Abbey Wand Shoot 2013
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Abbey Wand Shoot 2013
Remembrance Sunday – again. It happens every year around the second Sunday in November and I suppose most of us think of it as Poppy Day – well - we used to. Five years ago Mike McGovern, John Barnwell and I thought it would be fun to hold a Wand Shoot as the last outdoor, GNAS open shoot on the ‘circuit’ – on Remembrance Sunday.
What we wanted to do was give something back to all the people that we meet shooting clouts throughout the year so the formula for the day is very simple. Sign up, arrive, chat, eat most of the free cakes, pastries, biscuits and doughnuts, help yourself to tea and coffee then pause to observe the two minute silence at eleven o’clock. This leaves the rest of the day clear for chatting, shooting 6 dozen arrows in the general direction of the Wands, joking, catching up with friends then eating the last of the cakes, clapping the people that lucked in a good score then getting off home before it gets cold and dark.
Simples!
It was a lot of preparation, sorting out and organising that first year, but we enjoyed it, as did the 22 archers that joined us. Obviously we are doing something right (I think it’s the good weather we usually get more than anything else), because this year 64 archers from 23 different clubs as far afield as Harrogate and Southampton (and many places in between) came to shoot with us. Seems we all had a good time – the weather was kind to us, there was much laughter and some people even scored, all the doughnuts were finished by the afternoon and everything (except two lonely mince pies) was gone by the end of the day.
So – what is it about the Abbey Wand Shoot that is making it such a roaring success? The weather?
The venue? (Ok, perhaps not, but it’s not bad….)
The generous distribution of awards?
The sophistication of shooting at big sticks a long way away?
The sheer delight of getting a hit – or hits!
I think it’s the company, the atmosphere and all of the above.
Perhaps you’ll join us next year and try to put your finger on why its so popular – but beware - from experience it appears that people usually decide they want to come back, because most of them do and often bring a friend, there are even a couple of clubs that come mob handed. Just in case I didn’t make enough of it on the day I’d like to thank the people that helped with the shoot this year and everyone that came and made it such a lovely day - the school, for making sure they didn’t book anything else on the field that day - the Abbey members that turned out and helped us clearing up – the weather - Mike, for doing all the jobs I’m rubbish at - Nicky for making the ‘Hitting a Wand’ prizes… basically thank you to everyone whose names appear on the attached results – we couldn’t do it without the support and encouragement of our fellow archers.
Photos, results, round details and previous years reports can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
(photo credits: Maggie Johnston & Mike McGovern)
Come on.... you know you want to!
Join us on 9th November 2014 and find out what Wand Shooting is all about. I'll give you a couple of clues: Cake, camaraderie and the best of archery. Please check out our pages from previous years, then put the date in your diary, download the entry form and join us? Abbey Wand Shoot 2014
More shoot reports:
Abbey Wand Shoot 2009 Abbey Wand Shoot Nov.2010 Abbey Wand Shoot 2011 Abbey Wand Shoot 2012 Abbey Wand Shoot 2013
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