New Years Eve

Well here we are again, the end of another year. Boy did it get here quickly seems like only yesterday we celebrated Jan 1 2010. Those who didn't know me last year probably don't realise just how handsome that extra 12 months has made me, old dryfire reckons it's just my eyesight that has deteriorated.

Gloria & I, and I am sure all members of Macleay Valley Archers take this opportunity to wish each & every one of you a joyful and very safe New Years Eve. We also wish lots of PB's not only in archery but in every thing you do.

Take care & see you all real soon.

Mike & Gloria

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everybody from The Macleay Valley Archers.

Sat 18th Christmas Party & Shoot

I'll list the scores first. I have decided that due to Grandad Cec beating me yet again the scores really arn't very important.

Despite that I must Congratulate rangemaster Shane on his 394.

Really good shooting Shane well done. Rangemaster Shane 394, Grandad Cec 388, Feathers Dave PB 384, Don't tie with me Brett & Executive Chef Darrin 382, Martin 380, Coins Alistair 376, Glenn & Sponge Tim 372, Old fart Mike 370, Son of range master Jacob 368, Tired Dion 366, Cola Karen & Matt 364, Don't mention me Steve 358, Gene 340, Bowless Aaron & Sam 334, Scribe Neil & Jack 318, Hair Cas 316, Tamworth Kim 296, Old Dryfire 284, Princess Ebony 230, Pig Hunter Coop DNF 178

2011 officially starts on the last Saturday in January.

Don't forget Club general meeting on the first sat of each month, starting in Feb. A couple of things I would like you to think about between now & then.

1 Why no club champion.

2 Honour board in club house to honour Life Members, President, Sec, Treasurer and club champions as golf & bowls clubs do.

3 Handicap results do we need them.

4 What rounds would we like to shoot. For instance Gloria & I travel about an hour to get to the club & we would really like to shoot more arrows.

5 The zone would like us to hold grading shoots from time to time. Can we?

On a positive note the Chrismas get together was fantastic, well done. To everybody have a great Christmas stay happy & healthy. Thanks for the friendships & see you soon.

Ever Thought What It Was Like to Be An Arrow????

It is something we have all pondered at one stage or another.

What would it be like to be an arrow?

Well I recently purchased a new dozen Easton Lightspeed 3D arrows. How surpised was I when I discovered the new camera feature......

Zone E Christmas shoot Hunter Bowmen

Hi all.

Friday 10th Dec & 13 Macleayites set of into the deep south, 9 of them were armed with bows, provided Bowless brought his), Arrows & all sorts of equipment. Hunter Bowmen is a interesting layout & it was to be my first visit to this club which is set on the coal plains of the East Maitland area & signs of the coal industry are every where. Massive bits of steel, boilers, trucks & buildings were all cast of and lay in wait for there fate. When you enter the grounds the first thing you see is the camping area divided into 2 by the track in. Porta toilets sprung from the ground like native flowers. Manning had started to set up on the wrong side of the tracks, and Camp Macleay was started on the good side. Geez hope Manning don't read this. By Sat morning Camp Macleay was something to behold even Captain Cook would have been impressed by our ability to colonise the area. Let me take you on a virtual tour. Starting at the village green which was fully carpeted and roofed. The tarp used for the roof must surely have been used to cover the wicket block at the Sydney Cricket Ground such was its size. The southern edge contained seating and the kitchen table, the western side had more seating plus a cot for the less fortunate members of society to use. Grandad Cec tells me it was quite comfortable. The northern side had a single story steel house with innerspring mattress. Attached to this was our commercial development which housed our hairdresser, a turbo charged hair drier, a large chair that looked really comfy, a hair washing sink with chair & finally a set of drawers which I guess you throw bits of ear into should you have an 'OOPS' moment. The kitchen was on the eastern side complete with hanging utensils. Through the centre ran the serving table & bar.

Small single family dwellings had sprung up in variouse suburbs of Camp Macleay. Feathers had a particularly beautiful green lawn complete with rubber path & Don't tie with me enjoyed his alfresco concept with concealed mossie netting. James from Manning was so impressed he crept over to our side of the tracks.

Pb's for the weekend Bowless Aaron 376 three arrow. Handsom Mike who somebody unkindly referred to as Old Fart 372 Three arrow, 378 1 arrow, Old dry fire 2 dry fires for the 1 weekend. Finally in a collective show off strength we all shot a starwars PB.

Scores were in order 3a 1a 2a total

Maid Cassie 242, 282, 250, 774 Second

Dryfire Gloria 194, 210, 504, 908 Third

Don't mention me Steve 362, 350, 678, 1390 Forth

Bowless Aaron 376, 286, 612, 1274 Seventh

Don't tie with me Brett 384, 378, 766, 1528 First
Exec Chef Darrin 382, 356, 750, 1488 Second
Old Fart Mike 372, 378, 712, 1462 Forth
Grandad Cec 358, 368, 726, 1452 Sixth
Feathers Dave 362, 326, 736, 1424 Seventh

Grandad Cec's score is corrected on this as we found a 20 points addition mistake, dispite that it didn't alter his position & I HAVE FINALLY BEATEN GRANDAD & yes I am really proud of that so there.

Top Macleay score Brett 1528.

Thanks every body for a great weekend of competition and more important the fellowship. Next week is our Christmas party. I will add more over the next few weeks as lots& lots are Planned.

Starting next Feb the club will be holding a monthly meeting on the first Saturday shoot each month.

Cheers Mike

Couple of things I nearly forgot. Most outdoors types are content to smoke fish/ meat etc, but grandad took this to new heights when he lit the outdoor brazier and tried to smoke the entire camp. It also appears Chef Darrin's inventive ability knows no bounds I think he was trialing a new steam or glove powered van for the trip home. Rumor has it that the brazier re-ignited on the trip home & used Darrin's welding glove as fuel. He & Cec pulled up at Taree for a much needed coffee or Mocha for Darrin got out and quizzed each other over a burning smell, before finding the much redused glove. I really wish I had been there to see their faces. Dryfire thinks they could have been smoke signals to Santa ' Dear Santa I have been a really good boy can I pleasssssssssse have a new welding glove."

Dec 4 3 arrow WOW

392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 392 etc

Just what was in the water this weekend????????

Some days you are just happy to be flooded in & this appears to have been one such day. The scores are just unbelievable well done to all.

Grandad Cec "old pensioner' 392, Mick"1st shoot in 6 months" 384, Brett " don't tie with me" & Alistair 382, Executive chef Darrin & Feathers Dave 380, Glenn 378, "Don't mention me" Steve 376, Steve shot another darned PB, So I want you all to ignore his last PB, infact if he keeps doing this we should all just ignore him, Marty 376, Gunnadah Mat formally Kempsey Mat 360, Sam 356, Bowless Aaron 352, Scribe Neil 348,

I am told Brett had a barometric pressure drop whilst shooting. I know how that is Brett the triplets do that after every feed. A big thank you to my roving reporter for supplying this report. I am not saying who it is as that makes it easier to get the gossip. But thanks.

Christmas party/shoot is on the 18th December, All welcome.

Hunter bowmen next week.

Stay healthy see you all soon

Alterations to site

Brett has kindly allowed us to add new pages to the blog. You will find the tabs under the photo. I think they are self explanatory. Please feel free to add to the contents. Lets join together & make our club the bench mark for ABA clubs

news re Bowhunting Accreditation

I am very pleased to announce that as of 28/11/10 Macleay Valley Archers now have an official Game Measurer - Bruce Crumpton, and a Bowhunter Education Officer - Myself (Steve Harris), as a result of the accreditation weekend at Moonterra Archers. Many thanks to Lindsay and Ralph for a very enjoyable and educational weekend and also to the Moonterra Archers for their excellent hospitality.As Bowhunter Education Officer I am now able to run the B.P.C. (Bowhunter Proficiency Certificate) courses for our club and strongly recommend that all of our members make the effort to sit this course. Our Bowhunters need a B.P.C. to claim game and obtain an "R" Licence to hunt Deer and declared State forests. It is also important that our target only archers attain a B.P.C. to help the A.B.A. show the people who make no distinction between Hunter or Target Archer, that a responsible level of bow use is taking place in our clubs.Even if you do not hunt and only wish to take part in Archery, purely as a target sport, to obtain a B.P.C. is a demonstration that you are a responsible bow user and supporter of the A.B.A. This means that the A.B.A. has a stronger arguement to help keep our sport alive when they can present a strong number of accredited, proficient bow users to the authorities and bodies that would otherwise see our sport outlawed and banned based on the actions of the very few that do the wrong thing and bring our sport into disrepute.The B.P.C. is a free service provided to A.B.A.. members which can usually be held over only one day so the time and monetary costs are extremely minimal. Please show your support to the A.B.A. and help to keep our sport alive.Anyone wishing to sit the B.P.C. course can contact me either at the club or by email : airpig75@y7mail.com to arrange a day that suits all parties. If you have been a member of A.B.A. for 3 months you can obtain a B.P.C.Again, a big thank you to all at Moonterra.Steve