60m and above, so I will be looking to upgrade my arrows from aluminium XX75 to aluminium/carbon composite. In a few months I may also upgrade my limbs in terms of both draw weight and quality.
I am hoping that the lighter arrows will give me better consistency at longer distances and thus enable me to shoot lower handicap scores. Second class requires shooting at a handicap of 50 and, at my best, this is definitely within reach. The jump to first class (handicap of 44) is a much bigger ask, and requires consistent shooting at 70m, so this may be a step too far. However, it will not stop me having a go! If you are wondering where I got the classification figures, I used Google to find this page.
Last year I volunteered as Field Crew at the Surrey County Championships, which takes place over a weekend in July, and this year I intend to enter. I turn 50 at the end of January so I will be eligible to shoot in the Masters class, which is a 70m round. Senior archers under 50 must shoot a 90m round, which will probably be beyond me at that time. There are a number of other competitions that I will also enter. I am unlikely to win any silverware, but I will enjoy the day.
Finally, I think I should add one more goal:
5. Don't leave it more than two months before your next post!
Good shooting!
