First competition

[jaarus]

We are holding an archery competition at our club this weekend and will be shooting a Hereford.

Does anyone have a checklist of stuff that they use when preparing their kit / equipment for a shoot??


I know thats a bit odd (and even reading it back it sounds a bit odd) but I am one of those who after 10mins at the field, I suddenly think...
...oh damn I have forgotten (INSERT HERE) !!

But what I am really after mind you, are all the things I just wouldnt think to take first time around, but that I certainly would for 2nd one - a chair for example.

Basically I want to see the type of comforts people take etc and any other bits and bobs that make a long shoot easier.

(if this reads badly, I apologise, its 00:42 and I am off to bed lol)

[pmiddl]

A hereford is gonna be a long one, so a chair is a definite yes! Ive gone to far too many competitions without one and theres nothing worse than having to stand all day. Food as well, lots of snacks to keep eating small bits and regularly. Also lots of drinks too, again to have little and often. If you dont have any shade then remember sun cream, dont wanna be getting burnt if you're outside all day. With the british weather too you want some waterproofs just in case! Cant think of much more now, again its late at night! Imight add to this in the morning when Im more awake

[Tom]

You can find a good thread on the subject here: http://www.archery-interchange.com/f...ns-virgin.html

And there's a checklist in the Archer's Reference IIRC

Have fun at the comp

[Ffish]

This might sound obvious, but loads of people have forgotten stuff in their rush to leave the house early in the morning, so -

Put your archery gear in the car, or by your front door last thing at night beforehand. You can guarantee that as you fall asleep, you'll be running things through your mind about the next day, and something will pop into your head that you've possibly forgotten. You can then get out of bed and deal with it. It'll be too late if you're setting up your stuff the next morning and THEN remember it.

Things I find invaluable (apart from your archery stuff)

Chair
Towel
Hat
plenty of drinks & food

Most of all - your sense of humour!

[jaarus]

Thanks to all for your suggestions / links to previous threads similar.

All very useful.

The one thing I am certainly going to do is have a clearout of my kit bag the night before, as I am fully aware that I actually carry things such as nocks that dont fit my arrows, a full set of allen keys both metric and imperial etc etc - a clearout should make emergency repairs/adjustments (just in case) quicker than spending 10mins trying to find the allen key I need!!


Thanks again everyone!

(sure its not usual to be THIS nervous before a comp!! )

[pmiddl]

To save yourself time from making repairs, always have one extra arrow with you on the line, just in case you notice one is damaged when you are about to shoot. This will stop you from having to rush to find a replacement or having to shoot a damamged arrow

[CUBowman]

If you burn easily don't forget sun cream. (Says he ever so optimistically two days before a weekend at Lilleshall!)

Pen(s) for scoring

A big screwdriver or knfe for prying is useful if you are at risk of putting arrows into the boss stand.

Boots or at least waterproof shoes and some spare socks - nothing worse than shooting all day with soggy feet. (Ok, maybe not nothing worse, but it's not ideal)

[tel]

Without going to extremes, spares of all your 'bits' - string, tab (both shot in), button, rest & clicker are all possibles (depends on type though, obviously you are unlikely to carry a spare rest if you use something like a freeflyte - but some would!)
Oh, and current sightmarks......before anyone asks, yes I have

[bimble]

and when you go to away comps, don't forget your GNAS card. I've taken mine to every comp this summer, no-one has asked to see it. Now I can't find it just before I leave for Lillieshall who want's to bet they they'll ask??

as for sight marks, I find writing mine on the back of my hand in permanent pen saves the rumaging around in quiver/bag for the next distance.

[jaarus]

Well its the day before and I have just finished setting up my scope and tripod a couple of times in practice - may sound silly but I have had to replace my tripod as it broke last week and it has about 5 new adjustments and had to work out what to fiddle with and more importantly, what NOT to fiddle with!!

Found some white trousers (FINALLY!!, Google 'Painters trousers' if anyone else is having trouble finding some that arent linen )
Found a white polo shirt.
Bought a white ish hat.
Bought some wrist sweat bands to keep my brow dry ITS DAMN HOT OUT THERE!!
Bought some energy drinks.
Bought some sweeties !!
Bought some energy drinks

Now I just need to have a clearout of my quiver and bag combined with a kit check and I should be all set..... I think...
As I said in the initial post I am a master at forgetting 'something'!!


If anyone from here is going - come and say hello, I will be the nervous one