Foxtrot Lima 14 - Archery From Another Perspective

Two weeks until the next comp, a one day invitational 3D comp @ WM Field Archers, the range master and I will drive down on the day which we have done before. I've always enjoyed this comp and the scout camp where our outdoor range is located is booked for a wedding so we can't shoot Sunday anyway so why not? 16/03 Indoor comp IFAA field - 202 points from a max of 400 - 24 arrows. (there's a free 5 points to all to make the handicap easier) The curse continues. 19/03 Other than indoors, I had a couple of days off practice - 40 arrows walk back with the 10m markers removed. I was less motivated than I could have been and my form showed it.  There's a bit going on in life at the moment so I just need to regroup, line the ducks up and get on with it. 20/03 @ home 45 arrows 21/03 @ home 65 arrows 23/03 @ indoor comp, IFAA indoor, shot a 68 from a total of 150 which isn't bad for me, washed the last five spot which didn't help my cause, there's a new Longbow shoo...

 The Mt Cl ay long weekend was fantastic. The courses were fun and challenging, the guys make full use of the area and bushland they have and they turned on the weather too which was a bonus.  I always look at two day comps as as a game of four quarters, everyone has a bad quarter. My bad quarter was the first one arrow round - 11 washes, closely  followed by the second one arrow round - 9 washes.  My best round was the second three arrow, 1 wash and 3 washes on the first three arrow round. I did nail a couple of group 5's on the red course, that felt good. Missed plenty of shots I should have hit, so a bit to work on there. I fell well short on Ballarat's 968 score with an 846. Lost a nock and one arrow went AWOL for a bit but was recovered. I had a great shoot group and my shooting aside, I had a great time.  Plenty of laughs and catch ups around the fire, the steel horse long shot novelty was a great idea, the Mt Clay signature 'WAG Awards' didn't disappoint ...

*How to navigate instructions below post. After Ballarat it was time to starting thinking about the next competition. Mt Clay  This is a flat course in an area of bush land surrounded by Heywood's Rec Reserve, some paddocks, the MX and Pony club. The courses are  set out in a herringbone fashion which makes it quite a social shoot as you pass other groups during the entire time we are shooting, this makes for some friendly banter and being able to check how others are going during the day. Really looking forward to this one. Practice leading in. 03/03 - 50 arrows @ the home range. Walk back and focusing on Group 1 and 5, my reasoning is group ones should be a given for points, although I've washed plenty over the years and if you can nail a score on a couple of group 5's then that may just be the difference in the end. 04/03 - only 30 arrows as we had to head off to a Basketball comp in Camperdown. 05/03 - Outdoor comp - 52 arrows. Still missing some shots I should be get...

Pretty happy with the weekends efforts, the next challenge will be at Mt Clay in three weeks. The main goal is consistency with 968 a high benchmark for me.  With the 3D distances at Ballarat mostly between early 20m's to mid 30m's with one or two above / below, the full range of ABA distances for four rounds will see my scores drop, especially on the last day.  Mt Clay long weekend traditionally does a three arrow round on the Saturday, one and three arrow Sunday and a one arrow morning on the Monday.  The Sunday evening is generally a very social evening which can take it's toll on some, as can the weather. It has been hot to driving cold wind and rain when I've shot Mt Clay. Everyone's shooting in it whatever it is so it doesn't really matter. 21/02 - I'm feeling good with the walk out shooting with 5 arrow rounds and focusing on getting the heights right. I take my my time but still get tired after 45-50 shots so I really need to concentrate on my form -...