Helen’s Journey as an Archery Judge

When in doubt look it up in the rules of shooting 🙃

The power of the red pen

As an archer I am seated.

Some times people have to remind me of that.

In my day to day I am never pain free and I am very capable of powering on because the alternative is stopping - I am aware of the various thoughts around this method and whilst I respect everyone’s views we all choose what works for us.

Last year at Dunster I had to cancel a days judging when it all got too much and after sitting with Pam and having a very open and honest conversation we agreed that I really shouldn’t judge two days in a row.

So when I drew out my plan for this we booked the bungalow for the usual 9 nights and I offered three days of judging.

Absolutely this is my holiday as I take annual leave the same as the many many days I have spent in a blue shirt at lilleshall so the rest days would involve activity but resting along the way.

Last night I was in agony, today a lot of me hurts, more than the usual start of the day pains.

I was speaking with another judge who was refusing to listen to their body and trying to encourage them to rest.

I find indoors harder even though they are often a little shorter. I decided as an archer that hard floors are harder on the body that the grass which can have a little give when we are outdoors.

That being said, with the current weather situation the grass is like concrete and so that’s a lot of hours on floor with no give!!

Today will be slow and restful to get me ready for another day of judging tomorrow and of course Monday will be the drive home.

Enjoy your weekend shooting, judging, volunteering …. Whatever you are doing.

But remember to listen to your body 🤗

Retro Bow day or Western to everyone else

🥰🏹

Friday at Dunster is retro bow day

So my boots are as retro as I can do 🥰🏹

See how many bows fail today 😳

Always think it’s the closest to living on the edge with a flight now that target archery sees 🤣

Yesterday was my first of three days judging at Dunster

Always a good office view 😉

I love the Albion as it’s a relaxed day of target for anyone who has not chosen to be at the business end and attend the field shoot.

It will always hold a soft spot in my heart as when I first shot it I was having a bad day and equipment failures combined to give me a shocking score but as it’s a Dutch auction for prizes and not medals I left with a bottle of wine that day 🥰

It is incredibly hot and trying to encourage archers to hydrate is an issue that I learned isn’t easy right back when I hosted the first dawn to dusk shoot 😳🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

But a good day all round and a shower and a glass of wine fixed everything when I got back to the bungalow.

Overall a good day of picking information from other judges and catching up with friends I only see here xx