Posted August 25th 2008

FIRST! My thanks to all those who have helped with the lead up to the N.C.A.S. FITA Star, hosted by our club, on the weekend just gone. After twelve consecutive days where rain fell at sometime, and after our postponed Club Open on the previous week-end, it was to be a big ask for the event to go ahead at all. For those who helped on Friday to set the field up, for those who helped on Saturday while the shoot was beginning, and those who helped during the 'non-shooting' times and over the Sunday evening clearing the field you have my, and I hope most of the club's thanks!

Fortunately we had (apart from the mud which caused the field to remind me of a Glastonbury festival) a dry, bright, and relatively warm week-end, and it was the pleasure of one of the visitors on achieveing a coveted MB score, plus the claims for Stars, 6 Gold End Awards and more that makes it all worthwhile. And now to the future. The field is decidedly a mess but will recover in a matter of weeks, probably less once the rain returns and washes the mud back down to the grass roots. It will not be long before we are back indoors where, at least, we have set times where the weather shouldn't spoil the shooting!

Since the 'Olympics', Archery has been inundated with requests to try it out and the our club is no different, with over 40 people already on the list, so, if you are one of these 40+, I can only ask for your patience.

Posted August 17th 2008

Today should have been one of the prestige days for the club but, for the second year, we have found that we have had to cancel the club open due to the effects of the weather. In 2007 it was rain and wind, and this year it was days of continual rain that turned the field into a jelly. Every step brought water up over the shoes and the ground was just goo! I suppose that the weather got to most of those who had booked in to shoot as we had only a few to turn away, so we can only hope for a few dry days in the coming weeek to allow the field to drain...... or we'll be in trouble again for the FITA Star? Maybe it's time to consider if our shoot should go back to it's original date in July?

Posted August 5th 2008

Our latest meeting was held on Monday 4th primarily to discuss the forthcoming Club Open and FITA Star. The following is a quick summary of what went on!

We already have 39 names for courses, indoors this winter, so we're going to try to have 12 to 15 on each course. With three coaches and a couple of 'senior' archers we should be able to have 5 bosses up, little waiting time to shoot, but we expect that bow sharing will be required?

For the club competitions we need some healthy volunteers to help move the kit from the 'Parks' to the field. 10 o'clock (for 10-30) on Saturday 16th August.

We have the next 'junior' session at Burnside on Wednesday 6th August, but then I expect it to be over before anyone catches on I've announced it here?

Now to the really important bits! On October 1st we have our 'junior' night but then on October 8th at Burnside we have an "Age takes centre stage" 'have-a-go' for North Tyneside from 7pm until 9-30pm. More details when we are sure what will be required. This will then be followed by a beginners course on 15th for 15 people. That to last for six sessions bringing us close to Christmas!

Of course we have the club AGM long before then on 16th September at the 'Pavillion' near the range at Killingworth. Be there (or get voted into some position in your absence!) I think that's about all but I noticed as I replaced the July 2007 news with the 2008 version that we held a beginners course outside last year also......... and it rained! Like last year, however, the final session was in lovely weather.