Archery (HARLEQUIN BOWMEN)
The archery club is known as HARLEQUIN BOWMEN and is affiliated to the Grand National Archery Association (GNAS), the Southern Counties Archery Society (SCAS) and (for historical reasons) the Berkshire Archery Association (BAA).
Technically we are two Clubs in one as we have recently formed HARLEQUIN JUNIOR BOWMEN. We have over 40 members but are always seeking new members of almost any age - with young children it's more a matter of their size than their age. Our youngest member is only 5 but usually 6-7 years old is a minimum age. Our oldest members are pensioners but aren't saying any more! We would especially like to see more Ladies shooting.
There are three main forms of archery.
- TARGET ARCHERY. This consists of shooting a set number of arrows at known distances (up to 100 yards) at a multi-colour roundel straw target. Shooting is on a flat field and is the only form of archery in the Olympic Games. This can also be done indoors at small short-range targets.
- CLOUT ARCHERY. This consists again of shooting a set number of arrows but at longer known distances (up to 180 yards) at a peg fixed in the ground. Shooting is on a flat field.
- FIELD ARCHERY. This is SIMULATED hunting. The targets are spread out in a manner similar to a golf course. After shooting at one target, the archer moves on to the next and so on. The targets may be roundels or animal shapes or pictures and distances are often unknown. Shooting is usually on hilly, wooded terrain.
We do all of these. Target and Clout are practiced on the Harwell Central Sportsfield. Shooting times April-September are Tuesday and Friday evenings (from about 16.30) and all day Sundays. October-March we have all day Sundays available. We also shoot indoors on Friday evenings from October to March at Greenmere School, Didcot. Field archery can be practiced as above but we also have limited access to a field course near Pangbourne.
Further information can be found at http://www.harlequinbowmen.org.uk/
Membership
The joining fee for the archery club is £5. Annual membership is £39.50 for seniors, £10.50 for under 18s. Indoor fees are £3 for seniors and £1 for juniors. Other fees are £1 per shooting attendance (20p for juniors) and £20 for a beginners course.
Club Contacts
Chairman: Mick Tappin
Address: 29 Crosslands Drive,Abingdon,OX14 1JYTel: 01235 202500
Email: p.tappin@ntlworld.com
Secretary: Mrs Pauline Tappin
Address: 29 Crosslands Drive,Abingdon,OX14 1JYTel: 01235 202500
Email: pauline.tappin@ntlworld.com
Club website
http://www.harlequinbowmen.org.uk/Club News
11 Jan 2010: HARLEQUIN BOWMEN'S "FROSTBITE" SHOOT22 hardy souls turned out for the Harlequin Bowmen's New Year's Day Fun Shoot on a crisp, sunny morning at Harwell to shoot the "Frostbite" round. No trophies were on offer, the winner merely getting first choice of all the secret presents brought along by every competitor and everyone else selecting according to their position in the shoot. Hot soup and mince pies were the order of the day after the competition and were welcomed by everyone on a cold day. Anyone interested in joining this very well-run and sociable club should contact Mick or Pauline Tappin on 01235 202500 (goldenmick@ntlworld.com or pauline.tappin@ntlworld.com) or Lynn Wilson on 01235 523345.
Below - some photos of the action on New Year's Day.
