Release aid update and weight training

Release aid really going well. My shots have been very strong now that I can get the thumb trigger in the same place each time. Also, I have been doing weights for the last four weeks, only dropping two nights as I had shot a lot on those days. Upper body looking and feeling really strong and powerful. This has translated into rock solid aiming and has built my confidence up. I have a week off due to holiday, but will be thinking about what I want to do over the winter (indoor and/or field). My indoor arrows and bow are coming together nicely now and an keen to get shooting with it very soon.

Friars Gate Archers Summer Field Shoot

Took part in only my second field shoot ever, which was a Foresters round. I had shot the FGA Spring shoot earlier in the year, and had shot a half reasonable score back then for my first ever field shoot. I went into this just wanting to relax and enjoy myself, and I did, adding 90 points to my previous score, to bag 900 for a 28 target round. This landed me a close second place behind a top score of 940. This was the first round I had shot with my new release aid, a Stan SX2. I had swapped this for the Carter JbC, simply because the Stan allows me to get the thumb position I want. I can naturally place the bone of the thumb on the trigger, without having to hunt for the position like on the JbC. I often ended up putting the fleshly part of the thumb on the trigger and this lead to lots of inconsistencies. It worked! Once I had got into the groove I was really drilling the shots home, and with some good distance estimation not missing much in the middle. Looking back I didn't really think much whilst shooting, just got on with it and my technique took over and got the job done. The indoor season is now starting, and I am close to completing my indoor set-up, which is my old C3. Looking forward to it.

End of season and a new beginning

It's been a while since I last posted, and that has been deliberate. I have cut short my last outdoor comps and have tried to cut away all the archery "fluff" around the edges to firstly give myself a bit if a break and to try and focus on the core aspects of this sport that matters. At the end of the day its a hobby, not life and death.

My last comps were the Andover FITA Star and the Kent County Champs. I put in two solid MB scores of 1332 and 1339, but left the KCC halfway through the round as my mind was not in the right place. I have worked hard this season and needed some down time.

Looking back I have had a really good season, my best ever. Eight MB scores on the trot, some in difficult conditions (weather has been rubbish this year). The highlight for me is my 1350 FITA at the UK Masters, which was a competition PB and I finally got my 1350 Star. Just the 1400 Star to go...

I am now looking forward to the winter season with confidence and enthusiasm. My C3 is being converted to a dedicated indoor bow with 50lbs limbs so I can focus on technique. I am also doing the FGA field shoot and hope to do some more field over the winter to keep things interesting and fresh, ready for next year.