When you were a beginner

[geoffretired]

Hey Clickerati, how dou you do that????
Like to learn.
Thanks for the poll job.

[clickerati]

Moving this to the Poll Forum...

[Stace]

I've been interested in archery since as long as I can remember.

As a young lad, I used to spend a fair old chunk of the summer at my Grandparents house and used to make bows from tree branches and arrows from those green garden canes.

I always knew that there was an archery club not far away but for some unknown reason I never actually paid them a visit until December 2004 where I left my details for the next beginner's course.

As the number of people interested in the beginners course was too low for it to run, I never actually got to enrol on a beginners course until April 05.

I knew before I shot my first arrow that I'd enjoy it. I do have a tremendous competitive streak, love the outdoors and adore technology (would never be able to get on with a longbow ).

Once my beginners course was completed, I shot three times a week and loved every minute of it, especially the help and support from other members. Unfortunately a move down to Cornwall interrupted the shooting for several months but have now got going again and I can't smile wide enough

[Deadeye Doc]

Absobloominglutely!

Rather like Blue Boy I was introduced to a longbow (lemonwood as I remember) - well now I know that it was really a flatbow - when I was very young. Great fun! At school I shot 2.2s and later shot a Bisley with the old Lee-Enfield 303 which I am reliably informed is still the sniper's choice. Was a marksman, and really enjoyed it.

Many competitive sports have gone under the bridge - water-polo, competitive swimming for the British Universities, running, golf, and most recently Audax cycling.

Five years ago I fell and badly injured my right shoulder while cross-country skiing in France. Swimming helped rehabilitate me partially. While on a conference in Scotland, I had a crack at archery, and from then on I was totally smitten.

It's exactly two years since I started my beginner's course. Half way through the course I was down in Custom Archery& Leather - now Aardvark Archery - pleading with Lez to sell me a bow. He wouldn't, and told me to go away and finish the course. But I knew ... ! A few weeks later I had my first bow, a Matrix riser etc. I am now on to my third recurve having had an Axis in between and found it too heavy.

I'm keeping the Matrix as I think it is probably more likely to be of use when I try ski-archery.

My wife is delighted with the effect archery has had on me - but I ain't telling!

[Sparkie]

I started out going along to the East kilbride archery club during the spring of '94 but had to give it up as i moved away and could not get to a club near me.

Then as time went on i joined Lapwing Lodge scout activity center as volenteer staff, did a bit of kayaking then was asked if i would do the Archery Leaders course.

at chance.

That was 7 years ago. Have taught hundreds of scouts archery and am probably doing the same tommorrow.

Joined Linwood Archery club 2 years ago. Bought first and only bow, Hoyt GM with 36# limbs and 27" arrows. finally won my first cometition last night, St Georges with a score of 263 . unfortunatly i have now reduced my handicap from a 41 to a 36

[pwiles1968]

I put during because It was always something I fancied having a go at but hooked is not the right word.

[avalon]

My sister got me interested in archery, she started when she was about 14 (making me 7).. and at the time GNAS didn't have such rounds as the metric 5 and I don't think made provision for very young archers, so I wasn't allowed to shoot. She didn't like the competitive stuff, got interested in other things etc, and I didn't start til I was about 14/15, but it was love from the start

[bluebow]

Originally Posted by Deadeye Doc

My wife is delighted with the effect archery has had on me - but I ain't telling!

What? That it's got you out of the house and from under her feet!

[chris]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

It's still great fun to shoot at "things that fall over when you hit them"
Make sure their parents aren't looking though.

its ok i am the parrents, well one of em anyhow
chris

[Deadeye Doc]

Originally Posted by bluebow

What? That it's got you out of the house and from under her feet!

OK Smartarse! Should have known that Blue Boy would pick up on that! See you later at the range.