This weekend also happened to fall on my 30th birthday! So it was gonna be a great one regardless of how well I shot. I was also still nurising a shoulder injury from the Scotish Champs so I didn’t really have much hope – just a top 10 position would be lovely!
We arrived on the Friday in Ashbourne to pitch our tent, drank beer and got ourselves ready for the first day of shooting.
Yeah - that's normal!
Being a barebow archer, I was to be shooting the same courses as all the compound archers and sighted archers (a tad unfair) but I guess we couldn’t be put with the wooden arrow archers as we shoot carbons… hmm we’re a wierd bunch! There were also very few ladies in the X and Y courses (I was the only female in my group both days), but that didn’t matter as I got to shoot with great and friendly archers 
I was woken up in the morning by caroline hunt from Druids’ who presented me with a huge ‘eton mess’ for breakfast! Was such a lovely treat xxx
For day 1 I would be shooting with one compound limited archer and two barebow gents:
Kills a plenty!! Mick's 2nd '24' on the trot and his first time at a National comp - one to watch for sure!
My shot of the weekend - a 45yrd raptor!!!
This 'humping bear' target always amuses me! Steve was happy as it's his first '24'!
Andrew faces the uphill elk
My wonderful group from day 1 - it was my Birthday and I also found out that I was 2nd placed going into day two!!!! ARGH!!!
Yeah, so the idea was that I shoot ‘out of my skin’ the first day as I would be a tad hungover the second… Lots of lovely peeps had brought me cards and presents including my rather marvellous T-Shirt from Mike & Bella:
Gonna wear this whenever I shoot my primitive stick-bow!!!
Plus there was a superb cake made by friend and owner of Hannah Banana bakery (http://www.hannahbananabakery.co.uk)
It's a gorgeous vegan choc & cherry cream cake - 'twas yummisome x
Yeah - that's normal too!
I also asked Garfield to wear his kilt:
Garfield looking dapper!
Zoe just loved my sparkly ball!
Day 2 – a very tired me was prepared for the day!
L-R: Gill Winter, Marleen Toomer and me! Barebow ladies together xxx
From the start I could tell it wasn’t going to be a high scoring day, but it didn’t matter as once again I was with a lovely group shooting another superb course!
Paul & his son Peter
'Uncle Ferret' from Westcott Archers - I shot with him at the 3Ds two years ago - a lovely man
This was Rob's first Champs - he's also gonna be very good in the future!
Anyway – I was 50 points down on day 1, but I’d done enough to secure bronze! I couldn’t believe it! Even with an injured shoulder I still managed to get placed at a national comp! All three of us were archers from the South so I’m pleased to be ‘up there’ with them!
Me & Mr List - both from South Wilts Archery Club - both proud of our bronzes!!!
What another great weekend with friends and the extended family that is the NFAS!!! Two awesome courses – awesome venue, catering, organisation and admin – here’s to druids during solstice weekend!!!
