I was at Lilleshall twice this week.
Early in the week, I was down for meetings and, during one of the breaks, went down to the Sutherland Hall (for those who don't know, this is where you can shoot 90m indoors all year round, and is used for squad training). There was a tremendous amount of activity where the Performance Unit were in the throws of making an Archery DVD which will go on sale later this year. High speed camera, professional film crews and sound men were all scurrying around.
Another sign of how far the Society has moved on.
The second trip was for the British Champs, packed out as usual. Her indoors was competing but had to pull out of the Scottish Team due to a bout of "woman flu" (well, if there is man flu, stands to reason there has to be a female variety) earlier on in the month. She seemed happy enough to be the most progressed native Scot in the compounds (oh dear, I hope I have got that right).
I get real bored by indoors, but may have to re-consider my position on this. Two of my Director colleagues were shooting (Jan and Ian) and, as well as me, another two Directors were at the Champs (David and Jean) - maybe others. Long gone the days when the Board was invisible.
It is reliably rumoured that CEO David was so terrified by the Welsh that he put his hand in his pocket, brought out £10 and bought two raffle tickets for the World Fields in Wales later this year. This will be shot at a smashing venue in the Museum of Welsh Life in Wales - well worth a visit if you are thinking of taking a holiday in the first week in September.
Monday, 18 February 2008
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Teachers, Uncles and Beer
I spoke at a meeting of SLANOPE this week - I think it stands for the Scottish Network of PE Teachers. I did a short presentation on Archery and showed a short film about GB competing on the world stage. The idea was really to see if there was an interest in providing advice on the introduction into schools.
They were a great audience and nice people individually. However, they asked some searching questions about what was the educational rationale which I was not really prepared for. I guess that there is a lesson to be learned there.
I also had the pleasure of fixing the computer of the other half's Uncle Willie. Getting it working was straightforward, if not a little time consuming, as all I had to do was put in a few passwords correctly (which, of course, he swore he had done) and sort the configuration.
In gratitude, he took us out for lunch, which was very welcome, and made a special gesture of giving me three cans of Carlsberg. He remarked that he had bought them originally for the slugs, which had not been as many this year (hence the surplus), and that he was sure that being 4 months past their date would be OK.
It's nice to be appreciated!
They were a great audience and nice people individually. However, they asked some searching questions about what was the educational rationale which I was not really prepared for. I guess that there is a lesson to be learned there.
I also had the pleasure of fixing the computer of the other half's Uncle Willie. Getting it working was straightforward, if not a little time consuming, as all I had to do was put in a few passwords correctly (which, of course, he swore he had done) and sort the configuration.
In gratitude, he took us out for lunch, which was very welcome, and made a special gesture of giving me three cans of Carlsberg. He remarked that he had bought them originally for the slugs, which had not been as many this year (hence the surplus), and that he was sure that being 4 months past their date would be OK.
It's nice to be appreciated!
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Rotten Weather, Good News
It won't have escaped many people that many parts of the UK have been subjected to storms and snow - I guess I say this in the hope that this blog is being ready from sunny climes - which brings me to sunny Australia where I hear young Andy is shooting his socks off (read http://www.scottisharchery.org.uk/ for the details).
I'm not long back from the SAA's EGM caused by the lack of a quorum at the AGM, which seems a common problem these days. It was held in the lunch interval of the Scottish Indoor Champs, and the focus on getting matters concluded to be able to start the afternoon session meant that we rattled through a good 9 (?) votes in just over 30 minutes. Shows you what can be done when you put your mind to it.
Tina got elected as President and I'm sure that all of Scotland will be with her as she starts her first three year term.
I got the results back from sportsscotland on what their Active Schools database said about participation. It looks as if 300 primary and 250 secondary pupils get an archery session over twenty schools across the country. Here is a map ...
I'm not long back from the SAA's EGM caused by the lack of a quorum at the AGM, which seems a common problem these days. It was held in the lunch interval of the Scottish Indoor Champs, and the focus on getting matters concluded to be able to start the afternoon session meant that we rattled through a good 9 (?) votes in just over 30 minutes. Shows you what can be done when you put your mind to it.
Tina got elected as President and I'm sure that all of Scotland will be with her as she starts her first three year term.
I got the results back from sportsscotland on what their Active Schools database said about participation. It looks as if 300 primary and 250 secondary pupils get an archery session over twenty schools across the country. Here is a map ...
The red dots are the schools and the blue ones are the clubs. There are certainly some anomolies (as round Inverness) where there are schools without any local clubs. I guess we may have to write to the schools to get to the bottom of what is going on.
The helpful suggestion on involving Leaders by Michael Mather has certainly hit some spots, and I had a conference call with Ollie (Coaching Manager, GNAS) about it this week and he is certainly keen. With a following wind, we will see that kick off later this month after a few more folks have had the opportunity to input.
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Two missing Sundays
It is my custom to write this blog on Sunday nights, but a couple of obstacles got in the way of that habit in the last two weeks.
The first was the pleasant reason that archery got in the way.
On the Sunday before last, we went to a new indoor shoot in Alloa, run by Bannockburn Bowmen. I shot well enough and the team of me & her indoors got team third place. There were a whole pile of people from the new Edinburgh Club - Fellowship of the Bow - and I shot with one of them and had a really nice morning. The scoring was again pleasant and done by someone with very nice handwriting and who could add up - juniors, please note.
The shoot did not require uniform and people were encouraged to turn up in something bright. The morning were a pretty plain lot really (my orange breeks were mysteriously in the wash) but I was glad to see the afternoon crowd being led by the big McAuley resplendent in kilt and hairy legs.
I then spent the rest of the week sorting myself out for the winter GNAS Board meeting, which was a two day affair, with some extra days tacked on for side meetings. I worked on the train on the way down on the Thursday morning, and spent the afternoon with Dave Sherratt and Lin Berry looking at their office systems.
Lin is a real stalwart, always rushing about getting things organised, on the phone to members, or sorting our suppliers out. She keeps smiling through all of this which is something that I would struggle with. The office are now getting ready for the AGM and all the papers that are needed for that. Before I started in this role, the AGM was just ticking a box to me, but that is certainly not the case.
On the Friday, we had guests from Standard Life Investments who we have been partnered with through the 2012 process of joining up the Olympic Sports to FTSE 100 companies. The idea is to enable a bridge between successful business and sport and members will read more of that in future issues of Archery UK.
As well as sitting in on part of the Board meeting, they also had a come-and-try. This was in the Sutherland Hall (where you can shoot 90m indoors) in the midst of the development and paralympic squad training. I can't be often that sports can offer this kind of experience to outsiders.
The Board meeting itself was a pretty energetic affair and there is certainly a buzz these days. We had a presentation from the Performance Unit and it should be obvious to all the members how that has moved on, but I get the feeling that the progress made in other areas is less obvious and, perhaps, not as appreciated.
I had a much delayed train journey back, not unpleasant but wearying and long, and so I missed writing last Sunday. I just about had time for a quick chat, cup of tea and unpacking the bag before it was time for bed.
I did come back to the news that her indoors was Eastern Area champion (561 Portsmouth I think). This was accompanied by a perhaps familiar tale of starting off with 60s, falling to the wayside and gallantly rallying at the end. Ho Hum!
Tom Williamson had been at the Board as well. He has had some shoulder issues of later and is using a 26lb recurve and shooting barebow. He shot, I think, 560 Portsmouth recently - cold feet in the back in bed was the response for using that story in reply to winning the area champs! Live & learn? Not at my age, it seems.
The first was the pleasant reason that archery got in the way.
On the Sunday before last, we went to a new indoor shoot in Alloa, run by Bannockburn Bowmen. I shot well enough and the team of me & her indoors got team third place. There were a whole pile of people from the new Edinburgh Club - Fellowship of the Bow - and I shot with one of them and had a really nice morning. The scoring was again pleasant and done by someone with very nice handwriting and who could add up - juniors, please note.
The shoot did not require uniform and people were encouraged to turn up in something bright. The morning were a pretty plain lot really (my orange breeks were mysteriously in the wash) but I was glad to see the afternoon crowd being led by the big McAuley resplendent in kilt and hairy legs.
I then spent the rest of the week sorting myself out for the winter GNAS Board meeting, which was a two day affair, with some extra days tacked on for side meetings. I worked on the train on the way down on the Thursday morning, and spent the afternoon with Dave Sherratt and Lin Berry looking at their office systems.
Lin is a real stalwart, always rushing about getting things organised, on the phone to members, or sorting our suppliers out. She keeps smiling through all of this which is something that I would struggle with. The office are now getting ready for the AGM and all the papers that are needed for that. Before I started in this role, the AGM was just ticking a box to me, but that is certainly not the case.
On the Friday, we had guests from Standard Life Investments who we have been partnered with through the 2012 process of joining up the Olympic Sports to FTSE 100 companies. The idea is to enable a bridge between successful business and sport and members will read more of that in future issues of Archery UK.
As well as sitting in on part of the Board meeting, they also had a come-and-try. This was in the Sutherland Hall (where you can shoot 90m indoors) in the midst of the development and paralympic squad training. I can't be often that sports can offer this kind of experience to outsiders.
The Board meeting itself was a pretty energetic affair and there is certainly a buzz these days. We had a presentation from the Performance Unit and it should be obvious to all the members how that has moved on, but I get the feeling that the progress made in other areas is less obvious and, perhaps, not as appreciated.
I had a much delayed train journey back, not unpleasant but wearying and long, and so I missed writing last Sunday. I just about had time for a quick chat, cup of tea and unpacking the bag before it was time for bed.
I did come back to the news that her indoors was Eastern Area champion (561 Portsmouth I think). This was accompanied by a perhaps familiar tale of starting off with 60s, falling to the wayside and gallantly rallying at the end. Ho Hum!
Tom Williamson had been at the Board as well. He has had some shoulder issues of later and is using a 26lb recurve and shooting barebow. He shot, I think, 560 Portsmouth recently - cold feet in the back in bed was the response for using that story in reply to winning the area champs! Live & learn? Not at my age, it seems.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
It's 2008 already!
I had two nice things arrive to start the year off. The first was a copy of the Winter 2007 news from London 2012. It contained a full page on one of GB's top archers, Noami Folkard, and it is good to see that extent of coverage. The second was an invitation to comment on Scottish facilities that had been put forward for 2012 pre-games training camps for archery. I shared these with National Council colleagues and fed back on the eight venues. It is good to see so much interest, given we are so far from London - I guess that commercial confidentiality will preclude me from sharing their names in this public place.
The first shoot of the year for me was today at the Penicuik frostbite. I started off well enough, fortified no doubt by Liz's own spicy lentil soup, with a 116 dozen and then the cold got the better of me. The wind chill certainly cut in and I dropped at least 6 point per dozen for the remaining two dozen. I was shooting with two delightful juniors (one of who scored and could add without a calculator, hurrah!) and the other managed to shoot two of my nocks off.
At the present exchange at the end, Alan got my donation of finger puppets which is grand as he has grandkids. I got a jar of damson jam, not just damson jam but home made damson jam (that sound like the Marks & Sparks ad?). There is just nothing so good as this kind of jam, so that made my day.
The first shoot of the year for me was today at the Penicuik frostbite. I started off well enough, fortified no doubt by Liz's own spicy lentil soup, with a 116 dozen and then the cold got the better of me. The wind chill certainly cut in and I dropped at least 6 point per dozen for the remaining two dozen. I was shooting with two delightful juniors (one of who scored and could add without a calculator, hurrah!) and the other managed to shoot two of my nocks off.
At the present exchange at the end, Alan got my donation of finger puppets which is grand as he has grandkids. I got a jar of damson jam, not just damson jam but home made damson jam (that sound like the Marks & Sparks ad?). There is just nothing so good as this kind of jam, so that made my day.
There was the traditional stovies (Scottish delicacy for the uninitiated) and curry at Elayne and Norrie's afterwards. Norrie (a life-long teetotaller) has a huge range of whiskies, so I helped out a little in draining his reserve before going off to domestic chores (her indoors being at squad this weekend and so having to fend for myself).
Scotland is just beginning to wake up after the holidays and I get the feeling that it is going to be a busy and eventful year both locally and nationally.
I am going to finish now and get off to a long soak in the bath to finish the thawing out. There is a new men in far-too-tight britches series on the box tonight, her indoors will be glued to that and it will just be me and the bubbles for an hour (unless, of course, I can find where she has hidden my duck).
Sunday, 30 December 2007
The year draws to a close
Just before Xmas, Kate (from sportstructures) and I spoke to sportscotland about how to link into the Active Schools network. They seemed pleased we had come to them and gave us some good feedback. In particular, they have details on what each school in Scotland is doing in terms of sports participation. Our next step is to pull together a map of what all the various parts of activity are taking place (in schools, in GNAS clubs etc). We had this conversation through a telephone conference call which I am well used to through work, but was a novel experience to the others on the call - good that the "new technologies" can bring people together quickly and at little cost.
Bumped into Susan from Penicuik at Ikea where her and the family were out for an excursion. Santa brought her a new compound bag from Christmas and she reminded me about the annual Frostbite and to bring a £3 present as part of the communal present giving that takes place at the end. Next Sunday, someone will be the happy recipient of Ikea finger puppets!
The household has been awash with virtual re-decorating (wish the real thing indoors could progress as quickly!). The SAA web site is getting a makeover, and Muriel is busy with that and e-mails are flying back and forward between her and Murray. I guess it is the only time that they can get on with this as they are both involved in squads (Muriel with Scottish and Murray with UK disabled).
Having time on our hands, a trip to wildest Hawick was planned, which many people may not know is one of the Archery hotspots in Scotland.
We shot indoors with (another) Kate who is, I think, Scotland's only international double medallist this year having gained Sliver & Bronze at the IPC event in Korea the other month. Her man was there shooting as well with his recurve as he has had his arm twisted into competing in deepest Geordie land at a Vegas. At the end, we were joined by Ronnie, a local newcomer who will be at Lasswade soon taking part in his first competition (that thrill seems so far away from me now).
Kate let us into a wee secret. She said that Peter Suk, in the way of coaching, gives her a wee peck on the cheek and says she is a great archer. This obviously works from her medal success - must be something in the way the Koreans kiss :-) I feel a wee tongue twister coming on here (based on Peter Piper nursery rhyme) ...
Peter Performance pecked the purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian
The purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian Peter Performance pecked
If Peter Performance pecked the purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian
Where is the purple pinkie of the pretty paralympian that Peter Performance pecked?
... must remember not to give up the day job for a career in poetry writing.
I had a chat with Gwyn who has now been there for almost seven years now (visit http://www.eastcote-archery.co.uk/ if you don't know them). When they first started out, shooting inside in the winter was problematic as the gas in the heater would often be so cold as not be able to light properly. Now, there is an outdoor range for up to 8 targets @ 90m, a well stocked shop and a really warm new indoor range with three foam targets. The shop is planned to be moved into the original indoor range which will give lots of room and also provide for a reception area. All of this has been gradually built up over the years without too much public investment - well done Gwyn!
During writing this, I had forgotten the link to Gwyn's place and did the usual web search to find it. The first link to come up was the news that Andy Logan (a two time European Field Archery champion from Hawick) had narrowly escaped death in a car accident and will miss the Worlds in Namibia. Though Andy is from the "other lot" (the Scottish Field Archery Association), it is still a sad piece of news to have at this time of year.
Bumped into Susan from Penicuik at Ikea where her and the family were out for an excursion. Santa brought her a new compound bag from Christmas and she reminded me about the annual Frostbite and to bring a £3 present as part of the communal present giving that takes place at the end. Next Sunday, someone will be the happy recipient of Ikea finger puppets!
The household has been awash with virtual re-decorating (wish the real thing indoors could progress as quickly!). The SAA web site is getting a makeover, and Muriel is busy with that and e-mails are flying back and forward between her and Murray. I guess it is the only time that they can get on with this as they are both involved in squads (Muriel with Scottish and Murray with UK disabled).
Having time on our hands, a trip to wildest Hawick was planned, which many people may not know is one of the Archery hotspots in Scotland.
We shot indoors with (another) Kate who is, I think, Scotland's only international double medallist this year having gained Sliver & Bronze at the IPC event in Korea the other month. Her man was there shooting as well with his recurve as he has had his arm twisted into competing in deepest Geordie land at a Vegas. At the end, we were joined by Ronnie, a local newcomer who will be at Lasswade soon taking part in his first competition (that thrill seems so far away from me now).
Kate let us into a wee secret. She said that Peter Suk, in the way of coaching, gives her a wee peck on the cheek and says she is a great archer. This obviously works from her medal success - must be something in the way the Koreans kiss :-) I feel a wee tongue twister coming on here (based on Peter Piper nursery rhyme) ...
Peter Performance pecked the purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian
The purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian Peter Performance pecked
If Peter Performance pecked the purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian
Where is the purple pinkie of the pretty paralympian that Peter Performance pecked?
... must remember not to give up the day job for a career in poetry writing.
I had a chat with Gwyn who has now been there for almost seven years now (visit http://www.eastcote-archery.co.uk/ if you don't know them). When they first started out, shooting inside in the winter was problematic as the gas in the heater would often be so cold as not be able to light properly. Now, there is an outdoor range for up to 8 targets @ 90m, a well stocked shop and a really warm new indoor range with three foam targets. The shop is planned to be moved into the original indoor range which will give lots of room and also provide for a reception area. All of this has been gradually built up over the years without too much public investment - well done Gwyn!
During writing this, I had forgotten the link to Gwyn's place and did the usual web search to find it. The first link to come up was the news that Andy Logan (a two time European Field Archery champion from Hawick) had narrowly escaped death in a car accident and will miss the Worlds in Namibia. Though Andy is from the "other lot" (the Scottish Field Archery Association), it is still a sad piece of news to have at this time of year.
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Ah, Yoda
Michael Mather kindly sent through the extract from the SAA's Development Plan concerning how to use Leaders to increase numbers. As usual with Michael, it has a deal of thinking and detail behind it. GNAS are also interested in this area, but are a little more cautious. Needless to say, everyone has a number of completely contradictory opinions (it wouldn't be archery otherwise) and I hope to work with GNAS to survey Leaders in Scotland to establish a independent basis to proceed on.
Xmas is drawing near and I was at a fun shoot on Friday night that was very enjoyable and good humoured (the juniors certainly liked their selection boxes). Ian Wilson took in in good part when he was ribbed about missing the balloons twice and I certainly shot better this week. I got two red stars at the top of the tree to Muriel's none and so all I need to do now is to get FITA to make an official Spruce Tree Round.
The Scotsman reported that sportscotland looked to be safe from the SNP axe, though their remit will be changed and re-focused. We will have to wait until the New Year for the details, I suspect.
There are a number of schools who will transition into GNAS School Membership due to the demise of the AAS scheme. The SAA and Areas need to set corresponding fees and Ray Mason is on the case with the solution to charge Junior Club fees.
I hope that all Scottish Archers felt some pride this month in the December announcements in the News section of the web site - Hannah becoming Junior Lady Indoor Champion and Andy Ward shooting 1380 in Australia.
I've had less time for Archery this week than of late. I was down seeing my three week old grandson in York. As I held him in my arms, he made a face like Yoda and noisily filled his nappy, thus displaying he had the family genes.
Xmas is drawing near and I was at a fun shoot on Friday night that was very enjoyable and good humoured (the juniors certainly liked their selection boxes). Ian Wilson took in in good part when he was ribbed about missing the balloons twice and I certainly shot better this week. I got two red stars at the top of the tree to Muriel's none and so all I need to do now is to get FITA to make an official Spruce Tree Round.
The Scotsman reported that sportscotland looked to be safe from the SNP axe, though their remit will be changed and re-focused. We will have to wait until the New Year for the details, I suspect.
There are a number of schools who will transition into GNAS School Membership due to the demise of the AAS scheme. The SAA and Areas need to set corresponding fees and Ray Mason is on the case with the solution to charge Junior Club fees.
I hope that all Scottish Archers felt some pride this month in the December announcements in the News section of the web site - Hannah becoming Junior Lady Indoor Champion and Andy Ward shooting 1380 in Australia.
I've had less time for Archery this week than of late. I was down seeing my three week old grandson in York. As I held him in my arms, he made a face like Yoda and noisily filled his nappy, thus displaying he had the family genes.
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