Avon Valley Field Archers celebrated their 25th birthday by hosting the Northern New South Wales Field Archery Championships on the 9th /10th of August. With seventy archers in attendance from clubs in the Central Coast & Newcastle area, to Armidale and Gunnedah. The weather was fine and cool but the strong westerly winds made it hard to keep the bows steady resulting in lower then average scoring.

Two days of shooting, one on the field course the other on the hunter course, fighting the wind all the way, had most archers weary by the end of the day having shot 112 arrows each round.

However some still found energy to have a go at the steel target novelty event on Saturday afternoon. If you miss the bullseye then your arrow is destroyed, the rest of the target being sheet steel. I think the spectators had the most fun watching the arrows bounce of the target with a loud “clang”. Scott Dollin from Taree was the eventual winner putting three arrows inside the bullseye.

Overall Title winners were. Freestyle Unlimited Division, 1st Scott Buscomb, Newcastle, 2nd Tom Munns Central Coast, 3rd Paul Butschek Central Coast. Bowhunter Unlimited Division 1st Fenn Wells Newcastle, 2nd Mike O’Neil Macksville, 3rd Keith Derrick Newcastle.

Some local club members shot well in their divisions. The best were; Cubs barebow division, 1st Luke Caslick, 2nd Jayden Huckstadt. Ladies Barebow division, 1st Amanda Huckstadt, 2nd Patricia Keysell. Men’s Barebow 1st john Martin, 2nd Michael Greenaway. Ladies Freestyle Unlimited 2nd Lynne Fairhall.

After the presentation a 25th birthday cake was cut by club life members Irene & Jeff Jennings and shared with all contestants.

Our next club shoot on Sunday 24th is an ABA animal target round. For more information on Field Archery contact Jeff Jennings 6558 1935 or visit www.avonvalleyfieldarchers.com