About Island Archers & Archery
Island Archers is a rapidly-expanding archery club, based in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis.
Shooting recurve target archery year round, every Wednesday evening between 7:00pm and 8:30pm.
Archery and is a sport for all ages and abilities, and we would like to hear from anyone who always wanted to give it a go, but never quite got round to it, or was too shy, or whatever. Don't worry, we're very friendly, and we never take it too seriously, although we do insist that safety procedures are strictly adhered to AT ALL TIMES by everyone.
We are in the process of reviving our Junior section, but since we have to have a robust child and vulnerable adults protection policy (a necessary evil in this day-and-age), we would ask all under 16s to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, to be legally responsible for them for all the time that they are with us. Providing their parents/guardians and the club give their consent, those Juniors over 16, but under 18, may shoot with us without a responsible adult present.
Although archery is a very sociable sport, it is also a truly individual sport, and no-one else is to blame if you don't hit the gold. It's a sport that promotes concentration, consistency, and discipline if you want to progress to the higher levels of the game. Some, however, aren't especially interested in refining their technique, or are indifferent to tournaments and competition, and are happy just to use archery as a way of 'tuning out' from the working week, and we're more than happy to have their company on the shooting line.
We especially welcome beginners, and tuition and equipment is provided free, although there is a modest 'target fee' of £4 per adult (£2 per Junior Under 18) per evening session (1½ hours) to cover venue hire and equipment maintenence costs. Beginners are welcome to shoot with us for up to a maximum of 6 sessions, but thereafter, to comply with our insurance obligations, we have to ask them to become a member of the UK archery national governing body, Archery GB (formerly known as the grandly-titled Grand National Archery Society, or GNAS for short), and the simplest way of doing that is to join the club (it's only £60 (or a fiver per month) per adult per year and £30 per Junior Under 18) However, if people just want to come along and try out archery for a few sessions, and decide that it's not the sport for them, or don't especially want to join the club, we won't pressure them.
Archery is one of the few sports where people with disabilities can compete at the same level as the more able-bodied, with few compromises, and it is not uncommon to see disabled archers, whether they have physical, visual, or mental impairment, shooting alongside their able-bodied friends on the same shooting line. We would welcome interest from the less able-bodied - Come along, and you never know, you might find that it's a sport that has you hooked for life!
Visiting archers, whether they shoot recurve, longbow, or compound, are very welcome to join us, providing they can provide a current Archery GB / GNAS membership number, or other positive proof of insurance. There are numerous outdoor and indoor tournaments throughout the year; an important part of the sport for those of a more competitive nature. Nevertheless club and recreational archery is just as important for people who find they have little time for any serious commitment, though still enjoy 'shooting arrows' with friends, family or colleagues in the familiar surroundings of their club.
We meet every Wednesday evening between 7:00pm and 8:30pm all year round, at one of two venues;
A change of venue is normally posted on the website, but you're welcome to contact us if you're unsure where we're likely to be, and want to come along to a session.
We're working on a permanent outdoor venue that will give us the ability to shoot to competition ranges and will shortly release details of the new facilities that will give the club everything an archer could want in an outdoor venue! Whilst there is a good deal of work to be done to complete its transformation into a safe outdoor venue, it is hoped that we will be able to shoot outside by Summer 2010.
If you need more information, please feel free to use the contact us form, we’ll get back to you as soon as we can, and hopefully you can come and join us for a few sessions!
