AGB's Summer Metrics postal archery competition was so popular, it prompted the organisers to extend the score submission deadline to September. Two archers describe what it's like to take part.
Despite the pandemic's challenges, archery competitions of various formats did take place this summer, with the necessary safety restrictions in place. Archery GB's Summer Metrics postal competition came into its own by allowing individuals to compete in their own time, outside of the traditional competition set-up.
Alan Clewley (pictured above), Cuckfield Archers
Â"Having completed a recurve beginners' course in February this year, archery was suddenly curtailed with the coronavirus lockdown. My new compound bow arrived from the States at the end of April, and it wasn't until June that I was able to begin shooting on range at up to 90m. As I was furloughed, I was time-rich and progress was swift. I was informed about the Archery GB Summer Metrics competition and decided I had nothing to lose in entering the Novice Compound Short Metric III round (30m/20m). The postals instructions on the Archery GB website were pretty straightforward and the Ianseo app seemed to perform well, albeit with a few teething problems which were duly fixed.
Â"I submitted an initial score of 676, and my only competition, Wayne Marsden, was quickly on my heels with scores of 644 and 668. Just as he submitted a 677, I had been out on a beautiful still summer's morning and shot a 700. Wayne came back with a very notable 698, so I'd like to offer my congratulations to him for an extremely good score. This side to the competition made it very enjoyable. It was a shame that there weren't more entrants. I did also enter the Senior Short Metric I Compound round (50m/30m) and shot a respectable 660.
Â"Thanks is due to all my new friends at Cuckfield Archers and Adur Valley Archers (I'm an associate member of Adur Valley Archers) here in Sussex, and to In-Range Archery and The Archery Shop for the encouragement and help in getting me set up and started in archery. Since the metric competition I achieved Bowman classification for Long Metric (90m/70m - scores: 603, 605, 611). I would certainly participate in next year's postal and am very much looking forward to live competitions next year too, providing we eventually emerge from the coronavirus restrictions. Happy shooting to all.”
Paul Spencer, Phoenix Bowmen
Â"I enjoyed this year's Summer Metrics competition, not just because I won the Gents Barebow event but for the inspiration to keep shooting at a competitive level.
Â"I started archery in 2015 and have shot mostly recurve. I only started barebow in December 2019 to compete with a fellow archer who prefers that bowstyle. I'm now the proud Lancashire Archery Association County Record holder for Barebow Worcester and Double Worcester; I love shooting barebow too now!
Â"There were a few others at our club taking part in the Summer Metrics and I entered too with my recurve bow. I wasn't as good at that shoot but still enjoyed it. Looking at the table of scores each week was a really good incentive, as it allowed archers to compare their scores.
Â"This is the first time I've entered the Summer Metrics, and I found the whole process easy: completing my score sheet was straightforward, as was sending in the results. The Metrics gave me something to aim for during a time when competitions had dwindled due to Covid-19.
Â"I did find the competition a little challenging as the 80cm target at 50 metres seemed so small, but I shot well to get my score of 542. I would love to see more people taking part in the competition as it was fun in the way that other people had also joined and were posting scores. I would encourage others to join in on all postal competitions in the future.”
Did you enjoy our Summer Metrics? Let us know at magazine@archerygb.org and look out for details of future postal competitions promoted on our website and social media channels.
Click here to find out the draft results of this year's Summer Metrics. Please note, these are only draft results, due to be updated on Monday 9 November. For those who took part, please take a look and send any data corrections as soon as possible to: katy.cumming@archerygb.orgÂ
