The clouds hung lightly over the corner of a field that is home to archers of Whiteleaf braving the first day of the second decade of the third millennium.
A hardy few of nine men and one woman (that’s ten for anyone struggling with sums after the new year) set forth to shoot the traditional new year clout. True to form Alan let forth the first whinge on the ground of the year (claiming his first was shortly after midnight) before the “serious” business of archery began.
The “competition” took its usual form of ribald humour, leg pulling, 2 arrows on one of the static bosses and even one or two archers really trying – Mark scored with all his arrows until the 5th end while Calvin ( no shame on a novice) and Neil ( don’t let this man coach your barebow aiming) both contrived only one scoring arrow each in the same time.
After 8 ends three were still in the running and within 4 points ( on paper a forth was technically in it but this would require a perfect score and all the others to miss) but having led the whole way through Mark’s solid 3,3,miss in the last end saw him pull clear of the field for a famous victory.
The Frog was presented to Mark to display in a place of honour for another year
Scores ( numbers are the Scores after 5, 8 & 9 ends)
| Mark | 29 | 36 | 42 |
| John | 21 | 35 | 37 |
| Tony | 15 | 32 | 34 |
| Nick | 17 | 23 | 28 |
| Jim | 17 | 21 | 21 |
| Val | 5 | 9 | 13 |
| Ian | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| Alan | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| Calvin | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Neil | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Have a good years shooting and see you all – new years day hats and all – next year
For pictures of the day see below:
Reporters: R. O’binhood and L.E.Golas