Andover Double FITA Star - Got my MB!

I went into this shoot knowing if the weather was good I could get my MB for the first time ever. My practice scores up until now had been huge (GMB level), so I had it in me for a good competition score.

Whilst the weather was not ideal, I shot 1330 and 1321 over the two days. Coupled with my 1206 York earlier in the season I had got the three scores I needed. However with the 1206 York it was on the nose, so I want to get a few more comfortable ones to really feel I have earn't it.

Over the two days I also shot three distance PB's; 320 @ 90m, 332 @ 50m and 354 @ 30m. The 50m and 30m were especially pleasing as I have struggled of late (although I shot a PB @ 50m last week). The 30m is probably my best moment. The wind really started to get up but I was really strong in the shot and focused hard and it got me through a very tricky wind.

Overall I am pleased. I have my MB with 5 shoots to spare left this year. It was my goal two years ago when I started compound to get to MB this year, and I have worked hard and its paid off.

My next goal is to try and get as close to GMB as possible, as I have been shooting GMB level scores at the club. I know I can technically do it and that the bow can deliver the arrows where they are aimed. I have not set a goal for GMB, it has always been something I felt was two years away from this season. We will see...!

SCAS/Bedford Double FITA Star

A week after shooting a 1361 in practice, I went into this confident, if the weather was good I could shoot a good score. However, again I was faced with very strong winds and things could not have started worse.

The first end at 90m was a 43. This has to be the worst end I have ever shot. A combination of gusts and simply forgetting how to shoot meant I was facing a real battle. However, I dug deep and managed to get to 302 for the 90m distance. Anything over 300 is very important and gets you on your way to at least 1300.

70m started fantastically. I drilled in a 58, including three x's. Each shot was almost perfect, timed wonderfully. The rest of the distance was OK, but I shot a disappointing 51 to bring in a reasonable 328. At this stage, surprisingly I was third.

I shot a competition PB of 328 for the 50m distance, and this was solid but with two very poor 7's.

By the time the 30m distance started the wind was very strong and this started badly, with a 56. I dropped points throughout most of the ends, until the last nine arrows. The second to last end I shot a 10, 9 and 8, and this frankly angered me, and so I really went for it and tried to almost pull the bow in half and smashed in nine consecutive 10's to finish on a below par 347, with an overall score of 1305.

This was a frustrating day. When the wind died down I shot some awesome shots, but as soon as the wind got up I fought it and shot poorly.

To take some positives from this I would say the bad start at 90m could have really killed my confidence. However I dug deep and hauled it back. Also I did shoot some great shots, and the finish at 30m was one of the best I have had in such conditions. I suppose to get over 1300 is good considering the weather.

However, I did get sloppy and could have had more points, and my second MB. I look forward to the day when I actually get to shoot in calm conditions!

I was due to shoot the second day, but after getting up at 5:15am, I really didn't feel that great and so opted to stay in bed and rest. Shame as I was in third but a rest hopefully will set me up for the Andover FITA Star next week.

New practice FITA PB

Just got back from the club where I shot a complete practice FITA for the first time on over a year (very poor going). I have shot plenty of Long/Short Metric rounds and 3 doz at each distance but have never found the time to bring them all together.

I ended up shooting 1361 (330/338/339/354) under timed conditions, in very hot weather with a light to medium breeze.

I didn't have my counter to do the good shot percentage, but I would estimate it would have been around 50% to 60%.

So, I know I can shoot well within competition time constraints. Its all down to having the right conditions on the day and getting into the right frame of mind, i.e. shooting good shots and not worrying about the score.

If I continue to shoot under timed conditions, then I am sure I will convince myself that I can do it at competition.

New PB but not happy!

Tonight I shot a Long Metric to follow on from the Short Metric I shot a few nights back. This round was timed to FITA timing.

Despite shooting a PB by 1 point (659), I didn't not shoot really that well, especially @ 70m, where I posted a distinctly average 333, which is below my usual practice scores.

At 90m, the score was 326, not bad (equal PB), despite starting slowly, I ended up with a 113 last dozen.

I didn't feel that great tonight physically and mentally, and almost didn't go to the range, but I forced myself. As a result my form was poor. I worked out why towards the end of the round. I was not pulling the elbow round and getting everything in line. At least I discovered the problem!

As for my good shot percentage, this ended up at 25%, very poor indeed.