The Royal Richmond Archery Club’s 150th Anniversary celebration weekend took place over the weekend of 8th and 9th July 2023, with an ‘Archery through the Ages’ themed fun shoot, picnic and social on Saturday, and a fun Mini Wand and Cloud shoot on Sunday.
Saturday morning started with a set up – many thanks to all the kind souls who arrived early to help put up all the weird and wonderful targets!
The day’s shoot started with a speech from Chairman Varney and a volley of whistling arrows, in memory of Chairman Alan Want and Equipment Officer Alan Cumbers, who both passed away this year.
Archers nock your arrows…
…draw and hold…
…and let loose!
Despite a couple of rain showers in the morning, the temperamental July weather decided to smile upon us and the first Fun Shoot whistle sounded in glorious sunshine. The theme of the shoot was ‘Archery though the Ages’ and there were many wonderful costumes in evidence!
Everyone who took part got the chance to shoot at 3D targets as well as the familiar bosses, there was a moving target too, and all had a go at shooting longbow, many for the first time.
We might be primarily a target archery club but judging by how keenly everyone took to the (saw) horse during the ‘mounted’ archery challenge maybe we should be looking into some sort of partnership with the local polo club?
Following the shoot, the social afternoon commenced with Alex Skinner (who has been a club member since before our centenary!) giving out the prizes to the best archers and best costumes – well done to all winners. Next a letter of congratulations from His Majesty King Charles III was read.
Many archers old and new and a few long unseen came to chat, mingle and reminisce. The appropriately named veteran Dave Archer was there in his RRAC blazer, embroidered with gold thread (I want one of those!) entertaining us with many stories of archers and celebrities!
The festivities continued into the evening with a picnic, including a very special cake 150th archery themed cake. Many thanks to all who brough all the yummy food, salads, bakes, pastries, cakes, meats, nibbles and the most amazing trifle and pavlova. Special thanks also goes to Mark Garraghan, Nigel Meakins and Alan Willsher for not giving up on the BBQ and saving the sausages with some creative fire making sills.
Sunday 9th July 2023
The weekend concluded on Sunday with a chance to try a different kind of archery – a Mini Clout and a Wand. These were open to all bow types apart from compound (due to overshoot, apologies compounders!) with prizes awarded by bow type.
The weekend concluded on Sunday with a chance to try a different kind of archery – a Mini Clout and a Wand. These were open to all bow types apart from compound (due to overshoot, apologies compounders!) with prizes awarded by bow type.
Well shot to all the archers….…..and well shot to all the contributing shooters for their photos: Marek Borzecki, Nigel Meakins, Robert ‘RB’ Benjamin, Richard Jennings, Annabel Clark, Andy Hawkins, Kevin (who he?) Varney, Sabi Padrtova and any others who (like the targets) we may have missed.