Nov 15
The Papago Park Robin Hood Archry Tournament ( Phoenix, Arizona) was held November 15, ‘08. I shot very poorly, some 60 points lower than a shoot I shot last month on the same type of round. It was a 900 American Round (60, 50, & 40 yards - 30 arrows at each distance). The wind was terrible. My guess is there were gusts over 25 mph. I had a very difficult time with this, as the release I shoot is very slow back tension and I can not touch it off (That’s the reason I shoot it, so that I don’t touch it off). On my way home from the shoot I stopped at Mile High Archery in Humbolt, Arizona (Dave Stepp) and traded one of my releases for one that I can touch off as I’m blown across the center of a target. I plan to get used to it and use it on windy days. The wind died down significantly by the third round (40 yards) and I shot reasonably well, but too late. I briefly met Stewart Bowman who owns a full service pro shop (Desert Archery) in Kingman, Arizona. Stewart makes the Bowman Bow. He has incorporated some really great ideas, e.g. a shoot through harness, a no torque handle (which is a built-in overdraw), centering the handle between the limb pivot bolts, etceteras. I had the pleasure of shooting with one of his shooters (Bob). Bob is an excellent archer and shot very well for the conditions. Several other shooters shot very well, including Stewart. Here are a few pics I took near the end of the shoot. Simply click on a picture to enlarge it.
Oct 20
The games started in 1987 and are held each year in Saint George, Utah. This was really an awesome experience. I met so many really neat people. There were a lot to meet, i.e. 9,701 athletes as well as friends, relatives, coaches, and spectators competing in 25 different sports. Since their beginning there have been participants from 58 different countries that have participated. At the games this year there were participants from 24 different countries and all 50 states.
I competed in Target Archery and Field Archery. Each event lasted for two days. In the Target Archery we shot a 900 American Round. In this round one shoots 30 arrows from 60, 50, and 40 yards each, with a perfect score being 900. My personal goal was to shoot over 950 each day. I did not attain my goal, as I shot 942 and 943 for a total of 1685. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this was enough to win the gold medal in my age group, 65-69 years. I had the third highest score overall. Bob Park, my shooting partner, is pictured with me. Bob won the Gold Medal for the 80+ year old division in Target Archery.
In the Field Archery event we shot a 28 target Field Round. This is where we walk around an up and downhill course and shoot four arrows at each target. I was very pleased with this round and scored 489 out of 560 (500 would have been very nice, for me). At the end of the first day I had a 5 point lead over my closest competitor. On the second day of this event we shot twenty 3-D animal targets. I do not shoot very well on this type of a round, and shot quite poorly. As it turned out my closest competitor (Ruel) had a terrible day and I won by 20 points and received the gold medal. Neither one of us were very pleased with our scores. In the Target Archery event Ruel had received the bronze. What I haven’t told you is that he was on crutches for all four days of the two events. He had had his ankle operated on. He is an excellent archery and I wonder how he’d have done had he been completely healthy.
This was the first year for Archery, so the number of shooters was small, with only one other country represented (Canada). This year went very well, so the Archery Event will be publicized in other countries by the Huntsman Publicity Committee.
Again, this was a wonderful experience and most everyone I had contact with was great.
Sep 28
Last year I participated in the Prescott Senior Olympic Games. It was a lot of fun to participate with other geriatrics (must be at least 50 years old). I entered Table Tennis Singles and Doubles, as well as Archery Compound (sight & release) and Traditional (no sight, no release, and no compound).
This year I will participate in the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. I’ve entered Table Tennis Singles and Doubles. I also entered Archery Target (30 arrows from 60/50/40 yards each), Archery Field Animal (walk round a course & shoot paper animal targets at marked distances), and Archery 3-D (walk around a course & shoot 3-dimensional animal targets at unmarked distances). The archery events will be over four days, as the Table Tennis events are over four days. I am now 65 years old and will participate in the 65-69 age bracket in the archery events. In Table Tennis, since I am what is called a rated player (doesn’t mean I’m good, just rated), I may find myself matched with some kid of only 50!!! Hardly seems fair, does it!
I’m really looking forward to these games. Last year there were 9,503 participants from 53 countries that participated in some 25 events. The events cover a wide spectrum of sports, e.g. Badminton, Basketball Bowling, Golf, Cycling, Cowboy Action Shooting, Softball, Racquetball, Swimming, Track & Field, Cycling, etceteras. The expectation for this year is for more than 11,000 participants from more than 60 countries. I will definitely be taking my camera and taking lots of pictures.
