Purbeck Archers, Day Out
Sunday 15th July 2024
One of our members, Carl McLaughlin, has become closely affiliated with Purbeck Archers and helps out organizing their major annual tournament and volunteering at country shows with them.
Through his enthusiasm for Purbeck and field archery many of us have joined Purbeck Archers and been signed off by Andrew or Kenn of Perbeck Archers to safely follow field protocols and shoot 3-D.
Every couple of months Carl organises an informal competition on a Sunday morning followed by a post-match analysis in a pub with lunch. This time eight of us drew lots and competed as four pairs, whilst two of our newer members were taken around by Andrew to be trained and signed off as safe and competent.
We set off into the woods as two groups of two pairs in direct competition for eighteen kills, the winning pairs from each group then go head to head for the next eighteen kills to settle first and second place, the other two pairs settle third and fourth. This is a great system, as it gives people a chance for a catch up, a bit of banter and some friendly rivalry.
After demanding three recounts of the lot drawing I still ended up partnered with Alan King, so I resigned myself to not winning and just got on with enjoying the day, which I greatly did. It’s a wonderful woodland to shoot in, on grounds run by Purbeck Shooting school, the facilities are good and there are some wonderful views and great wildlife. Recently Robyn spotted a Barn Owl carrying prey and we followed it for a while, the air carries skylark song, siskins, long tailed tits, woodpeckers, goldcrests and we have got close to Sika deer on occasions. It’s very restorative just to be under the pines, following the trails getting some gentle exercise and laughing.
The course is fun, with challenges as small as a stoat and as large as a bear, with dinosaurs, big cats and other kills ranging from five or so yards to fifty or more. The trees and ferns add to the challenges, it really focuses the mind, and the course is changed regularly to keep things fresh.
A range of bows were used on the day, no classes or handicaps, a simple scoring system of 3 points a win, 1 point each a draw, zero for a lose based on the total score for each pair on any given kill.
After a bit of a ding dong the day was settled on a tie break and Jez and Ryan came first overall after a majestic pair of double pro kills on the python took it to a decider on the dodo and they beat Alan and Jason into second place. Alan proffered numerous excuses as to why it was a draw, but Ryan offered only an impression of Alan’s loser shuffle, head down, shoulders slumped, emanating a high-pitched grizzle. It was uncanny, he’d clearly seen this a lot. Handshakes to close and Jez and Ryan became the current Best Archers in The Woods
After a car park medal ceremony,
we decamped to The Horse and Groom for a roast, some homemade pork scratchings and then ice cream at Tillys. Appetites were good. Everybody happy.
Lindsay and Heidi were the newest converts to field after their morning signing off with Andrew and after that, eighteen kills with Carl showing them around. So, the competitive field for CMB archers on a Sunday in the woods continues to expand and the next competition will likely be in early September.
If you are interested in trying field archery come speak to us for a full introduction. We have some animals here at the club that can be set up as a taster as well, to offer a sense of how it all works and as an alternative to targets on club days. It’s easy to get involved, just let us know if you are interested and we will help you get started.
I really enjoyed the day, thank you to Alan, Jason, Jez, Min, Phil, Robyn, Roger and Ryan who battled for the medals and to Heidi and Lindsey who butchered Barbie and became the newest woodmen