Shoot Dates

A happy band of archers arrived for MCFA‟s summer shoot to find a brand new car park cunning concealed right next to the registration area – at the top of the hill! However, this new facility is only temporary as it forms the base of a new Menage or horse training area.

Contrary to rumour, MCFA has settled into a very good working agreement with the riders who stable and ride their horses on the site and the prospects for a long and mutually beneficial relationship seem good. Membership is up and the course gets better each year.

Which brings me to….. “WALLY’S WILDERNESS WANDER”

Over the past couple of months Wally had single handedly re-set the targets ready for this shoot and, in typical Wally style, these were diabolically placed. Never really stretched, all very hittable and almost all producing groans of “how did I miss that?!”

The course comprised a range 38 of realistically placed 3D‟s, superb painted hessian faces and a few big game paper faces all cunningly concealed in the undergrowth with just enough dead ground or foliage to confuse and distract. Despite this, and the ever present Rhododendrons with their arrow attracting tendencies, every one seemed to have had a really good day and the range of excuses was inventive to say the least.

Catering was provided by the usual team of Paul, Claire & Anne and the new range of china tea & coffee mugs instead of plastic beakers went down really well – as did all of the food.

Thanks also to Chris and Mark for helping with the work on the day and also to Chris Butcher for allowing us to continue using his land. For a full break down of the results, please click here. Some memorable pictures from the day are below:

C. K. Walker – 26th July 2010

A great start to 2010 for Magna Carta Field Archers.

A sunny day, 80 + archers, a ‘challenging’ course and excellent catering all contributed to a memorable day in Magna’s famed rhododendron infested woods.

The course comprised a range 38 of realistically placed 3D’s, superb painted hessian faces and a few big game paper faces all cunningly concealed in the undergrowth.

A big thanks to Wally and the rest of the course team for setting such a sneaky but shootable course including the option of the ‘chicken’ shot as an alternative to Robo Duck.

Finally, thanks to Chris Butcher for allowing us to continue using his land and for introducing us to his neighbours all of whom were very impressed with the way in which field archers conduct themselves (can’t think why!).

For a full break down of the results please click here.

C. K. Walker – 11th April

80 archers travelled through the fog to attend our first Annual Charity Shoot in aid of the Edward Bright Fund. We had a sometimes challenging course laid by Roger and Wally, helped by club members and even seconded family members where extra muscle were needed.

Catering, as always, was excellent with archers generously throwing their change, and more into the charity collection pot conveniently positioned in the middle of the catering window!

We were privileged to have Chris Boyton and Andrew Hall sharing their individual skills and knowledge throughout the day with demonstrations of bow making and fletching and At one target, with the shot over a recently dried up pond, 3 archers took a short cut and nearly disappeared in the swamp. Their good natured reaction, and relief on getting back to the tea tent in one piece, was an example of the mood of the day and prize giving took place with lots of smiling faces and a pleasant sunny afternoon.

With the land owner generously allowing the shoot to take place without the usual charge an amazing £600 was raised for Edward. Well done everyone and we hope to see you all again at our Christmas Friendly on Saturday December 13th.

The results for the shoot can be found here.

C. K. Walker

It was with some relief that, following last years Foot and Mouth fiasco, we were able to confirm that our spring open shoot wYias able to go ahead. Archers who had booked for the October shoot had been contacted and were automatically transferred to this one and, along with all the rest who it seems had been waiting patiently for our ground to re-open, made an impressive entry of 106 pre-booked archers on the day.

It is a tribute, I hope, to our growing reputation for ‘interesting’ (some call them ‘challenging’) courses, friendly faces and good food that people had travelled some considerable distances to get here including all round the South East coast, Oxford, down into Dorset and even as far as Mongolia – although it should be pointed out that Yi was already in the area so I suppose that doesn’t count!

The course setters headed by Roger had planned yet another devious and sneaky course of 40 – mostly 3D or cut-outs, all in cunningly placed situations which although not at any great distance, proved able to fool most of the people for most of the time. This, coupled with shooting to wound lines, kept the top scores in the mid 500/600’s – no mean achievement considering the layout and topography of our ground and cries of “How did I miss that!” seemed to be the most common comment of the day. ‘Robo Duck’ made his usual appearance – albeit in a supporting, not Robo Duckscoring, role and the clang of spent arrows (including a flint tip!) resounded at intervals throughout the day.

However, this did not detract from peoples’ enjoyment and the weather, which had been really wet the day before, was kind with clear skies and sun developing as the day wore on.

Catering was of the usual high standard with food provided by Claire and Paul ably assisted by the rest of the Porter clan whilst Anne’s fruit cake was being bought in lots of three or more in case it ran out before the end of the day! Thanks must also go to the unsung hero’s in the club who turned out on work parties or who performed other duties on the day. You know who you are – “Thank You!”

The results for the shoot can be found here.

All in all our first shoot of the year was a great success and bodes well for the remaining five as many archers have already booked ahead for some if not all the others.

C. K. Walker