Bracken Company of Archers, Summer Tournament

The forecast was for overcast skies and light winds and, if you’re a bit more sceptical of the weather forecast these days, you get prepared for most things as the forecasts seem to be less accurate.

Anyway, the skies certainly started very overcast and, to a degree, quite threatening but thankfully it did not rain.

This was to be my first venture into competing other than our last “Flash Tournament” that Matt very kindly dropped on us a short time ago, at our own home ground.

I have to say that I thought I was going to run late but made it from Ferndown to Cranborne in good time and met up with John and tony who were already there.

Matt was obviously already deep in his judging role preparing things before the start whilst co-ordinators from Bracken were busy going around ensuring that all archers that were shooting were booked in and had been marked off the register.

I am not sure exactly how many archers were shooting but you will gage from some of the photos the numbers and classifications which covered the whole field.

By the time we were ready to start, our Canford Magna Bowmen contingent had grown to six (myself, Tony, Min, John, Gary & Jennie).

Gary, Jennie and I were on the same target along with another gentleman from a different club, Paul, whose scores I was very envious of and ended up with a score in the 500s I recall, the rest of us were a little more matched.

As the morning went on the weather started to become a little less overcast and, by the time we were in our closing ends, the sun was bouncing through the broken clouds, and it became quite warm (Hot & sticky).

I don’t know what the temperature got up to (27C; editor), but I did end up with a slightly burnt nose & cheeks even though I was wearing a bucket hat. The lesson is to remember the sun cream as well as the other clothing for our British weather and the insect repellent to keep those little critters away, although they seemed to ignore what Jennie had put on and just pestered her anyway.

Whilst I came away not having won anything myself, I have to say it was a fantastic experience and a very good introduction to competing and has certainly whetted my appetite for more.

I was hesitant at first to get into the competition scene but would certainly recommend it to anyone wanting to gain experience and to improve. You also get to meet a lot of new, like minded people who are prepared to impart all manner of advice and information to help you in your archery.