Colchester And District Archery Club 1954 - 1994
Page 8 : A Fist Full Of FITA's
In 1986 at our West Bergholt field course there was much tramping through the bracken on a permanent course. Unfortunately on the sudden death of the owner, who had shot with us a little, the land was sold when there was a time when it was promised as a gift. The club ceased to use it which was a sad loss to those who supported it well. It was in this 40th year that Ron Sharpe, again chairman, suggested a new look at a negative policy to words “have-a go’s”. Members went to the annual Dunster week dressing up for the long bow shoot. Annual dinners carried on with Roger Aschams 16th century grace preceding the meal.
The ’87 FITA had as Lady Paramount Alison Wakeham, wife of Colchester South MP, now Lady Wakeham. She was pregnant at the time but “had a go” with her adopted son. The tournament produced a national record from Pauline Edwards 1282. Barbara Knight and Ivy David shot as MBs but suffered stress worrying how the hosting arrangements were going on. In 1988 then Mayoress Jill Bober, LP, not well, presented awards seated. An Israeli archer shot. An archery display was put on in the public library. Compound national records were also broken at Colchester. Roger Fleury was organiser using a computer programme designed by former member Peter Bladerstone. At Severalls Hospital social club a successful presentation party marked the move of Doug and Ivy David to their native Wales, a loss to the club and Essex archery to which they made an always remembered contribution. Their names were added to the club’s honorary membership. In terms of club awards, emulating the county’s red tassel for meritorious service to Essex archery, Colchester had a small tassel presented for sustained service to Colchester archery.
One hiccup with the ’88 FITA was a double booking by the rugby club and the archers had the experience of being watched by a bride on the balcony with a champagne glass. The club continued to be represented widely at tournaments. A council grant was obtained for a metal container for our many FITA targets. The county set up a fighting fund to fight a legal battle in which it was involved and the club donated £100 which was subsequently returned when the case resolved to the advantage of the county who received much of its legal costs. The well known early in the year indoor tournament, the North East Essex Federation of Archery Clubs – NEEFAC – (although no such organisation exists) used a Worcester round for its shoot and it was surprising how archers felt the strain of shooting five arrows an end. It was initiated by Robin Frost and Tommy Hodder following an indoor championship dispute at county level. It has carried on ever since and Robin has always judged, mostly with Alan Jones.
The Anglia Holiday Club of parents with youngsters returned from school, called on the club for an archery coaching session as part of their offspring. A donation was always forthcoming. Bill Tucker was called by GNAS to steer the PR for the ’89 Euro Junior Championships. Barbara Knight went along to help man the tent and ended up playing a vital role with hand-produced scores when the computer broke down. Essex was represented further with Colin Wooff’s plastic rain-proofed leader board. Bill had already for months being doing PR, leaflets sent to FITA countries abroad.
As is customary an appeal went out to regions and clubs for gift of awards and Colchester, with useful links, secured a cut glass bowl the most attractive award at the prize giving which Bill handed over to the young French boy champion Sebastian Flute. The prizes were on display and ours advertised the club as the Colchester bowl.
With apartheid ended as this memory is recorded, it is interesting to note that when Bill as PRO contacted the Daily Mail they said they were not interested in archery. The next Sunday a traditional postal shoot with Natal had to be abandoned by Britain because it could have jeopardised the Commonwealth Games. The Daily Mail became interested in archery.
Barbara Knight and Ron Sharp did well with their shooting at Dunster and in a relatively short time from taking up the sport Barbara did exceptionally well at a FITA Star since she has projected the club’s name at many major meetings up and down the country plus, in the last decade frequently putting her name on the county’s championship board. Costs for every thing were rising. In ’90 £1,717 was spent by the club on new FITA bosses a major investment from FITA profits. Neil Minter won the “Mary Rose” trophy at Dunster.
Mens line 1990 FITA. 1993 event was an even longer line.
from the Bill Tucker Collection
The club was organising more than half-a-dozen tournaments a year and it was decided to have tournament sub-committee of the various organisers. Roger Fleury who had been FITA organiser resigned and the future was murky in terms of the computer operations and Simon Reed, with help from Peter and the others developed a programme system which allowed the FITAs to continue. Colchester has always been grateful for the many sleepless nights Simon suffered for the club, and his wife also is not forgotten in this appreciation.
The club now sees the need for computer back-up. In all the other operations of a major tournament operation the members have been unequalled. There are more technical and admin problems with archery than with any other sport which puts membership talent and dedication to the test. In 1991 the club won against the rifles, and also held a B-B-Que. Club representatives attended the 40th anniversary dinner of the Essex Association held at Brentwood. An offbeat incident concerned a court case. Buying a large number of targets means collecting them and two members faced a court case for inadvertently overloading a lorry. Whatever fine it was the club rightly paid it. The Vegas round, via Vic, was experimented with in December for indoor shooting. Barbara achieved a county record. Seventy bosses were planned for the ’93 FITA, our largest tournament to-date. The high number was more of an added burden for the field party which Ron Sharp steered to record times in target moving. However later it was decided for ’94 the extra minutes saved would not be worth the stress and, as subsequently found out, too much cutting time, especially with meal breaks, added to the pressures of the computer people. Social occasions are good for any club and Lynette Fisher helped with fun shoots. In terms of club championships instead of one overall award for all the disciplines (which took time equating field with clout and target) it was decided to give championship awards for each discipline directly after the tournament. In 1993 the target hut vandalised. “Robin Hood” equipment attracts youngsters which is the reason the archery club never identified itself at the main road entrance to the borough’s ground, as did the rugby club.
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