Tired, flippin heck

Been a strange week this week, feeling quite tired in the second half, so cut right back on training. I really think my diet needs to be improved, currently eating a load of crud which probably isn't helping on the tired front either.

Training this week has consisted of my gym session on Tuesday and Malvern on Wednesday, shooting a 566 Portsmouth, and reducing the number of reds to 5, plus another 36 arrows scoring 332 with 7 reds.

Started a new training routine at work, with the intention of improving concentration, and eliminating sloppy shots. I have started on a regular sized Portsmouth inner red and golds. The intention is to get, out of 6 dozen arrows, >50% inner gold AND <5% in the red. When that is done then the face will be decreased to 95% of the original size.

Able to shoot 18 at a time, giving a cycle time of 15 minutes per 18, so 6 dozen can be completed in an hour. Today I shot 8 ends, giving a total of 144 arrows. The hit rate was 123, 20, 1 (85.4%, 13.9%, 0.7%).

Form notes:
1. Shallow finger hook on string
2. Positive positioning of hand on handle, and fingers nice and relaxed
3. Standing up tall and straight
4. Bring string back positively, and level into jaw line
5. Confident load onto back, otherwise come down and reset shot

How close

Wyre Forest Company of Archers Portsmouth

The round started with perfection 10,10,10 then followed it up with a monsterously tense 9,7,4. However, I remained mentally tough and over the course of the shoot hitting 4 triple 10s.

Need to worry a lot less about time, and come down straight away when it doesn't feel right. Sometimes head is dipping forward, and this causes the problems with coming through the clicker. Finger positioning and bow hand positioning were really good.

The round score was:


10 10 10  9  7  4 50 10  9  9 10 10  9 57 12  6 107 107
 9  9  8 10  9  9 54 10 10 10 10 10 10 60 12  7 114 221
10  9  9 10  9  9 56 10 10 10 10  9  9 58 12  6 114 335
10  9  9 10  9  9 56 10  9  7 10 10  9 55 12  5 111 446
 9  9  8  9  8  8 51 10 10  9 10  9  9 57 12  3 108 554

Seems to be right

Well the small targets I use at work do seem to give a good indication as to the score I will get at full distance. Scored 560 at Malvern, struggling a little to get through the clicker, once I stood nice and strong with relaxed bow-hand problem disappeared. Shoot properly get a good score, how simple.

And we're off

First week and a half of training is going well. I have managed to shoot every day, apart from my Thursday rest day, and keeping up with going to the gym. Missed out Sunday at the gym as too busy painting the hallway. Leg exercises absolutly kill, but hopefully after a few weeks this will get better.

Small target faces are great, and seem to give a relaistic interpretation of shooting at a Portsmouth face. Scored so far 566, 566, 565, 563 (with a miss!), 562.

Sight PIN sheared off, what a pain in the posterior, and a costly break. Having to use Lorraines Titan PIN for now.

Noticed that my top finger was pinching the arrow and finger spacer. Now when placing fingers on teh string make sure that the top finger is a small distance away from the srrow to prevent this pinching. Looks like I am getting a more consistant release. Just need to make sure I stand nice and upright, with head still instead of dipping to allow a more positive power through the clicker.

The training has started

Well with the outdoor season fast approaching the proper training has started up again, and the fact I am now getting better. The plan is to break the training down into the following between now and April.

Monday am 100 arrows pm Gentle Swim\Steam Room
Tuesday am 100 arrows pm Gym with Trainer
Wednesday am 100 arrows pm Malvern Training
Thursday am REST pm Gentle Swim\Steam Room
Friday am 100 arrows pm Gym
Saturday am 200 arrows pm Gentle Swim\Steam Room
Sunday am 200 arrows pm Gym or Tournament

So about 800-1000 arrows a week.

Long time no update

OK so it has been a while, well a whole season in fact, but hoping to keep information up to date on a more regular basis. 2009 was quite eventful with it starting off with a move from Cheltenham Archers to Malvern Archers, which also meant a move of county from Gloucestershire to Worcestershire.

Had a few wins over the course of 2009, including the Oxfordshire Championships with a PB of 1009 for a York. Also the first Gents FITA at Cheltenham Archers, although the field didn't include any of the more accomplished FITA regulars.

Finished the year ranked as the #1 Worcestershire Gent, so automatic squad placement for the first inter-counties match in 2010.

The indoor season also included a number of good places, and acheived a new PB in all indoor rounds, a great season so far. Stopped shooting at the end of November to have a bad shoulder problem treated, and due to other illnesses (including swine flu) I have just come back to shooting. Range set up at work, and getting lots of early morning practice, so onwards and upwards.

Downs and Ups

OK Dunster was a disaster, so not going to dwell on it too much. The wind was a shocker, and retired for the first time on the second day after going through 4 arrows (might be able to salvage some bits).

Droitwich was yet again another howling day, but despite that mamaged to pull off my first open tuornament win of the year. Held my nerve right to the end to win by 1 point. I was never on the leader board, but just knew my consistancy would get me through.