16/08/2026
There are days in archery that make you realise exactly why you do what you do.
Ten years ago, when .wonky_archer and I took on committee roles at our club, we set ourselves a goal: to continue the work of making the club a home. A place and a community that brings out the best in each other.
It hasn’t always been easy.
There have been life challenges, losses of great people and places we called home. Times we’ve had to be the “bad guys” for standing up to behaviour that undermines the safety and belonging we work so hard to protect. Countless hours of our own archery given up to be what our members and our community needed us to be.
But then you get a day like today.
You watch this beautiful thing you’ve helped build take on its biggest challenge yet — our first ever Open UK Record Status event — and absolutely smash it.
You watch people step up, muck in, solve problems, support each other and welcome people into our little archery family. And you get to stand back for a moment and watch this club show the archery world exactly who we are.
I didn’t even pick up a bow today.
I spent most of it in the tea tent, checking the toilets, replacing the bog roll, handing out water and generally being wherever I needed to be.
And somehow, it might just have been one of my best days in archery yet.
Because I got to watch something that has taken years of work, love, stubbornness and a frankly ridiculous number of hours become this.
Not just a successful shoot. A club full of people who stepped up for each other, took pride in what we were doing and showed everyone who came through the gate exactly what kind of community we are.
I didn’t need to shoot an arrow to come away from today feeling like I’d won something.
I am so incredibly proud to be part of this community but, man, this club is special.
What a family we’ve built.
Thank you to each and every one of you for being downright brilliant. For showing up, for caring, and for making this club what it is.
Long may we continue being exactly who we are. ❤️🏹