Running from Zombies

Back in March I posted about the other sports I enjoy, though didn’t really go into much detail. However, because my two other favourite sports are not what you might consider ‘mainstream’ I’ve decided to do a post dedicated to each.

I could easily write 1000 words just on how I got started in archery (most of which I just did write, and then deleted) but I shall try to keep it from getting too out of hand and hopefully stay vaguely entertaining.

I had a few goes at archery over the years, quite fancying it as a sport but not sure where to go or who to ask. I even got as far as doing a 2 day taster course at a local club, who then tried to sign me up for a beginners course, but that was the year I was due to go to uni and so had to decline.

Working a Sunday practice session at Northwood Stadium back in March

In April 2008 I was told that there was an archery course being run at the local leisure centre and signed up. It was a 10 week course, the first week of which I had already missed, but caught up quickly enough. At the end of it, everything happened at once – I got my Beginners Certificate (what you need to join a club), found a club and e-mailed about joining, and was offered a job teaching the course I had just finished (as well the intermediate course that I hadn’t even started) by the manager of the leisure centre.

Not long after that I was sent on a training course for my Archery Leader award (the first level of archery coaching), bought a bow and then joined Trent Valley Archers (TVA), a great club full of very nice people. I taught 1 hour archery sessions for the council for 11 months before they stopped the course, some on my own and some with Chris, another coach. I also did a couple of taster session days which were manic, but good fun.

My own shooting is coming along as well. I missed quite a few days this year due to exams, coursework, working for the council and various other things and as such, I’ve let up on the intricacies and just shot for the fun of it. Now that uni is over I hope to get practicing again on a regular basis and, once I have a job, upgrade some of my equipment. TVA is now an hour’s drive away so I’m not going three times a week, but I’m apprehensive about joining a local club until I know I’ll be staying in the area.

I should probably point out that I do recurve target archery, which is probably still the most popular form of archery in the UK. Compound bows are becoming rather popular and are undoubtedly the cooler type of bow, but I prefer the more traditional style without the wheels and cables.

My bow: Hoyt riser, KAP limbs, Shibuya sight and button, Bieter long rod, Spiga rest

Contrary to what some people might suggest, archery is definately a sport. While it doesn’t take much in the way of cardio vascular fitness, it does require a certain amount of strength, good posture, and a very steady hand. My bow weight is currently around 33lbs, which means it takes 33lbs to draw the bow back to a shooting position. It may not sound a lot but pick up a 15kg dumbell next time you’re at the gym and you’ll have an idea of what it takes. Imagine holding that steady enough to hit a target 70m away, and doing it up to 150 times over the course of a day.

Obviously archery is a very equipment based sport and as with all sports equipment you can pay as much or as little as you like. The bows I used to train beginners on cost £50 each, not including arrows, targets, arm guards etc. I would guess that my gear is worth around the £1000 mark. The most expensive item being my favourite – the riser (handle). I have a blue 2008 Hoyt Nexus, which was the very first thing I bought. I hope to one day have matching Hoyt limbs (preferably the 990TX, though they’re currently in excess of £400 a pair).

My few medals got to sit on top of my bedroom mirror

As a hobby, archery is what you make of it. Being in a club makes it quite a sociable sport – there a few people I like to catch up with every week and have a chat with between ends (the groups of arrows shot at once before you collect them are called ‘ends’). However I would more than happy to practice on my own if there was no one else around. Similarly, it can be as competitive as you like. TVA has competitions on a regular basis, which you can choose to enter, or not. Other clubs will host open competitions which cost a small fee but are usually good fun and it’s nice to meet other archers and shoot against different people for a change.

If you fancy starting archery then I would suggest finding somewhere that does have-a-go sessions, taster courses or beginners courses. Your best bet is either a local activity centre or archery club. For a list of GNAS registered clubs click here. If you have any questions about archery or shooting then please leave a comment!