This was the second in the series of NFAS 3d Friendly shoots run and organised with help from members, by John Davison and Nev Wilson, with invitations to visitors from outside to boost numbers, to try and improve some of the facilities for the club at the same time trying to encourage club members to get involved in club activities. As the first one was a complete success we had quite a task to better it, but better it we did! The remarks and comment at the end were quite flattering we were even compared to Chris Lovelocks 3d Open Courses (better) but that was just the participants way of bulls.....g us into doing some more, as a course setter I don’t think there is anyone better than Chris, given the ground we have at Avalon it lends itself to natural 3d environment. Now that I have gone on about how good we all are we would like to thank the amount of work Paul Rowlands, Chris Cox, and June Thomas (one of our newest members) for help on the Game Trail, wow what a nightmare but a complete success. In the build up to the day Dennis Tyler who has thrown himself (literally) into the task of helping, hurt his back putting in target No 4.I hope we are insured ?(to Chris).
This shoot was advertised as a 30 3d NFAS with a Game Trail to be shot separately from the main course (with a limit of 120) as it happened it’s a good job only eighty booked in ten cancelled before (thanks to them) and 10 no shows, they know who they are it makes registration a nightmare if you don’t inform the organisers. The Game Trail was the most popular feature of the shoot which we knew would be, but not having had any experience with this kind of activity it was a case of suck it and see, the first group up were Dave Hatton’s. We sent the first one down with the instructions to try and shoot what targets they see one arrow at each, the next one was sent down a minute later, if he caught up the one in front then he (the one in front) had to stop shooting after all five had finish scores were taken and the next group were ready to proceed. At this point Chris Cox turned up and said this is not working its taking too long (it would have taken a dam sight longer if 120 had turned up) So we regrouped and suggested each one takes the Trail separately with someone following with a stop watch and another(or 2 following scoring and collecting arrows).So instead of two people it is now going to take a least four, where are we going to get the manpower from( most club members are shooting the course),right Coxy drop the tea, Paul Rowlands who was showing our newest member the course June Thomas(she was due home at 1 o’clock but stayed till the end 4.30), there is your manpower everyone grabs a job(I    bagged the stop watch) so I could give my friends some extra seconds no chance I have no friends(with my criticism of compounds and bare bow styles) enough of the game trail, although this was one of the most popular features. London Archers came back for another go but only the first score counted, Peter Humphreys missed only one out of the ten in the time limit and that was the first one on the course (which he had previously got on his first time round). We had 30 targets on the 3d course only two 2d’s a Zebra and Bison. Everyone said what a good course it was how much they enjoyed it, next time let Chris L do it. To give a title Friendly was in contravention of the Trades description act. We will see what we can conjure up at the November Club Coon shoot.

Report by Nev Wilson