Roving Marks

It was a heart-warming sight to see the Ddraig Goch fluttering on the flags across the valley. Some interesting and testing marks were shot on the undulating ground. Instinctive shooting, with bowstrings hauled back past the ear, favoured this event and environment. A particularly merciless mark called for a shot over mature oaks leaving one arrow embedded in a hefty bow. The result was reminiscent to Richard Greene’s Robin Hood and in its honour the mark shall be forever named ‘The message for Robin Mark’. Using the natural features of the land to make interesting shots is a vital ingredient roving and most shots are at high trajectory. However, one flat shot was at the boar’s head or a modern version of the medieval version. This was a moving mark that was rolled down hill until two arrows found it. The marks wound their way back to Brian’s barn for a complimentary and hearty archer’s lunch. Well earned home-made country soups and bacon rolls, cooked over a brazier were enjoyed. Not as common at shoots but equally as welcome and delicious was the kind donation of some beautiful sushi by Doi from Wye Valley Archery.

Combined Field and Rove
L Palmer
J Spencer
S Hill

Flight shoot
The flight shoot really was something quite special. Perhaps for the first time in half a millennia heavy bows, up to 130lbs, and made from period woods with linen and hemp strings were shot. The conditions were reasonable with a light cross-wind and a slightly up hill flight corridor with the arms of Welsh Prince, Owain Glyndŵr gracefully fluttering in the distance at bow shot. Bows strung with natural strings and war arrows were available to borrow for the shoot although some preferred their own tackle. The Warbow Wales bearing arrow was shot and some archers chose shoot their faithful replicas of the famous Westminster Abbey Arrow. This arrow is built for speed! Useful ballistic data was compiled. Alistair Aston and Paul Matthews led the way.

Warbow Wales Bearing Arrow
P Swire (97lb English Wych Elm/Linen string) 162 yards
A Turner (120lb English Wych Elm/Hemp string) 167 yards
L Palmer (75lb Welsh Yew/Linen string) 171 yards
C Hood (97lb English Wych Elm/Linen string) 176 yards
P Matthews (118 Italian yew/Linen string) 183 yards
A Aston (110lb English Wych Elm/Linen string) 229 yards

Mary Rose Arrow
S Fletcher (120lb English Wych Elm/Linen string) 123 yards
P Swire (97lb English Wych Elm/Linen string) 126 yards
A Turner (120lb English Wych Elm/Hemp string) 133 yards
L Palmer (75lb Welsh Yew/Linen string) 164 yards
C Hood (97lb English Wych Elm/Linen string) 172 yards
P Matthews (118 Italian Yew/Linen string) 199 yards
A Aston (110lb English Wych Elm/Linen string) 226 yards

In the Mary Rose Arrow class the furthest and most notable shot by a country mile was from Warbow Wales’ own Alistair Aston. A distance of 226 yards of ground was made with a 110lb Hereford wych elm bow strung with a linen string. Another fine shot just shy of 200 yards was made from a 118lb Italian yew bow, similarly strung with linen, by heavy bowman Paul Matthews. These two experience warbow archer’s make our first two flight record holders.
The measurements were obtained with a laser rangefinder but double-checked against pegs laid out with a good old-fashioned tight tape measure to avoid errors. This distance equals the record of the EWBS despite his bow being 40lbs lighter yet had no belly tempering with heat and resin impregnation or a Fast-Flite string. An arrow that would meet the requirements of both groups was used. As a final note of interest, the 110 lbs wych elm bow and string survived a dry-loose when an arrow nock split as the arrow was designed for a narrow Kevlar based string. Both bow and string survived without being any the worse for the experience.

At the end of the shoot everyone retired to the host, Brian Lee’s, barn to bolster their strength by warming up by the brazier and enjoying some more of his good lady wife’s and fruit cake and hot drinks. The prizes were given for the combined scores and after the points were tallied up Lee Palmer, proprietor of Wye Valley Archery, received his prize of a plate-cutting war arrow beautifully made and kindly donated by Chris Hood (perhaps one of his ancestors was called Robin?). Lee shot his 100lbs bow for all day for both field, man-sized target and rove. The day was enjoyed by all.

Overall hunt and rove winner, Mr Lee Palmer, being presented with a beautiful arrow

Warbow Wales will reconvene at Wye Valley Archery on Sunday 4th March for the hunt, wand and flight for its Dydd Gŵyl Dewi or
St. David’s Day Shoot. See you there!

  What goes up does not always come down The rolling Boar's head