Archery, medieval style.

NEWS

Archived from Tuesday 16th October 2007

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Companions Challenge

 

This week’s challenge was a repeat of Companions Challenge Number 10 “Shooting Between the Fingers of a Hand” last played in December 2006 and was based on a shot from the 2006 BBC version of Robin Hood.  Now it’s impossible to go much further without a couple of words on the new series of the show we love to hate.  I saw last Saturday’s episode which featured Robin Hood breaking in to Nottingham Castle (AGAIN!) to steal the sheriffs money during a casino night.  I loved “Ocean’s Eleven” too, didn’t you?  Anyway, Robin has managed to talk to the fellow who designed all these fiendish traps.  He asks him how to get past the poison darts, the swinging axes and the collapsing floors etc.  But why for the love of all that is Indiana Jones does Robin not just ask the designer where the sheriff turns the traps off so he can get the money out?  Question number one, surely?  Not “how do I get past the molten lead?” but “where is the off switch?”  The BBC website says this show “updates the popular legend for a sophisticated contemporary audience.”  I’ll let that sentence just hang there for a moment.

 

Anyway, back to the Challenge.  In the first episode of the first series of the hit comedy show called Robin Hood, our hero managed to shoot three arrows in between the fingers of a Norman soldier (or non-speaking Hungarian extra).  We replicated this last time by taking a drawing of hand and giving each archer three arrows to shoot  in between the fingers and thumb of the hand (or near enough that the arrow is touching any part of the hand).  If any arrow strikes the hand itself the challenge was considered a failure.  Sadly, last time, we didn’t complete the challenge as too many fingers were shot off, but could we do it this time?

And Finally...

 

As always … got a suggestion for the club?  Send it to suggestions@companionsofthelongbow.co.uk or send them direct to any of the committee members e-mail address (see Contact Us page for these).  Our Suggestions box will be up and ready to use as soon as we’ve got use of the Roundel field again.

This time you may have noticed that we didn’t use a drawing of a hand, we used gloves filled with jelly (strawberry jelly because it’s red & looks like gore!) and asked that each archer shoot from ten paces away.  Most attempts weren’t half bad but it seems that if you’re trying to shoot something you are guaranteed to miss and if you try not to shoot something you’re  guaranteed to hit it!

 

Happily though, we can call this Challenge as success thanks to Dave A.’s attempt;

All three of his arrows were close enough to touch the hand and there was no damage (couple of nice shots in between the fingers too).  Therefore for the second week running Dave has won the Prize of Dubious Value—a pack of emergency candles.  Well done Dave!

 

It’s fitting therefore that next week’s new Challenge is one that Dave devised himself after watching a horse archer practice session.

 

With three successes to two failures find out how we do next week.

 

Lost Something?

 

Members, please take a look in the Members Area and the message board—especially if you think you’ve lost something...

Archery “Room 101” & Range Captain Qualifications—Confirmed

 

As stated last week, because it’ll be half term at the New College, Saturday 27^th October is now the date for Range Captain qualifications and Archery “Room 101”.  Archery “Room 101” is the chance to bring something along that you hate and get everyone to shoot it to bits.  Full and franks reasons as to why you hate the object may convince archers whether to be accurate or not … no live animals or people please.

 

The range captain qualification is basically broken down into the following rules;

 

(1) There are six places open.

(2) Previous range captains will get first dibs on re-qualification however if a previous range captain does not want to re-qualify this year an open spot will become available (more than likely).

(3) Those who wish to become a range captain can put themselves forward for qualification on the day.

(4) If you’re interested in becoming a range captain you’ll have to sign up to the Companions of the Longbow safety case.  This document can be requested at any time by all members but if you want a copy now e-mail Mark at webadmin@companionsofthelongbow.co.uk and I’ll send you a copy.

(5) To stop range captains getting rusty there’ll be a greater chance for all captains to have a go at setting up and running their own ranges.  There may even be a requirement to run a range a regularly intervals just to ensure everyone remains up to speed.

Free Shoot Tickets

 

Free shoot tickets are currently available for collection at the next shoot.  If you haven’t already collected yours and used the tickets like most people, just be aware that next time you turn up and you decide to cash in your tickets you can have the next two shoots free!