ARCHERY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 81, Issue 7273, 6 November 1950, Page 5

ARCHERY

ANOTHER DISTRICT SPORTS CLUB SUCCESSFULLY FORMED Another sport has arisen in the town, adding to the diversity of pastimes which help to attract the greater majority of people out into one or another club. It is Archery, and there are already about 30 toxophilites in the club, which was formed about two weeks ago. The sport is one of the oldest and was once, practised by the peoples of Asia for the purposes of warfare and hunting. The Greeks and Romans were skilled bowmen in early times, but with the outmoding of the bow and arrow by more lethal weapons, archery has developed into a sport which, in the present times, is enjoying a rapid revival. The bow and arrow have not been completely divorced from war yet, being used by commandos during the recent war, in preference to more noisy weapons when some guard or other person had to be eliminated quietly. . There are ancient societies of archers, dating from the seventeenth century such as the Royal Toxophilite Society and the Woodmen of Arden. The arrow has often changed the course of history, as witness the time when Harold received one in the eye at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when W’illiam the Conqueror successfully challenged and won the throne. As a sport, archery is good for building up the shoulders, steadying the hand and eye, and provides a means upon which people can meet on a social basis. The Te Awamutu Club held its second practice durjng the week-end and there were a goodly number of members present. Some Misplayed early skill, but others took upon themselves the task of mastering all the .finer points which are so essential to good marksmanship and which count in the long run. All of the members are enthusiastic and the club should not look back.

Hamilton .has a. successful club and Auckland also has a strong following. Both men and women take part and in many cases the sport has become a family affair.