From the chair

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Last weekend saw the last big outdoor competition of the season with a successful ‘Pie and Bean’ event held at the field. As well as a good turnout, we were blessed with good weather. Lovely to see so many of our own Club archers competing. Many thanks to the organisers and the work party.

We have been indoors at Joseph Whitaker School for the last few Fridays and will be adding Sunday mornings begin 5th November. It will be lovely to see you there. If you haven’t been before, it is a very relaxed – and dry – way to keep practicing through the winter. Coaching is available on Friday sessions for those who wish to take advantage of it.

Don’t forget that the field is still open for those who wish to use it and there will continue to be regular Saturday morning sessions including the next Frostbite on 11th November.

For those who need a ‘pre-Christmas antidote to Christmas’ if there is such a thing, there is a Christmas Eve shoot planned for Club members on the morning of 24th December (of course) – a St Nicholas round. Please let Jane know if you wish to attend. Mince pies of course.

Unless you have been in the Clubhouse recently you will not have seen the changes inside. There is a new permanent partition in place dividing the inside into two distinct areas, the larger of which is intended to be a ‘technical’ area. When you do get to see it you will notice that there are 3 bosses fixed at one end. THIS IS NOT AN INDOOR RANGE. It is there as part of the technical development area. Further details to follow. A big thank-you for the archery elves who have done the work.

I hope that you have seen the advert for the winter coaching – senior and junior coaching programmes. If you haven’t applied please give it some thought. Hopefully there are still places available if you decide to attend.

As you may know, we are currently renegotiating the lease for the field, which is due for renewal in March next year. It is a 10-year lease and based on our previous experience when we thought we were going to have to leave the field having been given notice that it would not be renewed, the intention is to use the period of the new lease to try and achieve options for a more secure future. I am pleased to say that the committee approved an outline development plan at its last meeting. I hope that you will take the time to read it and get behind it as it develops.

If you have any questions about any of the above please feel free to ask.

Paul Woods, Chair

30 October 2023