Journal Entry 2 - The Field Shoot.

In the club it's 'Terry' who has the most interest in 'field' shooting, and it was Terry that had the drive to provide a shoot for the county, and others, who wished to try this side of the sport.

It was first started about 1995 and the first year was spent making bosses which now looked pretty basic but did the job for a year or two and after that we had 'sort off' layered bosses made, but not by us, this time.

In the early years the shoot took place at 'Otterburn' in rural Northumberland and became an annual shoot here for about seven or eight years. Most of the photos on this page were from there and show the toils of setting it all up, with a few shots of the shoot in progress. At Otterburn the shoot was spread across open moorland next to the army ranges, and within woodland close by. It had about everything in its time. Howling gales at one corner and dappled stillness in the woods. Floods which put the bridges UNDER the water rather than over it! Uphill shots and downhill shots. River beds and nettles!

For some years the setting up was difficult, as it was about forty miles travel just to get to the site. That's why the stands appear to have been constructed on site… as they were! However, we suddenly lost use of the land and I cannot remember if it was due to its sale or some other reason?
Some photos show the preparation for the shoot with some of the members doing the donkey work at Otterburn.

After that the shoot moved to 'Netherwhitton' which is much closer to Newcastle and not far north of Morpeth. The shoot has settled there for years now and seems to be as popular as we would expect for the most northerly English field shoot. We've lost some of the more eccentric shots of Otterburn but gained by having a lot less travel to get to the competition. As for Terry, he spends much of the spring time looking for new shots and angles for the late summer competition and normally needs a few willing hands with the setting up when the plans are completed. Often between spring and summer the whole place changes personality and the areas which appear to be nice flat grass suddenly convert into bracken covered 'NO-GO' areas. The bridges are pre-fabricated now and have changed from the 'ladder-held-together-with-rope' affairs that graced the original shoot.

However while you would normally expect the usual 'flat-field' target archery at the club, this event will provide something different! Add the smell of cooking bacon as you weave through the woods and this proves to be an exhilarating weekend shooting.

The remaining photos are of the shoot in progress. One on a steep downhill shot, (the river hidden at the bottom), then on the open army range, and finally, on the left, a boggy short shot.

 

I now hand over to Terry, whose Journal entry this covers, and who hasn't appeared in any of these photos so far! From here we cover the field shoot at Netherwitton.

After 8 years at Otterburn Hall where many happy days were spent setting the course and giving archers from the county and further afield, two days of pleasant sport each year, because of the sale of the site, we moved to Netherwitton in 2002. This has been a good move for us, with a most helpful landowner and a delightful area of woodland, which is, to our great relief, free of vandalism, something which was a constant nuisance at Otterburn. Brenda and I have been greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm for it shown by all who have shot there.

I would still like more county archers to come and have a go if they haven't already tried it, there's nothing to be afraid of. We will always put first timers with someone experienced. The main road to success is having gained accurate sight marks at 5 metre intervals from 10 metres to 60 metres, in the case of freestyle and compound unlimited, shooting from red pegs.

Juniors, barebow longbow, compound limited (finger release) shoot from blue pegs and need 5 metres to 50 metres.

The first day target distances are unmarked but don't be put off by this. Each face size has a specified maximum / minimum distance and they are:

Red pegs.
20cm 10-15mtrs
40cm 15-25mtrs
60cm 20-35mtrs
80cm 35-55mtrs
Blue pegs.
20cm 5-10mtrs
40cm 10-20mtrs
60cm 15-30mtrs
80cm 30-45mtrs
White pegs.
5mtrs, 7mtrs, 10mtrs, then by 5's up to 30mtrs. (under 10years)

It is within the rules to carry a reminder of these with you. Each face size has 2 long shots, 2 medium and 2 short. This adds up to 6 targets for each face size. Of course they are all mixed up around the shoot.

It is always useful to practice distance estimations also. On the second day all the distances are marked on the pegs but are increased from day 1 by 5 metres.

I hope this information will help a few more to try it, but a good pair of boots with a 'grippy' sole is essential. It is possible to write pages galore about field archery but if you need more give me a ring on 0191-286-7175.

Journal Entry List.