Start for 2013

 We start back officially on the 26th January, however we are holding the 1st leg of the international IFAA mail match on the 19th of January.

In the mean time I would like to wish everybody an enjoyable new years eve and a prosperous 2013.
Cheers Teabag

MVA archers of distinction

Karen, Alastair & Martin

Christmas Break-up 2012

 

Gee I had a good time. It was a shame more, of the more senior members couldn't make it. I'm a little biased here but I thought the targets were outstanding, all the 3, 4 & 5's were hand painted full colour and the 1 & 2's were computer generated colour targets, not only were they fun to shoot, visually pleasing they were hard to score on. The score zones were clearly visible, (well may be not on the Christmas tree.) But the higher the point score the more chance of getting nothing. Just ask Coins on a series 2 Alastair went for full points as you do missed the 20 by about .5mm and scored nothing, undaunted he tried again, missed in a different spot by about the same amount and again came up empty. This amused him greatly and he showed us the target at tea. I didn't hear one complaint about the targets and one seasoned shooter said "I have shot many novelty targets over the years, but they were by far the best." If you look at the scores you can easily see they were not easy.

 

 Can I thank Narelle for making the salads,truly a labour of love.

The presentations were held and several trophies were handed out. some of the winners were Liam & Donald. The look of surprise on their faces had to be seen to be appreciated.

The trophies for the Christmas shoot were as follows:

Men's sighted, Neil

Ladies sighted,Karen

Veterans sighted, Teabag

Veterans unsighted, Ray

Junior sighted, Liam

Junior unsighted, Donald.

The main awards are the perpetual shields. Juniors was again won by Marin Ussher who has shot well all year despite the fact that he must have grown about 20 feet.
 This year ladies was claimed by Karen Smedley who has been able to lift her base performance by a good margin, so much so that she is a major force at each weekly shoot.
To make it a family affair Alastair was able to once again take home the men's shield. Well done Alastair a good consistent performance in all conditions.
Macleay Valley Archers has had a good year tournament wise, we have had archers at all the major shoots and as a club we have punched above our weight. Our club has archers that hold National records, are champions at the following National, State and Branch as well as postal, indoor, ABA and 3D.
Dave posted the magical 400 in an ABA round. Whilst Gloria raised her average scores by the highest Margin, making her the most improved established archer.
Our average attendace was just over 12 with 19 being the best we could do.

Could I also say thank you to Cec for all the un-noticed things you do. THANK YOU.

And now to the scores. Let me say that Granddad shot as well as I have ever seen him. It's magic watching the old fella send shaft after shaft into the score zones, it's even more magical when I beat him..... yes dear reader Teabag actually beat him. ya-hoo.
Scores:- Scribe Neil 372, Cola Karen 370, Don't tie with me Brett 370, BC Liam 356, Martin McFly 352, Teabag 350, Coins Alastair 346, BP Glenn342, Granddad Cec 338, Crusty Chris 336, Sugar Ray Sam 326, Cupcake Gloria 318, Yellow Peg Stewart 292, Nick 224, Jake 160
Bare Bow:- Fingers Ray 340, Leach Bait Bruce 298,Donald where's your trophy 302, Nurse Kathy 268.
I nearly forgot to mention a few things firstly Neil & Ray both shot really well. Martin shot from the red peg. Bruce is getting better & better, but today's hi lite would have to be the Performance By  Kathy. Now Kathy is Brett's wife not sure if that's good or bad, although she did seem to be getting rather special coaching. As we all know archery is not the easiest of sports to co-ordinate all things enough to get the desired result. Kathy on the other hand appeared to handle it with ease. We were in the group behind so I had several opportunities to watch her shoot. Her release was really good and I have seen many archers with years of experience not release as well as Kathy was able to.
On the 19th January next year we will be holding the first leg of the IFAA international Mail match.
We are officially starting back on the 26th of Jan.
To all my friends, readers & Granddad, have a safe and very happy Christmas and New year.
I will add things over the break so feel free to check every now & again.

Merry Christmas and a safe new year.
Teabag

Christmas party shoot

These are the group 5's for the weekend. Ignore the junk in the background, they are just a few of my favorite things. Which just may come in handy, well one day. Photo is a bit dark even though we had the headlamps on and the spots.
cheers Teabag

3 Arrow Goanna range 8/12/12

Well it wasn't as hot as last week, but we finished just as wet. Ray started with a magnificent burst and had reached 150 by target 8. Man he was shooting well. Garry had scored 340 out of 340 at target 17, 3 targets to go, 400 maybe, in the 390's almost guaranteed. Boy is archery a funny sport Garry found a way to finish with 376. We didn't talk much about it afterwards and outwardly Garry was really upbeat, but it must have hurt. Alastair and Brett were, as usual, all calm & collected and both finished with very acceptable scores given the constant rain for the last half of the course. Rain has got to be the natural enemy of Freestyle unlimited shooters. First the scope gets wet, then the peep and then for visually challenged archers, their glasses fog up. This results in complete but temporary blindness. I can see through each piece by it's self but put the 3 together and I wouldn't see a heard of Elephants at 15 yards.Glenn, Cec and Liam were swept away in the wall of water that crashed down on them from the heavens. Fortunately Granddad arrived back at the club house in time to make my victory cuppa tea. Let me repeat that dear reader.......MY VICTORY CUPPA.

Next week is our final shoot for 2012 It will be a novelty event followed by Christmas Celebrations and trophy awards. Some are camping over so you are most welcome to stay the night.
Just a small word of caution Karen was bitten by a spider (Twice) resulted in a trip to the medic's and some nasty blisters, swelling and very traumatised local area. Please be careful as even little critters can hurt.

Scores for the day: Coins Alastair 384, Don't tie with me Brett 380, Home Brew Garry 376, Teabag 366, Cupcake Gloria 336, Yellow Peg Stewart 316.
Bare Bow Fingers Ray332, Leach bait Bruce 310, Don 260.
DNF BP Glenn, Granddad Cec, BC Liam

Branch E NNSW has just started a face book page northern NSW branch ABA.  I have no idea about face book, but if you are a facebook user have a look and press like ( don't know why, but apparantly this is a good thing) Feel free to post items as it is the branch page and you are branch members.

Stay happy see you all soon.
Teabag

1st & 2nd of Dec. Macleay & Hunter

 

 

We also had a family of four visit the club in the morning to try archery. New coaches Alastair and Karen Smedley introduced them to art of archery and had them all hitting the practice butt after a few practice shots. Riitta and Coroson Kybb and Julio Garcia enjoyed shooting the recurve bows, and young Luca Kybb is keen to try when we have a smaller bow available.

 

Other members of the club visited the Hunter Bowman club in East Maitland for the Branch Christmas Shoot. Team Macleay shot well despite searing temperatures: Mens Veteran Sighted Division: Mike Potter 1st (1472), Cec Apps 2nd (1398); Ladies Veteran Sighted Division: Gloria Potter 1st (1332); and Mens Freestyle Unlimited Flight 2: Glenn Freeman 2nd (1452). Max score 1600.

Scores (Max 400): Alastair Smedley 376, Karen Smedley 366, Sam Harwood 316, Barebow archers: Ray McMannus 324

Team Macleay was split in two this week with Coins , Cola Karen, Sugar Ray Sam and Fingers shooting at Macleay. Whilst BP, Cupcake, Granddad & Teabag went to Hunter bowmen.

These 8 archers battled searing heat, Humidity, searing heat, wind, searing heat, storms, searing heat, ticks, searing heat, leaches, searing heat, and each other. Oh it was very very hot as well.
Results were very close.
Team Away scored:
Cupcake 358, Teabag 386,  Grandad 378, BP Glenn 364,  Total 1486
Team Home scored
Cola Karen 366, Coins 376, Sugar Ray Sam316, Fingers 324, Total 1382.
Its official Team away was indeed first.
Man it was hot, I discovered a little know fact that in this sort of heat all my man bits are not needed I drank several cans of softdrink, copius quantities of tea and several litres of something like Staminade and not once did I need the loo, it all just leaked out everywhere. Sort of rendered bits of me totally obsolete.
Till next time stay safe.
cheers Teabag

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