[SCA-AE] An Archery Challenge

[J C Ronsen]

Unto the populace of the Great Kingdom of AEthelmearc does the newest 
Archery Champion, Caleb Reynolds give greetings.


I would like to thank THL Laochlin Silverwolf and THL Ambrosius 
MacDhaibhidh for putting together a simple, yet phenomenally difficult 
range. And I would like to thank everyone who braved the cold, wet and 
damp to watch all of us shoot the championship. It was my honor and 
privilege to shoot shoulder to shoulder with the finest archers of our 
Kingdom and I hope that we have inspired others to hone their skills 
and compete six months from now.

As Their Majesties Champion, I wish to issue a challenge to all 
archers of our Kingdom. Since winter is almost at our doorsteps, I do 
not wish to see our archers hanging up their equipment and "taking it 
easy" until it gets warm again. I challenge all archers to continue 
shooting through the cold months. From November 1st to April 15th I 
challenge all archers to take part in the Gwyntarian Winter Archery 
Shoot. 

The shoot consists of 8 rounds at 20 yards of the following:

Target Round - intended to help maintain accuracy over the winter. It 
consists of two ends of six arrows un-timed at a 40cm, five-ring 
target with standard 5, 4, 3, 2 ,1 scoring. Witnessed pass-throughs 
and bounce-offs that cannot be determined as to score are 
traditionally 3 points each.

Speed Round - intended to help archers practice speed shooting with 
accuracy. It consists of two ends of unlimited arrows shot in a 30 
second time limit for each end. Each archer must shoot at least one 
arrow each end but may shoot as many as possible in 30 seconds. 
Scoring of the 40 cm five-ring target is standard 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. 
Witnessed pass-throughs and bounce-offs that cannot be determined as 
to score are traditionally 3 points each. Archers who do not manage to 
shoot off six arrows in 30 seconds will gain bonus points for arrows 
unshot. To determine how many bonus points, subtract the number of 
arrows shot from 6 for each end and add it to the actual score of 
arrows that hit the target. If the archer has not managed to hit the 
target at all, then no bonus points are added for that end. When 
scoring, please show real score + bonus points, IE: 12+2 

Wand Round - intended to help the archer concentrate on minimizing 
left/right movement. It consists of 2 ends of 6 arrows un-timed. Each 
end is shot at a target wand 3 feet long by 6 inches wide, consisting 
of a central strip of one color flanked on either side by strips of a 
differing tint (hint: a standard strip of duct tape is 2 inches wide); 
each band equal in width (2 inches). Each arrow within or touching the 
central strip scores five points. Each arrow outside the central area 
but within or touching either of the two outer bands scores three 
points. 

Bull's Eye Round - intended to help the archer focus on the center of 
the target. It consists of two ends of six arrows, un-timed. Each end 
is shot at a target consisting of a four inch circular bull's eye 
centered within an 8.5 inch outer circle. All arrows within or 
touching the inner circle score five points each. All arrows outside 
the bull's eye but within or touching the outer circle score three 
points each. 

Please send scores to myself at caleb at buffnet.net. I will post a link 
to the score sheet before the Nov. 1st start date.

There will be awards for the best archer shooting a recurve, a longbow 
and for a crossbow. There will also be an award for the archer who 
completes the most shoots as well as an award for the highest combined 
score. There will also be a novice category open to anyone who started 
shooting archery this year and a child category open to any archer 
under 14. Winners will be announced at War Practice next year.


This is my challenge. I throw down a finger tab instead of a gauge and 
I know that the archers of AEthelmearc are more than capable of 
picking it up and showing the rest of the known world how great we 
are.

In Service to the Dream

ska: THL Caleb Reynolds
mka: Caleb Ronsen
aka: Bubba th' Barbarian
Thrown Weapons Marshal of the Kingdom of AEthelmearc
Inventor of the stainless-steel pinata
http://www.buffnet.net/~caleb/caleb.htm

Nothing makes you more tolerant of a neighbor's noisy party than being 
there.
-Franklin P. Adams