While the beginning of the outdoor season was plagued by poor weather, Sunday’s shoot was plagued by mosquitos. The biting insects turned out in Biblical proportions to make the archers suffer for their sport. In spite of this Sunday produced some terrific shooting with five club members recording personal bests and a sixth setting a new club record.
The round of the day was a Hereford/Bristol I – twelve dozen arrows shot at 80, 60 and 50yds in a 6:4:2 split. However with a team away at Guernsey, numbers were down and the only direct competition was provided by the George sisters in the Ladies Compound Division. The mixed experience and age levels of the other competitors saw a range of National Rounds (distances measured in yards not metres) being shot.
The Gents Recurve saw Rob Lott added 77 points to his personal best for the Bristol I, while Danny Cowin attempted a Bristol II for the first time. Not to be outdone Rob’s wife Karen added 9 points to her pb for the Hereford.
In the Gents Compound only Simon Musgrove shot the round of the day his score was respectable but not up to his usual high standards. Colin Moore was only available in the morning but the Long National round he shot was a new best for him and was only 8 points short of the club record.
With Sarah Rigby away winning gold at Guernsey, it was left to the George sisters to face off in the Ladies Compound. Kirsten shot well adding 38 points to her pb for the round but was 70 points behind the score of her older sister. Aalin’s score beat the existing club record by 26 points and was the first unofficial Grand Master Bowman score to be shot on the island. (Grand Master Bowman scores are only official at record status shoots). Remarkably this feat did not represent a personal best score for Aalin as she is currently the British National Record Holder with a pb of 1280.
Tony Hartley enjoyed testing himself on his Mongolian Bow but did not submit a score sheet and Jack Tyrer and Josh Trafford shot Junior rounds in the afternoon.
Results Gents Recurve – Rob Lott (Bristol I) 125 641 13pb. Danny Cowin (Bristol II) 122 652 19pb. Ladies Recurve – Karen Lott (Hereford) 139 813 23pb. Gents Compound – Simon Musgrove (Bristol I) 144 1200 103. Colin Moore (Long National) 72 592 44pb. Ladies Compound Hereford: 1. Aalin George 144 1268 133 New Club Record, 2. Kirsten George 144 1198 96pb. Junior Recurve – Jack Tyrer (Short Junior National) 66 410 15. Josh Trafford (Junior National) 67 366 12.
