Every year the Sway Bowmen calendar culminates in the annual championships.
As the weather starts to change and the days get shorter, the majority of archers move indoors for the winter league. The Championships are therefore one of the last chances the archers have to test their progress from the summer season. Experienced archers are always hoping for medals but many of those who completed beginner’s courses this year also take part, enjoying their first Champs and the kudos that they earn if they are able (and confident enough) to shoot their full competition distance. One of these, Bob Kahn, said ‘I just wanted to test myself and see if I could do it’.
This year the Championship was Windsor rounds. This is a total of 9 dozen (108) arrows shot as three dozen at three different distances - the under 50’s shooting 80, 60 and 50 yards and the over 50’s shooting 60, 50 and 40 yards. This is longer than our usual 6 dozen rounds and deliberately designed to test both the skill and endurance of the competitor.
28 archers took part in Recurve, Barebow and Longbow categories. They were lucky enough to have a mostly dry day and the sporadic showers did not dampen spirits.
Gathering for awards at the end of the day, all were tired but happy. There were awards for the best score in a category, the best handicapped score and the Lady Paramount prize (historically the Lady Paramount was the sponsor for the day). Winner of the Lady Paramount prize, Mark Redpath, was awarded the discretionary prize for the exemplary achievement of scoring a perfect dozen – 12 golds in 12 arrows. He said, ‘I’ve had so much fun, I wasn’t sure how I’d get on so I’m delighted’.