LASSWADE ARCHERY CLUB NEWSLETTER

 

ISSUE NO. 185 MAY 2011

My Dear Fellow Toxophilites,
By now we will be shooting outdoors so what follows will be slightly out-of-date.
CLUB NEWS

OUTDOOR SHOOTING GUIDELINES

This subject was discussed at the last committee meeting and some of you will be getting familiar with what will be expected from ALL of you with regard to outdoor shooting.
To that end Derek has prepared a list of rules you will adhere to as follows:-

For those members shooting outdoors for the first time start shooting at shorter distances until you have achieved some competence. Hitting the target regularly with a good sized group is a good indication. When you can do this move on to the next longest distance and try to achieve the same level of competence then so on until you can safely shoot at the longest distances if you want to! (Remember to make a note of your sight mark for each distance).

At shorter distances if there are several people shooting then only TWO should shoot at the same target at one time. If necessary either set up more targets at the distance involved or more probably shoot in waves.

The outdoor targets will be set up a longer distances so members should be trying to shoot these distances.
The targets at shorter distances are there for members to obtain experience and for younger members whose equipment is not capable of shooting the longer ones.

LOST ARROWS – Make sure you know how many arrows you have shot, so to begin with don’t have too many in your quiver. It is the responsibility of the member who has lost an arrow(s) to assist in the search for it.
Therefore:-

1 – If you realise you have missed the target, stop shooting until you can recover your arrow and determine which direction you need to move your sight to.

2 – Let your target partners know you have lost an arrow and ask them to help you find it.

3 – A time limit of three (3) minutes will be allowed to find the arrow. If it cannot be found mark the area where you think it is and use a metal detector to help find it.

4 – If it is not found after three (3) minutes of searching shooting will stop and all members will assist in the search.

Remember we are shooting on a school playing field so we must report any missing arrows to the Centre Reception. When you have found the arrow make sure you make it known so that no more time is used looking for it.

Although we do not shoot to strict times for ends these should reflect the usual time permitted within the GNAS/Archery GB rules of shooting i.e. four minutes for six arrows.
Although members shooting at the longer distances may be shooting more than the usual six arrows end times will not be extended too much.

Because of the new rules relating to safety distances it will not be possible to have a “split” range for shorter and longer distances. Therefore all members will conform to the commands for starting and collecting arrows

The range will be marked out so that the targets at the shorter distances will be at the right hand side of the range and for the longer distances on the left hand side.
Barrier tape must be set out so that there is a distance of 10m/yds on either side of the shooting line and 20m/yds at the target line. As the overshoot distance must be 150m/yds from the shooting – line, the barrier angle must be maintained out to this further distance.

Whistle commands will be used to control the range and there will be a whistle hung in one of the red cupboards in the store. This must be taken out to the field whenever shooting is to take place.

It would be helpful if club members would agree to take turns of acting as “Field Captain” in order to do this Derek is willing to run short training sessions for club members to become familiar with the methods involved.
If you want to be volunteered please make yourself known to Derek otherwise he will come and get you! All members will be issued with  a copy of the above guidelines.

Derek

GNAS CARDS FOR NEW MEMBERS

This item is intended for members who have joined us from the last beginners’ class and anyone else who joined since the start of the year. I hope by now that you will all have received your cards for 2010/11. If you have still not received them then see me.
If on the other hand you have got them then can you please let me know the number on the card so that we can amend our database. The number can be found on the back of the card and it will probably have a 7 digit number. It is not necessary to carry it with you at all times but bear in mind if you visit another club or enter a tournament you will have to show it. Failure to do so will mean you will not be permitted to shoot.
If you lose your card then let me know immediately so I can obtain a replacement.
You may also be charged a small fee to cover the cost of a new card.

AND FINALLY

Those of you who have been with the Club for some time will know that things usually go quiet during the outdoor season unless something drastic happens such as a rare sighting of Derek’s wallet! To that end there may not be a monthly issue of the newsletter appearing for the next few months so the next one may be a double issue depending on what (if anything) needs to be reported.

Donald

Contributor for this issue: Derek Sangster