Whittlesey club shoot to the top
FENLAND Archery Club is fast gaining a reputation as one of the top clubs in East Anglia.
FENLAND Archery Club is fast gaining a reputation as one of the top clubs in East Anglia.Formed in September 2006 by 10 local archers who identified a need for a competitive archery club to the east of the Peterborough area, Fenland Archery Club has spawned no fewer than 12 county and East Anglian champions in three bow styles in less than 18 months.
Additionally, several members of the club have been selected to represent Cambridgeshire at inter-county level.
At the Cambridgeshire indoor championships in early February, three members were crowned county champions in the English longbow category - Rieko Dixon winning for the second time in three - and another member came second in the compound bow category. Additional success came in the team category.
And such success was no one-off blip. Last weekend, the club hosted its first indoor inter-club friendly tournament, which was generally agreed to be a success on many levels.
But yet again Fenland Archery Club proved to be a tour de force with members scooping over 30 per cent of all medals awarded in a competition that drew archers from 15 clubs across five counties.
Once again, the longbow practitioners (David Slack, Pauline Slack, Paul Attwood, Kieth Wenham and Glyn Dixon) led the way, scooping a haul of no less than nine medals further reinforcing their well deserved reputation for being Cambridgeshire’s finest exponents of the art of the crooked stick.
Club secretary Colin Crowley scooped the Olympic recurve gold while Sean Quelch lifted the bronze in the compound unlimited double Portsmouth round.
As if this was not enough, the senior judge presiding over the competition recommended that the club apply for record status for future shoots – an honour almost unheard after a club’s first shoot.
The club success is by no means restricted to medal hauls alone, as the competitive but friendly and professional atmosphere encourages members to achieve regular personal best scores.
Club members practice archery in all its forms and all bow types (other than crossbow) are shot by the members.
The club has fostered excellent relationships with the local community.
The Sir Harry Smith Community College provides both the indoor and outdoor venues for the club.
Further support comes from the local business community with Fenland Timber, Malcolm James Estate agents and A1 Fencing sponsoring trophies in the club indoor and outdoor competitions.
The local council has also played its part with a grant for the equipment needed to train junior members.
Such welcome local support has been repaid through fund-raising by the club on behalf of local causes.
The club is friendly yet focussed and although an amateur club, the attitude is very professional with three members currently completing their archery coaching qualifications.
Junior members are always welcome and all members who may be called upon to assist children or vulnerable adults are vetted through the Criminal Records Bureau enhanced check procedure and receive Sport England accredited child protection training.
There are no barriers to entry to the sport and the club facilities include disabled access.
Fenland Archery Club meet three times a week (Tuesday & Thursday evenings 7-9pm, and Saturday mornings 9- 12 noon).
Anyone wishing to try the sport or be part of the club’s future success should contact the club by e-mail at secretary@fenlandarchery.co.uk for further details.
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Weather for Peterborough
Friday 19 March 2010
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Temperature: 2 C - 8 C
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