ARCHERY.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14783, 13 October 1921, Page 8

ARCHERY.

ANCIENT BRITISH SPORT. \ Archery, the oldest of British sports, has recovered from the war and is rapidly regaining all its former popularity, says a London paper. Twice weekly the Royal Toxophilite are shooting at Archer’s Hall, Regent Park, and on July 20 commenced the big three days’ meeting of the Grand Western at Sidmouth. It is in the West Country that archery lias always been more popular than in any other part of the kingdom. They have pleasing names, these archery societies of the Western Counties. “Herefordshire Bowmen,” Arcliers of the Teme,” “Woodmen of Arden,” all possess a pleasant, old-world flavour. The Woodmen of Arden is one of the oldest -of archery clubs, and one of the few that preserve the old custums of shooting at “butts” and “clouts” instead of the ordinary four-foot straw target. The “clout” is a small round tai’get laid almost level with the ground, and the distance at which the archer shoots is 200 yards, instead of the 100; yards of ordinary target work. The marker an iron screen and signals each shot to the competitor. The distance is measured in bow-lengths from the “clout.” In the old days, when a competitor actually put an arrow in the clout —a rare occurence —the marker lay on his hack and waved his legs in the air. \ The making of bows and arrows and other implements of archery is purely British, and we still supply the United States and other countries with their hows and arrows. The best bows are of self-yew—that is, all yew —and cost six guineas each. Arrows cost 45/- a dozen. They are made of red deal and are fea 7 thered from the turkey, or, better still, the peacock. Contrary to popular belief, the goose wing is useless for this purpose. Targets are made of best wheaten straw, covered with canvas. They —like all the rest of the implements of archery—are made entirely by hand, and their', present price is 55/a pair.'