Glamorgan and Open Field Championships

[Fran C]

The Glamorgan and Open Field Archery Championships took place at Pentre on Sunday 4th March.

What can I say? It rained. Then it rained some more. After a delightful lull in the proceedings (must have been all of ten minutes) it rained again. I doubt very much if any records were broken unless there are records for the wettest and coldest archer, but who knows - someone may have managed to pull something out of the hat...

The course was wet and muddy (did I mention the rain?) and even those of us who had the sense to wear waterproofs, gaiters, wellies etc weren't immune to being soaked right through to the skin.
We were rather surprised in the afternoon to find a fast-flowing stream leading to a dramatic waterfall into the quarry, and even more surprised to see what looked like a rather cold, wet and muddy lake covering the quarry floor. As I type this and contemplate my nice warm bed (it's gone midnight), it's still hammering down outside.

There were several novices shooting their first tournament; there were a few target archers shooting their first field shoot. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves despite the weather, and the novices all said they wanted to have another go sometime. Mad, the lot of 'em.

Next tournament at Pentref will be the annual Spring Shoot, to be shot over two days on 14/15 April 2007. You'll find details in the AIUK calendar. Why not make this the year you decide to try GNAS/FITA field? It can't possibly be any wetter in April than it was today, so there's everything to gain

[ThePinkOne]

One day maybe Fran, but I though I'd break with Welsh tradition and concentrate on being a good target archer......

At least for the first few years. Afte that, who knows..?

P.

[Bird_2112]

Yep a good day Fran despite the soaking. Actually didnt find the climbs/descents that bad considering how wet it was. Cyril was very artistic on his couple of falls. Many thanks to Gloria, Gerald and all the others who lugged bosses to some tricky places especially target 5 (10m bunny on a ledge at one of the highest points).

bye for now,

G.

[Fran C]

Originally Posted by ThePinkOne

One day maybe Fran, but I though I'd break with Welsh tradition and concentrate on being a good target archer......

At least for the first few years. Afte that, who knows..?

P.

I'd like to be a good archer, but at the moment I'd settle for just being able to hit a target. Any target. Even the short 'easy' ones eluded me yesterday

Never mind, Builth Indoor next week - sensible-sized targets at a known distance; no slopes; no mud; no abseiling down stupidly slippery hillsides; no problems navigating around a course... and the weather can do what it likes as long as it sticks to doing it outside. Um. Remind me again why I do field?

[Fran C]

Originally Posted by Bird_2112

Yep a good day Fran despite the soaking. Actually didnt find the climbs/descents that bad considering how wet it was. Cyril was very artistic on his couple of falls. Many thanks to Gloria, Gerald and all the others who lugged bosses to some tricky places especially target 5 (10m bunny on a ledge at one of the highest points).

bye for now,

G.

Poor old Cyril. Actually, I was surprised to see him there given his occasional health problems and the weather. He and the other, er, mature archers did well to get round in those conditions.

Thanks for your comments: I'll pass on the thanks to the workparty when I see them next.

[Stylisht]

I agree, thanks to the workparty.

Definately no records broken on my front!

[Old Bloke]

Well, I was going to shoot this one, but new arrows (no sight marks) and my own weather forcasting on tuesday of last week, put me off from entering.

Having seen the weather yesterday, and having shot Pentref on and off over the last 34 years..I know how wet it can be in the Rhondda.

Those that finnished deserve a medal and so do the work party!

[Fran C]

Originally Posted by Old Bloke

Well, I was going to shoot this one, but new arrows (no sight marks) and my own weather forcasting on tuesday of last week, put me off from entering.

Having seen the weather yesterday, and having shot Pentref on and off over the last 34 years..I know how wet it can be in the Rhondda.

Those that finished deserve a medal and so do the work party!

The bosses were put out in fine weather on Saturday, before the course inspection. Because of problems we've had with vandalism, however, they all had to come in again after the shoot. By which time it was definitely not as light as it might have been, the mud was muddier and slipperier and the rain was most definitely heavier and wetter. The work party consisted mainly of Gerald Farrell and Mal Whitter, both of whom received appreciative thanks from more than one archer for the provision of ropes on the worst bits and both of whom deserve medals of solid gold for all their hard work. The pair of them must be exhausted - both got drenched, and both were called out to repair steps, bosses and goodness only knows what else during the day.

I know not if either Gerald or Mal lurk here (I think not, but I could be wrong) but the shooting fraternity may consider this a formal public vote of thanks to two sterling workers from one overweight archer with an appalling sense of balance and very little navigational confidence.

/me raises glass to Gerald and Mal

And in other news - there's still plenty of time to get entries in for the Pentref Spring Shoot and the All British if we haven't managed to put everyone off the idea of field with tales of woe from the County Champs...
Entry forms here:
http://www.gnasfield.co.uk/diary2007.htm#april (Spring)
http://www.gnasfield.co.uk/diary2007.htm#may (All British)

And now that I've probably contravened loads of posting rules here, I'll hide myself away for a bit while I apply some fletches to arrows and wax to string.