Longbow archersTHE Reference site for the longbow

Another new Estate for the Fraternity, none other than at King Edward III favourite Castle, the Deer Park of the Royal Windsor Estate. 

Our friends and connoisseurs at the HAC kept telling us this was the choicest part of the Great Park and so it turned out to be. Big open spaces with a long gallop fringed by impeccably maintained woodland and dotted with individual oaks. The vastness of the ground made it look flattish at first sight, but once in shoot-mode it was clear there were plenty of dips, dead ground and obstacles of various kinds. These included four sets of carriage-driving obstacles which with random grassy mounds provided plenty of fun and games.

As we could not exactly invite ourselves for tea with the Queen, we used a very friendly pub as our forward operating base. While this is not totally ideal, it worked very well in practice. Very hospitable and easy to find, registration, lunch, prize-giving and the Archers supper were all done at “the Royal Windsor”. Three minutes from the enormous car-park alongside the Estate and unmissable in terms of location. Once again the weather-gods were on the Fraternity’s side, a sunny Saturday and overcast but dry on Sunday.

The deer lived to tell the tale
Already on the Saturday afternoon shoot the numbers were vast ! Looked on by small groups of curious young bucks (big antlers !) at a safe distance, there was a nagging but unfulfilled temptation to, let us say change the priorities of the shoot. Titchmarsh Primary had turned out its Archery club under the capable guidance of Ruth Carty and Tim Cunningham. Thrown in at the deep end, they held their own in a long line of bonkers-keen archers. The ultra-lights always get taken forward so that provided they work at it, they are always in with a good chance. So it turned out, the big boys were not the only ones to score and the deer lived to tell the tale.

The Goose also made it
Sunday was one of the biggest shoots we’ve seen ! Car-parking areas filled up one after the other, banners and pennants were flying, spiced mulled wine was flowing in quantity mainly thanks to the camping skills of the Helen and Ian Swyer team. It was not cold and as we were suitably fortified the chill-factor and general wintery nonsense could be ignored.
The morning “Finsbvrie Pigeon” and “Angell” Marks made good use of the carriage obstacles and the wooded fringe, before we shot back to Brian Hills beautifully made Mark, the “Lees Lion”. Immediately after the Speed-shoot to the “Palmers Pin”, we did the traditional Christmas special; the shot at the Goose’s Eye. Neck and head were the only visible part of the goose, quite a small target even at a mere 80 yards. Ten seconds and hundreds of arrows later, the clear winner was Ray Newman.

Where shooting at the Marks really comes into its own
The afternoon explored a different area of the park (there is plenty of it). A shorty to the “House of Lancaster” was followed by a beautiful long shot along the “V” shaped terrain with trees on either side. Then over a row of trees in a dip and uphill towards “Askwith’s Acorn”. Because the terrain was shaped like a huge pincushion, the mark looked much closer than it was. Arrows fell well short, but the moment the optical trickery was explained we turned round to see a herd of some three-hundred deer “take-off”. An awesome sight with the horizon so full of it, it was as though the ground moved.
Now followed a Mark for which we had to go into a wood with a big clearing. This is where a shoot at the Marks really comes into its own. No other archery tradition can call for a massed line of archers shoot from a covered position out of a clearing, out of the trees and over into the pasture. The “Neues Tissick”was well scored. We then did a tricky shot to the appropriately named “Kings Kindnesse”, standing aside a very ancient oak and just in front of carriage obstacles with a small bridge. Easily tempted all the Fraternity’s Archers were soon up on the bridge itself for the group photo (less those still hunting around for their arrows).
The “White Lion” taken over a finger of woodland, was followed by the “Red Lion” and all too soon we were lined up for the Cloth of Gold distance shot. The wind picked up the Cloth with perfect timing and temptingly spread-out its five cut-in tails. This last shoot of the year summoned every last ounce of archer’s strength and stamina.

A busy year 2012
It has been a jaw-dropping year for the Fraternity ! Huge and enthusiastic attendances, many families,young children, fantastic locations and the sheer glory of seeing one’s arrows fly in this ancient tradition which in some ways made our country. Great support for the Charities of the Armed Services and not just through the shoots themselves. We are humbled to see how many people put large denomination notes into the collection box while no-one is looking. As if quietly to say, “we’re right there for you !”
Master Archer of the year was none other than Carole Tidd, for the second year running !
Winner at the Marks was David Best, a new archer who just shows it can be done. For the Ladies it was the expert Margaret Tyhurst. Juniors went to Alan Simmons with a remarkable score of 45. Paul Cooker won both the Speed-shoot and the Cloth of Gold. Well done Paul for sticking with it and showing your mettle !

A Bowyers Cooperative page has been set up and it is generally going to be a busy year with a lot of interesting stuff going on. Presentations on how to make a longbow, flight shooting master-classes, more access to longbows.

It is a time of the year when if there is snow on the ground, everybody wants to shoot in it. What started as a drizzle of archers arriving turned into an avalanche of participants who all wanted to be able to say, “Yes, I’ve shot in the snow”.

Saturday was already busy enough with a shoot which included no less than 14 complete beginners, all of whom wanted to take up the sport and all of whom were virtually indistinguishable from the more experienced archers by the end of the day. “Where can I get a longbow . . . quickly”. It really is a great source of satisfaction, when in only a short period the oulde weapon provides such an inspiration. One of the shots we did was prepared by Mark Foster, who not for the first time hoisted a full-sized straw boss into a tree in order that we might do the same shot as the London Archers in the 16th Century. It met with great approval, indeed on that historical note the Saturday shoot was followed by a well-attended presentation on the history of the Marks (part 1). Part 2 will go into the geographical aspect, the distances and logistics involved. Part 3 will highlight the practice of Artillery shooting / Shooting at the Marks itself; what is required, what the risks are and what exactly the purpose of the ancient tradition is.

A shoot in the snow – absolute magic
The full Invicta shoot on Sunday was a treat. The whole Estate covered in snow, not too thick to impede walking, but thick enough to find one’s arrows quickly. Far from holding up the shoot we were able to shoot and extra Mark both in the morning and in the afternoon. The opening shot was to the Piper, affectionately known as “Jock”, not too far away so that cold bows would be spared the effects of the cold until warmed by shooting. Only upon the third Mark did we start putting in the distances; 190 yards to the Chough. The Speed-shoot at the end of the morning was well attended by children, but unusually it was only the adults who scored.

Forward the London Archers
The afternoon shoot included a shot taken right over the wood. Godinton is the only one of our many Estates where it is possible – and it is an opportunity not to be missed. It emulates the “covered” shots taken in medieval times to harass the adversary. Then onward to the “Bush under bush”, appropriately situated under a bush and with the St George rules for scoring arrows stuck above the Mark (in the bush), written out on the back. In little time we found ourselves facing Mark Foster’s target in the tree. A copy of the old engraving showing the London Archers taking this shot in 1583 was handed round. A mass of arrows thudded into the target to applause for the effort that Mark had gone to (it takes over an hour to set up safely). A couple of Marks later the appropriately named “Snowball “ followed, short and in a dip. This Mark made by Alan Simmons had many by the nose with a substantial degree of overshooting.

An Arrowbrush for young Sam
All too soon we were readying ourselves for the Shot in the Cloth of Gold. Celebrating the shot taken by the good King Henry VIII in 1520, it is done in four volleys to the ancient Medieval cry; a fitting end to the day that musters every last ounce of energy and enthusiasm.
Prize-giving was in the well-heated tea-room with ample freshly brewed tea and proper ground coffee, not to forget the creamy cakes in their various guises.
David Ashworth who nearly always measures the yardages achieved in the Cloth of Gold, deservedly won the distance for the men. Brian Hills had a fantastic score of 88 at the Marks.  Jack Longhurst and Ann Fowler Wright dominated the Speed-shoot. For the children, Sam Cooker was the honourable recipient of the Fraternity of St George Arrowbrush.
It was a shoot to tell your Grandchildren of, “Yes, I’ve shot in the snow” !

The Fraternity’s Easter Shoot was given the hospitality of Hall Place, a beautiful private Estate with one of the biggest landscaped lakes in the region. It comes at a time of the year when the whole of the archery community is well awake and on the look-out for something a bit different.

A traditional shoot at the Marks, at Speed and in the Cloth of Gold generally fits the bill, as the massive turnout showed.
The Saturday afternoon got off to a good start with most of those shooting joining the Archers supper and then going on to the Night shoot. It is an excellent refresher for the full Monty the next day. The weather for both days was good. It had rained the day before the shoot and it rained for 3 days afterwards – but for the two days of the shoot we had warm sunshine and only an occasional cloudy spell.

A Longbow Cooperative and fresh coffee
An avalanche of Archers descended upon the tea-room to wolf down freshly ground coffee and exotic cakes before setting off to do “the business”. The longbows that had been announced for sale on the longbow-archers.com/longbowccoperative.html page also attracted a great deal of interest. A Richard Head, several Palmers, a Ten Ring and several bows made by Ross Would were on sale. Such was the demand that most had gone by lunchtime !

The morning started with a shot across the breadth of the lake at which only very few casualties were taken. It was followed by two medium-long shots that took us to the highest point of the Estate with magnificent views over the rolling downs of Kent. Tom Cooker received the honour of the “dread-roar”. Tom has brought grandsons Paul and Sam for many years and as they have progressed, he has simply come to enjoy the shoot and see those boys get the scores; a reminder of sportsmanship if ever there was. Via the “Aldermanbury Lion” we came to the Speed-shoot which had to be taken through two lines of trees. Quite a challenge but well scored nevertheless. Final shot of the morning was the politically delicate “shot at the Turk’s Head”. The historic explanation was interrupted on cue by Omar Ibrahim who declared he came from “Turkland”, received the humble apologies from the Captain and then went on to take the shot among the hail of arrows that followed.

From a spring scene via the “Cuckoo” to “King’s kindnesse”
A second shot over the lake kicked off the afternoon shoot, but miraculously the Mark had moved, ergo fewer scores resulted. We now turned the other way and 2 Marks later reached the garden-gate where we took the opportunity of walking across two ornamental bridges with magnificent views over the lake, the garden and the House itself. Azaleas, hornbeam, magnolia and daffodils were in full bloom – it was truly a spring scene to remember.
Out of the garden we did a tight plunging shot in several relays to the “Cuckoo”, then a long one to “Lees Lion”. Two smaller distances follows until we came to “Kings Kindnesse”, at which James Westley showed us what he could do. A new heavy-weight bow, first time and with all assembled Archers drilling holes in his back with their eyes; the boy did well as they say and Neil Harrington looked on approvingly. “House of Lancaster” and “House of York” followed at distances of 160 and 170 yards respectively; lighter bows always get taken forward on such Marks.
As if by magic we found ourselves ready for the Flight-shot in the Cloth of Gold. It is not hard to imagine what a wonderful slight a long line of Archers is. A combination of timelessness and a reminder of the sheer power of the old weapon. The wind was in our favour and it was made the most of. Every inch of draw-length was pulled out of arms and backs and with impressive results.

An interesting presentation followed by prize-giving
While the scores were being entered, Steve Meredith gave a very interesting presentation on how to test the qualities of a stave by first making a mini-bow out of it. The illustrations were remarkable. Very few Archers will have seen such a clear exposé of growth-rings and of shaping a bow ! There was loud applause for this new way of looking at things.
Prize-giving followed immediately afterwards. Neil who had not shot a single arrow since winning the Warbow trophy at the Mary Rose shoot, easily won the Cloth of Gold. He was followed by Francesca Squillaci who set a personal best and young William Watson who did a remarkable 120 yards out of a 22 lbs bow !
Speed-shooting was won by his brother Caspar, with Ruth Carty for the Ladies and Andrew Longhurst for the Gents.
Conclusive winner at the Marks was Steven Cheeseman. Nicky Upperton took first prize for the Ladies and Kieran Fowler Wright for the children. Rising stars here are William Hobday and Rory Wylie-Carrick.
The raffle done by Ruth Lowbury raised a record amount. Many an Archer went home with raw enjoyment of a day in the country and shooting for glory, while at the same time helping our wounded Servicemen and women who do so much for us.
With the “Longbow Cooperative” and the talk before prize-giving two very popular features, there is a lot to look forward to for the coming shoots; the Oriflamme in France (2/3 June) and the earlier mentioned Mary Rose Championship (7/8 July).