A 53 YEAR-OLD sports club in Bangor has received financial support from a special fund to allow it to buy equipment for the club.
Bangor and District Archery Club, which was set up in 1971, has gained funding from Fibrus Broadband which will enable the club to buy bows, arrows, quivers, sights and finger protection.
The Fibrus funding was provided through the Play It Forward funding scheme and will enable the archery club to enhance the archery experience, particularly for those trying the sport for the first time at have-a-go sessions and also by those on six week beginners courses.
The beginner will also be able to use the equipment on loan until he or she has decided what bow and equipment to buy.
Fibrus has offered grants of up to £1,000 per club which are designed to help with equipment, kits, improving facilities and subsidising training fees.
Bangor and District Archery Club has been based at St Columbanus College for a number of years. Members meet for two hours in the College sports hall on Thursday evenings from 7-9pm and on Saturday afternoons from 2-4pm during the winter months.
Indoors the archers normally shoot at a 60cm paper target face from a distance of 18 metres. One round shot is called a Portsmouth round comprising 60 arrows shot at a 10 zone target face, with the inner gold scoring 10 points out to 1 point for the outer ring. The maximum score is 600 points and it is a very good way of recording your progression from beginning archer to experienced archer.
Outdoors, the archers normally shoot at 30 metres at an 80cm target face with again a maximum score of 600 points with 60 arrows.
In the summer the club uses the all weather pitch outdoors, again on Thursdays and Saturdays for two hours each.
Archers can compete at local and national competitions both indoors and outdoors and the club has a number of archers who shoot in field archery competitions in the woods around Clandeboye estate, Ballywalter Park and at Loughbrickland estate throughout the year.
Field archery is akin to a four-ball in golf where groups of four archers shoot at targets set in the woods at marked and unmarked distances and can include 3D targets such as large spiders or T-Rex.
The sport of archery is open to all, able bodied athletes compete with archers with disability on equal terms and it is an ideal sport for all the family. The Bangor club caters for all ages from 12 upwards.
Great strength is not needed as the bows are matched to the person and archery helps concentration, co-ordination and promotes physical and mental well being together with meeting like minded people and establishing new friendships in a relaxed, safe and friendly environment.
Anyone interested in archery should visit the Bangor club’s Facebook page and arrange a visit as a taster session.
