Tabla de contenidos para Issue 142 en Bow International

The pic above this leader column is courtesy of Ian Wheeler of the West Midlands, whose four and a half metre range outside his home office ends in a homebuilt target boss and a 3D hog constructed out of an old exercise mat. It's this kind of innovation – it's something rather more than make-do-and-mend – that characterises the archery community; a community that is of course not joining together to shoot, but is atomised and unable to congregate as normal. What connections are being made, are being made on the internet, now truly, defiantly global. (Incidentally, this crisis has proven that internet has finally moved to the realms of a basic utility, like electricity. Just try and imagine the last month or so without it.) Your editor has taken…

Britain is staying at home and finding new ways to pass the time. While not able to shoot, I decided I would challenge myself to watch serious, epic films (along with daily exercise, learning the piano and studying a language) and it’s fair to say, my plans haven’t lasted long. Instead, I’m taking comfort in the more, how shall I say, accessible films like the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and, each time, marvel that an elf archer can shoot multiple orcs whilst sliding down a stone staircase on a shield (I’m also jealous of his inexhaustible supply of arrows). If scenes like this have inspired you to try field archery, here’s what you can do to be prepared for when we can get back out to the woods. For…

Now that a 2020 outdoor season is gradually coming into view, it's time to give some thought to the possibility of giving field a try if you haven't already. There are a few important points that will help compound target shooters transfer their skills to the slopes.Even if you still expect to do more target tournaments than field in an average season, you may find that you absolutely love field and it could even lead to some of your greatest archery achievements. SIGHT TAPES. Most target shooters get their three or four sight marks required for a given event, scribble them down on a piece of paper and that's it — done. This method will work fine for target, but for field it just won't do, and it will catch…

There is an increasing tendency to call the archery developments of the 1800’s ‘Victorian’, – an all-embracing term covering the century in its entirety and one denied only by the pedant, since Victoria’s reign saw most of the more significant archery events and developments. It is tempting therefore to dismiss pre-Victorian (19th C) activity as a mere entrée to the main event; a disservice which calls for correction, and for proper observation of the many and varied facets of archery activity which took place during the reigns of the four kings George: that period from 1714 to 1820 which we archery nerds are justified in calling Georgian. Although we may trespass a little into the 19th C, as we follow the Georges, we will concentrate upon events within the preceding…

There is always a lot more to barebow archery than meets the eye. To score well at field archery with a barebow it’s not, as some might say, a matter of pointing in the right direction and hoping for the best. The World Archery definition of the barebow classification includes no draw check or clicker, no sight and no stabilisation rods. (Some other organisations, especially in the USA, do things a little differently). Everything that can be used to assist the archer in making a good shot must fit through a 12cm ring when attached to the riser. To score well, both the bow set up and the archer must be optimally prepared. As with almost any form of archery, time spent working solely on form is time wellinvested. Without…

As many of you may know, I am a target archer through and through. I was however lucky to get a chance to shoot the Pro Series, at the last shoot they did in Wales at the end of 2018. The Pro Series was an "unofficial World Cup of field archery" for compound archers run by Alternative Sporting Services – unfortunately they had to stop holding it last year, but it might be back. The last edition of the year, it was held in an old mine in Wales so there were woods, cliff edges and fields. I'd shot a marked round in Jersey before – but nothing quite like this. It was my debut into shooting in the woods. I very luckily had my good friend, Simon Froggatt, coaching…

The Wifler Industries MP-One is a plunger like no other, developed by US archer Alex Wifler and one of just two products presently sold by his company. All other buttons on the market work in pretty much the same way; a spring pushes against the tip, and a rotating barrel pushes against the spring. This goes for the cheapest Chinese copies and the reference 'standard' Beiter button used by the majority of top archers. You are paying for improved parts, machining and tolerances. I still like my Beiter button, but the proprietary plastic spanner required to get it on and off the riser drives me nuts, frankly. AAE also produce a button used by many top archers, and the Shibuya DX is a well-regarded standard which will deliver results at…

After an incredible start to 2020, taking first place at the Lancaster Classic and The Vegas Shoot – achieving two of his biggest dreams – John Dillinger was ready and excited for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, like the rest of the archery world, John has had to put his competition season on hold because of COVID-19. While 2020 hasn’t quite been the year that anyone expected, with tournaments cancelled around the World and no international outdoor circuit, but John isn’t letting that get him down. Barebow has officially been recognised by World Archery with world records being fully recognised, and is building a bigger following year on year. The camaraderie within barebow stems from all wanting the same outcome: fun. Despite training and competing at elite levels, barebow…

LISA UNRUH What the Olympic silver medallist, five times World Champion and World Games champion is packing these days RISER: Hoyt Xceed LIMBS: Hoyt Velos in long (38lbs, 37 on the fingers) SIGHT: Shibuya Ultima SIGHT PIN: Spigarelli CLICKER: Beiter / TEC-HRO STABILISERS: Shrewd RevX. Longrod is 28" with 10oz. Short rods are 14" with 3oz each. "Sorry I don't know the angle… but it's definitely low. My aiming is best with this set up." GRIP: Wood, custom made by a friend of mine (Lars Dorfner from Archery Zone). STRING: BCY 8125, 19 strands TAB: Elite Tab in medium. Soma spacer. "I modified the whole plate and trimmed the leather. " ARROWS: Easton X10, 550 spine, Spin Wings, TopHat 120gn points, Beiter 4.5/1 out nocks SCOPE: Vortex SHOES: Reebok CrossFit.…