20 Years of ArcheryHistoryCommitment to ExcellencePracticingPassion
At Canford Magna Bowmen, we are passionate about the world of archery. Founded 2012, we have been dedicated to the practice of and furthering the sport of archery
2002
The club was formed by seven archers which include two who are with the club today, Caroline and Dave Lawrence. The club was first formed at Hamworthy Club and hence the name of the club was called Canford Magna Bowmen due to area the club was in. Our first club Secretary’s were Stewart Russell and Chris Jordan for the first 18 months of the club’s existence.
2004
Kinson Archery club closed, Mervyn Card and Geoff Gunson joined CMB. Geoff soon became the club coach. Due to the Kinson club closure half a dozen archers joined and bought equipment with them which our club utilised in the earlier days.
2006
The first End of Season Handicap Tournament was held doing the National round with 26 competing archers. First club Postal league for Portsmouth and Frostbite rounds. First club Winters League started November. The club colours of Blue and White were registered to the GNAS. (Archery GB). The club’s first Christmas dinner was held at Cobhams. The first Junior section for CMB was created, called CMB Robbins. Caroline Lawrence and Dave Lawrence were selected for the County Team (Dorset and Wiltshire) and were the first club members to shoot the Inter counties tournament.
2008
Indoor range roof gutters cleaned for the first time to help stop the water coming in and keep the indoor range dry.
2009
Club purchased the first Longbows for club use.
2003
When Chris Jordan emigrated to Spain Caroline Lawrence was appointed club secretary and continued until 2015. Due to problems at Hamworthy club sharing the ground with Cricket and Football the Archery did not have many hours or days in which they were allowed to shoot. Also space was limited and a maximum of 40 yards was only usable. Dave Lawrence then looked into moving the club to Cobhams Sports and Social club where the club has remained to this day. The club numbers by this year had doubled to 14 members.
2005
This year was the club’s first event for Archery Darts in which another club Crossways was invited to compete against CMB. We also played Archery Darts against the Cobhams Darts team in which CMB won both! This year was also the first year the ‘Wilkinson Sword’ Tournament was held, with Dave Lawrence as Tournament Officer and twenty archers competing. The Sword had been put forward by Cobham Sports and Social Club to be shot for each year. The Sword remains Cobhams property. It hangs in the entrance lobby with other trophies with winners engraved each year on the sword. The tournament ran every year from 2005 to 2017. It was one of the few non handicapped tournaments the club ran each year. The club motif of penguins was created.
2007
The first club Skittles night was arranged at Cobhams. First Presidents Cup monthly round started from April to September. This was for the most improved handicap archer shooting during the summer and awarded at the end of season shoot. The archer had to shoot a minimum of three rounds out of six to qualify. The trophy was awarded at the End of Season Tournament in September. A new double’s trophy award at the end of season handicap, was donated by Caroline and Dave.
2010
Club re-registered logo and shooting colours of navy blue with club logo on front and top of sleeve upper garments and navy blue in addition to the green and white. Dunster success as many archers who attended came back with medals and trophies. Article was published in the local echo 31st July 2010 showing the eleven archers with medals.
2011
Our club appeared in the local press looking for more Junior archers after the membership among the junior section of our club from fifteen were reduced to just two. A big clean up operation for the indoor range as many archers spent time re painting and cleaning the range. Cobhams kindly supplied the paint! Charity ‘have a go event’ was held at Hamworthy club, which was extremely popular and raised a good sum of money towards charity.
2013
In this year it was agreed to have a New Members’ Representative selected from each intake after a beginners course to join in on our committee meetings as they see our club with fresh eyes, and often have ideas that could bring benefits for everyone. The Archery Shop, Dorset’s first dedicated archery store, with an online website, was opened in Poole by Carl Aldred as a family run business with various promotions offered to our club.Our club’s 2nd Annual Longbow Fun Shoot took place. Our club’s 252 badge scheme was introduced with badges given out at the end of the season.
2015
Unfortunately also during this year it became clear to us that there were significant irregularities in our club accounts. Whilst out club and shooting were not at risk everyone in our club rallied round and fundraising events were held to place the club back into a good financial position. The committee at the time took actions to ensure that it could not happen again. It was during this time our original club Gonfalon, or pendant, was unfortunately not returned and lost. The club organised celebrations for the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt with several 6ft French knights at 100 yards. This was held at the local cricket club in October. Our club’s Annual Longbow Fun Shoot took place. The non compulsory dress code was; outlaws, Tucks, Marians or anything vaguely medieval.
2018
The club had not needed to hold a beginner’s course for 2 years due to the club being at full capacity.
2020
Due to covid the year of Archery was impacted due to national lockdowns. Most annual events and club shooting days had to be cancelled.
2021
Another year impacted by Covid, but beginners courses returned with our new Secretary/Coach Jez McKinley and home and away tournaments were actively competed for organised by our new Tournaments/Records Officer Matt Carstensen.
2012
The Club’s 10 Year Anniversary. Special Wilkinson Sword event with special key fobs representing 10 years since the club started with the club logo and were given to all archers. The Olympic and Paralympic games in London in July created unprecedented levels of interest in archery across the country with many beginners courses over-subscribed reflected in membership increases at existing and new local clubs including ours. First Club Longbow tournament held. Caroline Lawrence achieved a County Record for Long Western Round.
2014
In this year we had five club members selected and shooting in the county archery team. A very impressive number shooting for the county team from one club. Our club’s 10th ‘Wilkinson Sword’ Tournament was also held
2016
The first Junior focus meeting was held to strengthen them within the club and support them to try to keep them interested in archery. In September we had surplus funds in our club account for the first time after the financial irregularities were discovered the previous year which meant we could invest in new bosses, purchase new trophies, medals and ribbons for upcoming club shoots and look at upgrading in the year to come. We also had new club shirts with the club eshop going on line so members can order their club shirts, jackets and hats now directly from the website. We again had three club members shooting for the county team.
2017
The club had over 70 members at its peak this year, with two shooting for the County team. It was the 12th year shooting for the county by Caroline and also Terry Ives 9th year who had been shooting for the county since 2009.A St. George’s Dragon Fun shoot was held shooting in teams at a (more or less) life-size dragon target. There were no club tournaments held due to the vacant position of a Tournament Officer
2019
Dave Lawrence, the then club Chair, and Caroline Lawrence, the then club Treasurer and Affiliations Officer who had previously been the Club Secretary since the club was formed stepped down and became President and Vice-President. Mark Pledger, the current club Chair, became the county Chair of the Dorset & Wiltshire Archery Association at an EGM to avoid their
2022
Many celebrations throughout the year are to take place, this will include a full club tournaments dairy and a number of social events. With a new turnaround of committee members, the club continues to be a success and continues to hold beginner courses and events on a regular basis and many tournaments planned for the winter and coming summer season. With special thanks to all past and present members and officers of Canford Magna Bowmen