Tango’s Blog

I was curled up so snuggly in my travel bag and having such a nice long nap - but suddenly I’ve been woken by feelings of trepidation and worry!  I can hear whispers… that lunatic irishman and his sidekick are only planning to take me to Lilleshall - for the British Target Champs this weekend!  We’re going camping!  I must fly and pack my mosquito spray, check I have my passport (well we are going out of the county!) and make sure there are enough sandwiches for the trip… I’ll write and tell you all about it on my return - they are coming back aren’t they… watch this space… Where are those QuiverKats…

Even though I begged to stay in the warmth of my travel bag, the Beacon Archers insisted I come out and attend our first friendly challenge with another club!  It was a typical british summer’s evening, so we all had on our thermals and took bets on how long the black clouds would take to reach us!  We must buy a wind sock!

Our Chairman, rather bravely I thought, welcomed our friends from westcott and preceeded to explain the evenings round and rules.  We shot an Australian National! The rules? (all made up in the pub with the help of GNAS a far off memory I might add!).  5 zone scoring. 9 for the white, 7 for the black, 5 for the blue etc…4 dozen arrows at 50 yards, then 6 sighters and 2 dozen at 60 yards.  Line cutters took the lowest score. Westcot seemed to take this in their stride and the banter started…
 
I’ve never seen so many arrow in the green!  The confusion of remembering where they were supposed to aim, obviously kept some on the line far longer than normal (mentionning no names of course), and this brought on cries of “Jock, are you trying out for Reading?” and even more shouts for time penalties.  To his credit, Jock did do his trademark ‘Jock Shot’ and put an arrow in a boss 3 down from his own! He then shot and scored 6 arrows in his own target.  This explains the Westcott victory in the recurve section
 
The fish and chip supper was appreciated after the balmy (or do I mean barmy!) hours on the field!
Medals were of the same quality as at SCAS this year. Non-existant! but we did raid the Archery Warehouse for Sue’s secret stash of chocolates.
 
Well done Westcott - you showed great sportsmanship in accepting the round.  As a longbow archer, I was pleased to see sooooo many arrows in the green - from both clubs, and from all disciplines
 
Just one thing Westcott!  I was very lonely on the line without your club mascot for company!  Next time…?

For a change we (Beacon Archers, the QuiverKats and I) had quiet a civilised time with the Bowmen of Burleigh! I’m sure it had nothing to do with my two Uncle Peter’s not being there
 
Uncle Gordon brought his two kittens with him.  They were very good (for humans) until the littlest one started sucking on my foot!  But that wasnt the scariest thing to happen today!  Oh no!  Uncle Phil (you remember him? the one that failed to send the rescue party to Wales a couple of months ago!), he’s started a new tradition… I almost wish my foot was being chewed on again!  Anyway, he’s started kissing me before starting a shoot!  And… he wants the other Beacon Archers to do the same.  ‘It’s for luck’ he says.  That’s the last fathers day card I get that bunch of loonies!
 
I think they did well though? Aunties Ali and Sue shot a silver and gold respectively, Uncle Gordon got a gold (even though he didnt know what round he was shooting), and our fearless leader, Uncle Phil brought home a gold.  Maybe there is something to this kissing lark afterall…
Not that I want to squeal on a new Uncle but… although Uncle Colin was on the leaders board (for a good couple of dozen arrows) as being in the lead for the mens longbow round, it has to be said, that what he was actually using was a recurve! Nice try Colin
 
only one downside:  Auntie Joyce wasnt there to give me my saucer of milk and jaffa cakes at change of distance…
 
Look out Crowthorne here we come.

Having just returned to Edlesborough I was getting settled in when Aunty Joyce told me we were going on another trip to a place called Nottingham where a man called Robin Hood once lived. She told me that Robin Hood was supposed to have been a very good archer. She also told me that Uncle Peter G and Aunty Sue were there and they would tell me all about it when I arrived.

I was really excited because I had never heard of Nottingham or this Robin Hood man.

We arrived at a hotel in Nottingham, which was next to a castle and Uncle Peter met us but he was dressed in funny clothes and when I saw Aunty Sue she was dressed funny as well.

We went to a room and Uncle Peter M and Aunty Joyce also got changed into funny clothes. They told me that these clothes were like the ones that this man Robin Hood would have worn.

We left the room and then went to a gathering where a lot of people all dressed in funny clothes were. They were really nice to me and Aunty Sue said we were all going out to The Tales of Robin Hood, where we going to have a banquet. This is a special meal.

I did hope that it would not take long to get to this place because I was a bit tired after the long journey from Edlesborough. Anyway we walked to this place and it was great. There were about 70 of us altogether and there was music, a jester, a falconer and lots to eat and drink. I had so much fun and met Robin Hood, Hurn the Hunter and lots of Uncle Peter’s and Aunty Sue’s friends.

There was singing and dancing throughout the evening and Aunty Sue and Uncle Peter were always upto different things. Uncle Peter tried to make a balloon dog but he did not do very well.

Aunty Sue was elected as our tables champion for an archery contest and came back victorious. She had to do a silly dance thing and then was given a bottle of wine as her prize. I had so much fun.

I’m so lucky to have been adopted by Beacon Archers and wonder where my next journey will take me. I think I will have to get myself a diary in case I forget where I am going when.

“Long long ago in a county far far away” Hi it’s only me Tango, today I went out with my aunty and uncle. Aunty Joyce she a Ewok and we hope to see some of her family and my uncle Peter he a Jedi knight and his Jedi name is O’P’ Kadoki.

 He said if I’m good I’ll become part of the force, so we rocketed up toplanet MK and saw storm troopers. My uncle said they are the badies and we need to get past them without being seen, but aunty Joyce and I got court

 and taken to Darth Vader who said take them on board a battle cruiser.

I lost sight of my uncle they took us to the bridge, also on board was R2D2 but he had been switch off. But them storm troopers are not to bright and I jump up on R2 and switch him on he fired a electric charge and knocked out all the troopers

 with that my uncle O’P’ kadoki run in with light bow and got us off the ship but there was a gang of troopers outside.

My uncle used the force to float us over them to safety; I can’t wait to go back in September.  MK rocks “may the force be with you!”

After my hectic journey around Wales, I was pleased to learn that I was going on another trip – but a little closer to home.

We went to Avalon in a big wood near Sandy in Bedfordshire where there were over 160 archers shooting at animals.  I was a bit scared that they might try to shoot me so I hid in the car until it was all over. 

Then I went and had a chat with a couple of the animals and shared a drink.  They didn’t seem to mind that they got hit by arrows – but then they are made of rubber – and they are not soft and cuddly like me!

I’m home! Open arms welcomed me back. Hang on a minute, someone’s just mentioned America… Chairman…

Starting to settle in to surroundings, and living off of cream teas and Fish & Chips. But wait! The humans are packing, and are talking of ‘getting a few arrows in before going back to work’. Can this mean we are on our way back to my beloved Edlesborough. As soon as I get a chance I shall be having some very strong words with our chairman re the non-arrival of the rescue party.  I will be proposing an agenda item for the next committee meeting : in case such an occasion arises again, we need to work out an emergency rescue plan.

Was glad to be in restraints today! Lunatic Irishman and girlfriend drove us over the Cambrian Mountains.  They call that a road! Even the sheep had crampons… And what did we do when we got there? Had a cheese and onion sandwich, a bottle of Fanta!!! And drove home again.  Still no sign of rescue party!

Managed to send a message in a bottle to call up rescue party. Hope Beacon Archers can decipher the coded message.  Wait for rescue impatiently!