Not Quite Lilleshall

Last weekend saw the Archery GB County Team Tournament at Lilleshall.  I wasn't there (see below), but two of our club members, Dave M and Martin C were representing Surrey on the Men's Compound team, along with Chris M from the Woking club.  I guess we are pretty lucky to have two talented archers in the club, especially as they are both really supportive of other members, whatever their level.

This competition is a tough one and takes place over two days. The first day was a 50m qualification round followed by a team head-to-head with winners decided on a cumulative score. The second day everyone shot a World Archery 1440 round for a cumulative score.  The head-to-head was timed, with all three archers having to complete their shots in sequence within a specified time, which increases the pressure somewhat.

The Gents compound team came 12th out of 21 teams, with the Surrey Ladies compound team taking first place.  The Surrey Gents recurve team were placed 11th out of 25 and there was no Ladies recurve team entered.  Full results including the head-to-head knock-out rounds can be seen here.

Surrey Compound Team - Martin C, Dave M and Chris M

This was a busy weekend for the EA family, as Mrs EA was away with Miss EA looking at universities in Leeds (Friday) and Birmingham (Sunday), while myself and EA jnr were at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex for Scoutabout from Friday to Saturday night. This event is held every three years and 5000 Surrey scouts and guides have the opportunity to take part in hundreds of different activities ranging from parascending to making fake wounds.  As well as helping out with the catering and organisation of my own scout group, I had also volunteered to help run the bellringing on a portable mini-ring - three hours on Saturday morning and three in the afternoon.  This was my first experience of a portable ring of bells, and the first time ringing outside in the rain! Although the bells were relatively small, running have-a-go sessions for absolute novices was quite tiring.  EA jnr definitely didn't want to come home on Saturday evening, but home we came ready to shoot on Sunday.

While the more capable archers were at Lilleshall, three of the EA family were signed-up to take part in the Sheila Brown Memorial Shoot on Sunday, which is organised and hosted by Mole Valley Bowmen in Leatherhead.  EA jnr and Mrs EA had shot in the event last year, but it was a first for me. Although the official gents' round was a York, I have never shot 100yds so had entered the Hereford instead.  There was a good turn-out by members of our club with three compound and one barebow archer shooting Yorks, three lady recurve archers and myself shooting Herefords, EA jnr shot a Bristol II and our other junior shot a Bristol III.

Conditions were bright but cool during the longer distances in the morning, and the wind and cloud increased steadily towards lunchtime.  I was quite pleased with my first distance (80yds), but found conditions fairly challenging.  I was not alone, as many other archers were commenting on the variability of the wind across the field, which was affecting many people's shots.  At 80yds I am not able to aim at the gold using a consitent anchoring position, so had to aim at the flag above the boss, but that did not seem to affect my scores too much, even though the flags were very small and difficult to see.

The wind seemed to get worse during the afternoon and as the cloud built.  During the final distance we had a couple of sharp showers, which sent people scurrying for their waterproofs or the shelter of their tents. I work near Leatherhead and can recall a couple of occasions in recent years when there have been mini-tornados in the area, so I was half expecting to see one!

After the obligatory raffle (no prizes this time) it was time for the results.  The Nonsuch team managed to pick up six medals: Mike F won bronze for gents York barebow; RA won gold for Bristol III recurve and bronze for junior boys overall handicap; EA Jnr won gold for Bristol II compound and silver for boys overall handicap and I won gold for gents Hereford barebow.  I am pleased to come away with my first bit of archery bling, but I was the only one in that category and must bow to the others who got theirs by shooting better than other people.  If you are wondering why Mike is holding a bottle of wine in the picture below, it is his prize for being the first person to put an arrow through one of the brand new target numbers.

Mike F, EA jnr, Me and RA

I know it is not quite Lilleshall, but we put ourselves up against our peers and had some success.  Whilst it is probably a little late for me, I would not be at all surprised to see these juniors competing at a higher level than this in the years to come.