Eleven members of the NAC journeyed to Kettering to compete in a “Roving Clout shoot” competition which was hosted by the Kettering Archery Club.
It was early in the morning when they arrived all fired up and ready to go (early New Years Day, I don’t think so!), one consolation was that it was a lovely day considering the time of year. The “eleven” turned out to be a third of the overall entrants taking part in the “clout” on the day. The attached photograph shows the “eleven” and young Niamh (little red riding hood) was nominated as the team captain.
John Bosworth (from Kettering archers) explained to all the archers present how the “clout” should be shot and the different distances, and scoring methods etc with some archers on full draw and others would “ping”
(For those who don’t know, a “Clout” is a form of archery in which archers shoot arrows at a flag (known as “the Clout”) from a relatively long distance and score points depending on how close each arrow lands to the flag.
Scoring zones are defined by maximum radii from the flag pole. Each arrow scores points depending on which scoring
zone it enters the ground in. An arrow embedded in the flag pole is counted as being in the highest scoring zone. If an arrow is lying on the ground, it is considered to be in the scoring zone in which its point lies.
The scoring zones may be marked on the ground. Where this is not practical, a non-stretch rope or chain marked with
the radii of the scoring zones is attached to the flag pole and swept around it to determine which arrows are in which zones.
A designated person collects the arrows in each zone, sorts them into sets, and lays them on the ground. Each
archer in turn points to his or her arrows and calls out the scores in descending order. A single clout round consists of three dozen arrows, shot in ends of 6 arrows.)
The final shoot of the day consisted of a “Volley” which involved a 3D Pig at different distances, (as usual not all bows let fly at the same time). A “volley” is to release arrows together so as to blacken the sky with arrows like medieval warfare.
Our star turned out to be our Team Captain, Niamh, who was the only one to actually hit the 3D pig and so collected a most respectable score.
A great day was had by all with 8 medals being won in total.
