Artemis Archers Field Archery Club, located in Mansfield, is a family-oriented club that aims to provide a wonderful sport called field archery. The club is composed of families who spend quality time together, whether it be practising, socialising or competing. Field archery is simply ordinary people shooting bows and arrows in beautiful woodlands across the country.
Safety is of utmost importance to the club, and they adhere to extremely strict rules to create a safe environment for all participants. The club walks a marked trail with numbered targets, typically ranging from 36 to 40. Each group, consisting of 3–5 archers, takes turns shooting at the target from marked pegs. There's often the occasional breakage of arrows on trees, but it's all accompanied by laughter.
After everyone in the group has shot at the target, they proceed to score it, collect their arrows, and move on to the next target. This process continues until all targets on the course have been shot and scored.
Artemis Archers regularly attends open shoots, which are events held by other clubs in various woodlands. These events bring together approximately one hundred like-minded individuals. Upon arrival, participants register, collect scorecards, and wait for the call to gather. Before the competition begins, archers socialise, have tea or coffee, and maybe indulge in a bacon sandwich if desired.
Once the morning briefing is complete, course marshals lead the archers to their designated starting pegs. The day's competition typically starts at 10am or 10:30am, signalled by a blast of an air horn, firework, rifle, or similar sound that can be heard throughout the course. Lunch breaks are scheduled during the day, and at the end of the day, everyone gathers at the admin tent for score collection and placement announcements in various categories based on bow type, gender, and age.
Mastering archery is not a simple task. While the skill can be learned in a few weeks to become competent and safe, it takes a lifetime to truly master. Archery is highly addictive, and once you start, your Sundays will never be the same again. Artemis Archers is proud to be a member of the National Field Archery Society (N.
F. A. S. ), a society with approximately 6,500 members nationwide.
This society provides insurance, a calendar of events, strict safety rules and guidelines, two annual National Championship events, and coaching courses to its members. Additionally, Artemis Archers is affiliated with the English Field Archery Association (E. F. A.
A. ), which offers opportunities for members to participate in European Championships, World Championships, and other international events.
If you're looking for a thrilling and family-friendly archery experience in the Mansfield area, Artemis Archers Field Archery Club is the perfect place to be. Join them in their passion for field archery and enjoy the beauty of the woodlands while honing your archery skills and building lasting memories with your loved ones.