High Cross Archers 18th May inaugural NFAS shoot

Setting the course on the 11th May proved to be very hot work. Unfortunately the weather forecast for the following week caused High Cross Archers considerable anxiety as the prospects were much less favourable, with winds and rain. Sunday the 18th however dawned sunny and bright with a cold NNE wind. About fifty archers turned up for our inaugural NFAS shoot; not as many as we had hoped for but as a new Club with a new course we will need to prove ourselves! However the good news is that the day was very well  received by the assembled company. Roger Crang had set out a generous  six practice butts, leaving our guests no room to complain about cramping their style or opportunity to warm up.

The shoot was under way on time with groups of three tramping up and down the varied and challenging terrain. Feedback suggested the club was saving it's target faces by placing some of them at challenging distances. The convoluted terrain made for challenging distance estamating, with much hidden ground and slopes. Mike Baker had set two Predator Prey shots, giving the opportunity for improving ones score by up to 14 points on each target. The shots worked well but did slow progress around the course although the feedback was that it did provide a good variation. As the course was a 20X2 , the second round was shot from Wasp pegs and so on, making the ranges tough for folks with a lighter bow.

Catering was provided by press ganged ladies who kept pace with a steady flow of tea, bacon butties and homemade cakes, supplemented with some chilli stew which disappeared far too rapidly.

The club has been very busy constructing additional butts and the landowner can make some adjoining woodland available to provide an expanded course in the future. There is also room for camping over the occasional weekend and so we have the potential to put on two day shoots comprising of 36 or 40 butt rounds. Cunning use of the beautiful Cotswold terrain will prove this to produce  interesting and varied courses. The landform lends it self to 3D's of which there are also some promising ideas.

 We would like to record our sincere thanks to those archers that turned up and hope they enjoyed themselves and that they will pass on their recommendations to other NFAS members who missed a grand day out. Also for members to keep their eyes open for forthcoming future High Cross shoots.