All old blokes

[Reedy]

thanks for the answers so far ....

just to clarify I'm not knocking other age groups but I don't see many people in the 20-40 bracket.

THis means there are few people in my age grouping ... this makes it hard to make pals at archery rather than just people you chat too.....

[tel]

I've always believed that beyond school and into adulthood age has little to do with it - I have 'pals' from 20-80+ - and find the suggestion that only a certain age band are capable of 'having a laugh' laughable in itself. I hope that when you get beyond that bracket you discover that it really is possible to continue enjoying yourself.

[geoffretired]

As an old bloke who has shot for years, it seems to me that archery is for all ages but not all age groups find it equally easy to find time to shoot.
Those who are at the stage of setting up homes with children often find it difficult to keep to the routine of turning up regularly, at times when the rest of the club is shooting.
Also, juniors often leave archery when they get a job or move away to college etc.
Having said that, if the old blokes at a particular club are miserable, it's as they are not as archers are generally.

[Old Bloke]

As I am *The Old Bloke* I thought the thread worthy of a comment. The poster, is in my opinion, pretty much spot on with his observation concerning the age(s) of folk doing archery these days..or at least target archery. Having just come from field archery into target archery, my first observation was *where are all the 20-30 year olds? They simply have gone! In field archery there is at every shoot a spread of ALL ages, whereas in the target archery I have followed so far this year in the South West, the vast majority of shoots, on the gents line, have been made up of *oldies*. In fact, it was only at the recent assmbly for the GWAS champs that I mantioned to another archer that it looked like the average of the gents line was probably 55! As far as the ladies are concerned...who dares to ask their age?
However, us *Oldies* do have our fun (beleive you me) but we are just not as public in what we do..if only you youngies new?

[Anna K]

In our club the average age is definitely on the higher end. We have a few juniors but only 1 (maybe 2) that can be considered a regular. However, what I have noticed also, is that having James and I around at the beginners course seems to have encouraged more 20s to 30s to join. Whether it's because we're enthusiastic and friendly or because we're younger than the rest of the club it can only be a good thing for the club to bring the average age down a bit. (As in when people want to stand down from the committee because they've been doing it for years to have younger ones ready to step in.)

[Snarkhunter]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

As an old bloke who has shot for years, it seems to me that archery is for all ages but not all age groups find it equally easy to find time to shoot.
Those who are at the stage of setting up homes with children often find it difficult to keep to the routine of turning up regularly, at times when the rest of the club is shooting.
Also, juniors often leave archery when they get a job or move away to college etc.
Having said that, if the old blokes at a particular club are miserable, it's as they are not as archers are generally.

Hear, hear.

I took up archery in my early twenties and followed it fir two or three years. Then marrying and starting a family meant that it fell by the wayside for 15 years! I returned to the sport when my eldest son expressed a desire to try archery.

[wanshu]

We have a spread of ages with the majority being in their fourties I would think. Both juniors and seniors in their 70's, everyone can have a laugh with people of any age. Humour is not agist and I always found when I was in my tweties.
Grumpy old people do exist I agree, as do grumpy young people.

[moo-mop]

You wouldn't know the age range of our club as most guys don't tend to shoot so much and you only see people on a club night and then not for very long unless the weather is gorgeous. Although we have access to a great ground 24/7 often nobody's there (as we need at least 2). You shouldn't knock those who actually use the archery club to shoot not to have a laugh (although these are not mutally exclusive), we are the representation of the club to most outsiders esp when you shoot in a public place. I'm 30 (atm 2008).

[not dead yet]

Originally Posted by Reedy

thanks for the answers so far ....

just to clarify I'm not knocking other age groups but I don't see many people in the 20-40 bracket.

THis means there are few people in my age grouping ... this makes it hard to make pals at archery rather than just people you chat too.....

reedy me young chump.

you need to shoot for a day or two with me. that will change your ideas of old peeps. 48 here

target of 4 reedy NDY, LMP, Hoyt hooligan......

sorted.lol
pete

[spavo]

Originally Posted by Reedy

So is your archery club all old blokes (55+) or do you have any 20 and 30 somethings that like a laugh?

Getting a bit fed up at my club with all the older blokes who've been doing it for years and are the establishment (neither of these are their fault) as opposed to a club that is full of 20 and 30 somethings who are up for a laugh and not as old as my dad...... This means there is a social side but not one I'm interested in......

looked at several local clubs and all are similar ..... (similar to the bowls club too)

Oh and when there are younger ones they are ten yo.

So does your clubs have a healthy 20 / 30 yo contingent or have I taken up an old man's sport......

See if you can join a Uni club then, you might have to do a degree but they could be in "your age range" so to speak.

I also wonder if you will be on Forum when you are in the 55+ age group stating the opposite about younger archers.