SCAS Intercounties

This was my last competition of 2010, but it could have not turned out worse.

On the Saturday I put a hole in the engine of my car and have probably written it off. The stress of this, and having to sort out an last minute issue with my sight meant that I was not in the right frame of mind for shooting. However I had to attend because the team would be short of numbers.

100 yards was a disaster, and I ended up with 566, about 30-40 points short of my normal standard. I simply could not shoot properly. Thinking about it later, the issue was the classic lack of alignment.

After a pep talk I had a reasonable 80 yards, 410, and 60 yards was good, despite dropping one red (dropped bow arm on release). I was really getting the alignment issues sorted at this stage and the shots were really crisp.

In the end I ended up with 1190, not bad considering I was not in any frame of mind to shoot. One positive out of this is that I was able to turn it around and grind out a result which I did @ 80 yards.

Well that's if for 2010. I am off for a holiday, and then I will come back, get the bow rebuilt and start my training regime of one full 12 doz round per week. I will not be shooting any indoor competitions in the indoor season as I am going to be as ready as possible for next years out door, where my target is GMB.

Surrey vs Kent county match and my first GMB score!

This weekend I shot for Surrey in a friendly against Kent. I was hoping for good weather and got it and my chance to prove the GMB level scores I have shot in practice could be transferred to competition.

I practised a timed York on Saturday morning and blew away my previous practice PB of 1226 with a 1262.

The 100 yard distance was end after end of 52's and 54's, with some sloppy shots towards the end, but I ended with 624. I also made a note of the FITA score equivalent, and the first three dozen was 342, smashing my previous 330.

At 80 yards I maxed out the first 2 1/2 dozen, but my 60 yards was poor dropping 2 into the red.

However, I went into the county match on Sunday with a target of 1230 in mind. I ended up with 1250, which is GMB by 1 point.

The 100 yards was very nice, finishing on 616, but I had very poor 46 and 48 ends, but each dozen was 100+.

80 yards was steady, and averaged 52 per end, and 60 yards, whilst a bit nervy, was maxed out, which is a first in competition for me.

Overall I am pleased and am now progressing nicely. At least I can now say I have earned my MB and have improved on the 1206 York I shot in May. The only downer is that this was not a UK status shoot (not applied for in time), so I cant use the score.

I have 5 shoots left and hope to get good weather and go all out to see if I can get three GMB scores before the end of the year.