ClubMark
We are pleased to confirm that thanks to all the hard work of our members we have again achieved Accreditation and we will be one of the last clubs to do so!
We understand and appreciate that the current standards required are demanding but they are fair and very constructive for assessing a club’s practices, we hope that the replacement programme of health checks will be as effective.
ClubMark is the universally acknowledged cross sport scheme for sports clubs. An accredited club is recognised as a safe, rewarding and fulfilling place for participants of all ages as well as helping parents and carers know they are choosing the right Club for their young people.
We are also keen supporters of the Archery GB Ontarget Programme and use the Specialisms to help ensure all our practices are in good shape.
Active Winter Programme helping us to manage increasing membership numbers.
With our highest ever membership numbers before the year end, just over 200 and a further 30 recently completing beginners courses we need to ensure that we can continue to deliver the best membership experience that we can.
Underpinning all the day to day activities are our general practice sessions. In addition to our own indoor facility we use 3 other larger venues, each offering 9 targets at up to 30yds and facilities to store bosses, netting etc. giving our members the opportunity to shoot every day of the week. All sessions are coach supported. There are also programmed outdoor practice sessions at our ground throughout the winter.
Balcarras – 1 of our 4 venues
However, even these fantastic facilities would not sustain our current levels of membership, so a wide range of additional activities are the key not only to improving performance but participation, diversity, fulfilment and club identity.
This weekend saw the return of our Winter Mini Field League (open to visitors) and we are also running a junior introduction to field archery programme.
New Field Course every 2 weeks!
The previous week also saw the launch of our first clout section winter programme/league.
The outdoor Monday/Wednesday morning shoots are continuing to be popular, as are the Indoor Progress Awards. Add to these our Junior Only Friday Evening Programme that has just restarted and the continuing Basic Improvers and Intermediate Improvers Programmes (which are coach led) and we have the basis to help everyone enjoy their experience!
Last Sunday saw the launch of our Junior Development Programme with 12 invited juniors on each of 2 session, again coach supported.
Two separate Coaching sessions to cover the 24 Juniors selected
To offer a fresh range of activities, this Sunday afternoon saw the first of our ‘Adult only’ Club Target Days, running each session as if they are record status events, from booking in online, assembly, full whistle procedures, numbered bosses, new faces etc. 25 enrolled for this event.
There is similar provision for mock tournaments for Juniors Only and mixed shoots.
We also have an extensive programme of workshops. Some delivered externally, others by our own members, many open to coaches and archers from other clubs. The next event is a Psychology session run on behalf of our county with external speaker Erin Prior leading the workshop.
Winter Workshop Programme on a range of topics.
Three weeks ago we hosted an Archery GB/County workshop on Volunteering, which was excellent and this saw a range of county and visiting clubs represented. It really does highlight the importance of volunteers to achieving a good club experience. This leads on nicely to the next topic!
2019 Club Annual Awards Evening
Our annual event celebrating all our achievements of the previous year and importantly our plans for 2020, is just 2 weeks away. Food, entertainment and a compered Awards Ceremony complete with video clips etc. are all part of a great evening.
The major awards are those to our volunteers, last year Steph Gill won the Adult Club Person of the Year, Kieran Macey the Young Club Person of the year with Peter Sisson and Bob Worcester being jointly awarded the Volunteer of the Year Title. The Victor/Victrix Ludorum award, recognising a combination of members voluntary support and shooting success, were won by Chloe A’Bear, Simon Faulkner and Lynn Benfield.
A great evening shared with friends and family.
This year we will also be recognising our Volunteer Team of the Year and we have no less than 13 teams to choose from ranging from our School Games and community have-a-go teams to our catering and men-in–sheds team!
We do also recognise an impressive range of shooting achievements across age groups and bow types at all levels.
GB Archers Success
Congratulations go to all our amazing archers throughout the year, this has resulted in in 8 members representing GB in 2019 and a further 2 being part of a GB Development Squad.
Deer Park Arboretum
More than 200 additional trees have been planted by the men-in-sheds team, at the top of the main range, thank you to the Woodland Trust.
Notice
The website booking for club members to register for the bi-annual club Laser Tag event has gone live.
Club Competitors from the last Lazer evening.
Closure on our break in.
We are please to say that following some excellent work by our local police force the culprit was caught and given a 20 week suspended jail sentence, 200 hours community work and ordered to pay damages. We have since installed a monitored security system and improved general security measures.
