George's Monthly Update - Feb 2010

At the start of last month we held our Annual General Meeting, when we heard reports of another successful year for our club: Twelve shoots organised; several 'Have-a-Go' sessions that attracted a few hundred people to try their hand at shooting; Beginners' courses that trained over twenty would-be archers in the basic skills and further improvements to our ground.  All of these involved members in hard work for the benefit of the club.

Two medals were presented: The Club Handicap Medal for the best new handicap of the year went to Bill Hawkes for a first handicap of 39, and The Grand National Archery Society Medal For handicap Improvement went to Toby Geffryes for improving from 43 to 39.

We recently hosted the County Indoor Championships at our winter venue at Joseph Whitaker Sports College. Our members shot well! George Smith is the Under 14 Recurve Champion, Ashley Buckland the Junior Lady Compound Champion and Julie Bancroft the Lady Recurve Champion.  We won the Recurve Team Trophy for the first time in several years (Julie Bancroft, Toby Geffryes, Adrian Boud and Martyn Smith).

Meanwhile our younger members are continuing to earn their achievement awards: Alex Hawley - Red Feather, Adam McLaughlin - Gold Feather, Connor Lowe - White Arrow and Jonny Smith - Black Arrow. Well Done, all of you.

Bill Hawkes has got to the last five from three hundred archers who started on the Paralympic Potential Programme for Archery 2012, after a two-day selection event at Lilleshall.  Now he will embark on a three month assessment process involving training sessions and competitions, and will be expected to shoot 1,000 arrows every week in practice sessions - hard work, even in good weather.  We wish him well!

If you would like to join our Beginners Course in April please contact Colin on 01636 892255 for details.

George Brown

Club President