Now, this is something you don’t see every day, and this is definitely something you don’t see in every Archery Club (photos link at the bottom).
The Club Championship today, tested the very best of our members. The heat was extreme, specially next to the BBQ grills where the Stars, were burning hotter than ever…
You could expect an archery tournament to be boring, quiet, almost dull. You would expect that seen an arrow flying, you’ve seen it all. But it doesn’t explain why we all had this much fun. And I saw more today. I saw rising stars.
The Field Party and the Stars Party gathered at the range between 9 and 9.30 and as working bees, they laid down the field (targets, new faces, billowing flags, and target numbers) and arranged the catering.
Equipment line marked down on grass, all bows tidied up behind.
Gazebos were lined up along the hut and all sort of cakes began to gravitate around the food area.
Me and Phil, our Welsh Judge in the Making, began to measure every single target, the compliance of the target faces and made sure all was proper, to ensure a fair game to everyone.
Equipment inspection began. Archers, one by one, took their equipment to the Judges and got their box ticked, ready to be part of the competition.
Our Head Coach Pete Pendrey then introduced the day, and soon left the spot to Phil Abbott that brilliantly explained rules and the system of shooting to everyone attending.
And so, the fight began.
Novices were involved in a special 252 round. Senior Novices shot at 25yards and all juniors shot at 15 yards. A simple, yet effective round to stat with.
Full members of the club, competed instead in a gender neutral National round. So we now have our (senior) champions:
- Barebow Champion – Anthony McLaurin
- Recurve Champion – Ged Hall
- Compound Champion – Susan Thompson
The National round, was longer than the basic 252s. 72 arrows, vs 36. So after the novices had completed their end of torture … ahem … shooting, cooking began.
A huge thank you is due to the Stars Team here, that with diligent sweated patience, cooked the food and sorted burgers for everyone.
Graeme and Harvey juggled the barbeque like dazzling circus acrobats swinging through the flames and the melting sprinkles of the burning oils.
Sheryl and Colin, tamed the wild sausages and bacon strips into tasteful obedience.
Nerys and Laura, were the magical forces that bound all together (…you know… like in a bap).
And of course Patrick for the food run and Lizzie for the ice cream run.
But everyone really has to be thanked for having been so helpful. I have not seen a single person standing idle and not helping for something.
The Awards Ceremony then, drew one of the nicest pictures you could ever get to see. Like after a strenuous battle, like warriors gathering around the warming heat of a comforting fireplace, cheering all in a brotherly comradery, everyone sat around our Head Coach that with masterful expertise, praised and named the Champions. A round of applause, welcomed everyone that received a medal. Abbie too, thanked all attendants for their generous participation in the raffle, with all contributions going towards the Teenage Cancer Trust. A small effort from the single that becomes a big support as an archery family.
What archery finally teaches us, is that in every competition, there is always only one winner. So it’s only by focusing on our own improvement that we can become the next Champion.
Thanks to everyone that showed up, because it’s through everyone’s single presence that this day became possible.
See you on the line,
Angelo