Hello from Essex.

[Cyril Darling]

Hello all,

I have decided that I need to get out more... and I need a hobby (at them moment I do very little except sitting infront of a computer screen).

A chap at work recommended field archery and told be about the Panther Bowhunters in Galleywood, Chelmsford. I happen to drive past their happy hunting grounds every day so I popped in one afternoon and met some of the very nice people there.

...and thats pretty much my story so far. The chap who is going to do my safety lessons is away for a couple of weeks, so in the meantime I'm surfing the interweb to try and find out as much as I can about stuff.

So far I am a complete know-nuffing, but I fancy myself as a traditionalist. It's pretty frustraighting because I can't help window shopping and thinking "Ohhh! I want one of those!", which is a bit silly because it's way to early for me to know what I want... or what I'm actually looking at! But I'm thinking that I want to play around with American Flatbows and progress to an English Longbow once I have developed some muscle.

[provins]

Nice one Cyril
Welcome aboard AIUK
Theres a few of us field archering traditionalists here.
Be patient (ooh I know its frustrating) but it'll be worth it.
Good luck at Panther,I know a few of them down there and I've shot at Galleywood a few times.
Check out www.nfas.net for more field archery info.
Good luck to you

[Thunk]

Hi Cyril and welcome!

We all know that feeling; looking at equipment and wanting to buy, to get started, without even fully understanding the kit we're looking at. (Isn't that part of it - the mystery?) But over the first few months of shooting you'll develop muscles you didn't even know you had, and any kit you buy now will be useless to you in a fairly short time. Have patience, be guided by others, and within a pretty short space you will be having the most fun possible (with your clothes on, that is). You'll also find yourself HOOKED!

[Hell-Fire]

welcome to the forum!

[Cyril Darling]

Thanks all,

I used to be pretty fit, I was certainly very strong, but not anymore! It's one of the reasons I decided to start this... I now seem to have more flab than muscle!

Anyway, I have started doing some exercises every day. I used to do martial arts 5 days a week, so I just about remember how! The archery gives me a target to aim for (forgive the pun).

The chap at Panther said that I can borrow the club's kit for quite a few months (I forget how long he said now). I really have no idea, but I think that I want to aim to be able to pull an average sort of weight within a few months and stop there. I'm the kind of person who can shoot all day, at least I used to with air rifles... and I don't want to be using a bow that wears me out after an hour.

I'm sure your right that if I buy a bow too soon, I will outgrow it in a fairly short space of time... so I'll be interested in people's advice about this.
Another thing that may make a difference is that I have an armspan of 6'4", so I guess I will have a draw longer than most people... will this make it difficult to find a bow to suit me?

Thanks in advance for you advice. (I can see already that I'm going to enjoy this, you don't often come across forums this friendly! Archery obviously attracts people that are 'top draw'. )

[Tarkwin]

Welcome aboard..



T.

[tronster]

Welcome to the board

[Big Boy Blue]

Welcome to our wonderful world

[FlightyRachel]

Hey Cyril! I am always pleased to see a fellow Essex person here, there aren't very many of us. I'm Rachel and I shoot at Estuary in Maldon and Mayflower in Billericay.

[Radar_UK]

Hello and welcome to the forum