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The International
Longbow Archers Association (I.L.A.A.) is a not for profit society which
upholds the concept and standards of all traditions of longbow shooting
including Artillery Shooting with traditional bows as practised into the
16th Century, together with all forms of Target, Clout, Speed shooting
and other aiming traditions.
It
seeks to inform archers and other interested parties of their
history and of requisite best practise. It encourages historic research
into these forms of shooting in all countries where it took place as a
form of training and/or in battle.
The I.L.A.A. helps in the safe
organisation of traditional longbow and Artillery Shoots. It offers advice in dealing with and
finding Estates for shooting. It offers legal, insurance and safety
advice. A standard Constitution and Rules is available to those wishing to
set-up Longbow Archery Companies.
The I.L.A.A.
makes its logo available to Affiliated Companies of archers and shoots
which support its standards by issuing a copyright logo on a yearly
basis.
The word "Artillery" comes from the French "Arc-tirer"; to draw the bow.
Many still current expressions in the English language come directly from Artillery
Shooting or shooting at the Marks. Are you "up to the Mark". To "up the
Stakes". To "hit the Mark". To “make your Mark”. To "lower your sights".
To" have Clout". Even "on your Marks" is nothing to do with athletics;
it meant do you have your eye on the Mark, i.e. are you ready to shoot.
The Medieval Artillery
The longbow
was Europe's Medieval Artillery. The reason for practising a high
trajectory distance shot was to be able to get at one's adversary behind
hedges, trees, battlements, escarpments etc. In order to do this the longbowman had to be able to "range" his shots very accurately. It was
an ability that was decisive in battle, because it disrupted the
adversary's ability to form up for attack. Today in peacetime, it is a form of archery where you really get to see your arrows fly high up
into the distance. It is truly about mankind extending his reach.
A series of
stakes is set out in big rolling country. On these traditional emblems
are placed. The purpose is to land one’s arrows as near to the bottom of
the stake as possible from the shooting line. Distances from the
shooting line to the Mark are always unknown and vary between 120 and
240 yards. Average distances are 170 yards and lighter bows should always
be
taken forward to cover the longer distances. All archers (including
beginners) are able to do this from of archery and with a bit of
practise to do it well ! One has to compensate for wind, the
lie of the land etc. but with practise this can be achieved by all
archers, including those that have never held a bow in their hand
before. Within half a day's practise most beginners will get their
arrows to within three bow-lengths of the Mark. That means they get a
score. Many beginners will have double digit scores within a day's
shooting.
Shooting is easier than organising
A large and suitable Estate is a
prerequisite. Big rolling country/parkland is best. Tall trees, but not
too many. Where fortifications are used there must be a balance between
inward and outward shooting. The shoot must be safe and have a good
complement of supporting Officers in relation to the number of archers.
There must be good line discipline. Lighter bows should be taken forward
to reach the longer distances. Banding of lighter bows should be by
poundage draw-weight, not by age or gender. The Marks should be single
stakes fixed firmly into the ground and provide a fixed reference point
for accurate measurement of distance and for scoring.
No weight limit
The I.L.A.A. has no
restrictions on the draw-weight of participating
longbows in any of the traditions it supports.
It believes that appropriate
decisions regarding bow-weight are best left to be judged by organizers
according to the event, the degree of over-shot and other features
particular to the ground.
This open policy on draw-weight applies to all the longbow shooting
traditions the I.L.A.A. supports and encourages. These are; Artillery
shooting; Target shooting (one and two-way), Clout shooting (one and
two-way), Flight shooting, Speed shooting, Wand shooting, Popinjay and
Line shooting.
Definition of the longbow
The I.L.A.A.
supports a full and detailed engineering definition of the longbow. This
definition takes account of and includes all forms of the longbow from
the heavy-weight Artillery / Livery bows to the lightest target bows;
from full compass bows to limb-flexed bows; from horn-nocked to self
nocked; from bows with or without handgrip; from laminated to self-bows.
Bows
must be made of wood. Bows must be straight when unbraced and carry no
artificial reference points or sight marks of any kind. The I.L.A.A.
thereby deliberately includes both the bow-types found on the Mary Rose
and
bows made by the finest craftsmen in the "victorian" tradition.
Arrows must be of wood with feather fletchings.
Save for Popinjay, there is no
restriction as to the type of piles.
Highest arrow-weight found
at the Mary Rose site was 1500 grain. This is the "Military Arrow" and
is the upper weight-limit used in I.L.A.A. shoots. The category known as the "Standard Arrow" at 800 grain
is also supported, as are Bearing arrows
down to 500 grains. The I.L.A.A. does not define a minimum arrow-weight.
What you can do to maintain and
enhance these traditions
The I.L.A.A. helps in the organisation of
Artillery Shoots. It also encourages traditional club events in Target,
Clout and related aiming traditions described above.
Please use the contact form if you
want your shoot to qualify as an Artillery shoot or Shoot at the Marks.
Perhaps you want advice in finding
Estates for shooting, or legal advice and advice on insurance and
safety.
Are you setting up an Archery company
?
The I.L.A.A. has a standard
Constitution and Rules for you.
You may wish to become one of the
I.L.A.A’s Official Shoot Inspectors.
You might like to submit a report of
a shoot you have been to.
You may also want to submit a report
in order to enter someone else’s shoot as a candidate for the I.L.A.A. logo.
For more information,
just send us an e-mail or
visit the website
Postal
Address: ILAA c/o Mrs C. Mooyaart, Hickmans Green, Boughton, Kent
ME139NT, Tel: + 44 (0)1227751471
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