Isn't it strange that people still do Archery today?

By Mark Hudson

As a sport that started out as a prehistoric hunting technique, evolved into sophisticated military weapons and finally developed into an Olympic sport as well as a widely enjoyed hobby- how has it managed to keep us coming back to the bow after millennia? What is so fascinating about this beautiful instrument from our past?

the romantic association

The fundamentals of Archery are as recognisable today as they were in medieval times-

when key developments were made and the Longbow was first introduced. This bow is probably still that most recognisable, as it's iconography was immortalised in medieval tapestries and romanticised by stories such as 'Robin Hood', or in later works of fiction like 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings'. Because of this association with whimsical old tales and wondrous lands- perhaps it has wormed its way into our hearts based on our inherent desire to escape the normality of every day life. I mean, if you are choosing a sport, why not choose the one that makes you feel brave and fantastical?

Whist the Longbow is still popular and widely used, technical innovation and introduction of modern materials, over the years, has elevated archery into a very modern and popular sport. Diversifying into bows such as the Recurve and Compound. These iterations of bows also have their own associations, for example for a lot of girls will recognise the Recurve bow as the one Katniss Everdeen uses in 'The Hunger Games' franchise- the stong image created by the character and her resourceful, tough and rebellious nature instantly made her an icon among young girls. In fact, the release of the first Hunger Games film adaptation saw a phenomenal increase of girls getting into archery! I believe this proves that representation is everything, and can invite a whole new demographic to try a sport they probably wouldn't have even thought of before. The newer bows, striving to be more powerful or faster than the traditional Longbow, are depicted in a way that is more cool, strong and edgy- leading to many young people wanting to pursue archery as a way of feeling strong and empowered.

Nostalgia & Connections

My first experience of archery was as a child, with my father, in the 1960's. Norman Hudson was a regular archer and competed in many shoots throughout his life, I look back with fondness on watching him shoot at the field near my childhood home. For me, doing archery gives me a way to feel closer to and remember my dad- it also gives me nostalgia for my youth and brings me so much joy. It also brought me closer to my daughter, I started archery with her as part of her DofE bronze award and it was one of the best decisions I've made. Archery can really bring people together- the community is so warm and welcoming that you feel right at home with the people you shoot with, and since archery can be taken up by anyone of almost any age, it is a sport that bridges generations and is enjoyed by club members aged over 60 to under 16. It certainly bridged the generations of my family and I hope others experience the love my family has for this ancient and incredible sport.

Left- My father, Norman Hudson at an Archery meet in the 1960's. Right- My daughter, Imi Hudson at her first archery class in 2017

Conclusion

In conclusion, I suppose it's not too strange that people are still drawn to the sport- it may be millions of years old but it is certainly not showing it's age. Archery continues to be a sport that captures the imagination of young people and creates a sense of connection to the past and our ancestors for older archers. Being a sport of grace, precision and power it is impossible not to be enchanted and empowered by the experience of shooting for the first time, it is truly timeless, and has a thriving community of enthusiastic archers keeping it alive so the next generation may share in the magic of archery. It's not just in this country either, across the world archery is a well respected sport being represented at the Olympics, has a World Championship as well as more local competitions such as the County and National competitions. It also has a devision at the London Youth Games. So however you shoot, be it a recurve or compound, traditional or modern, beginner or master bowman, take pride in knowing that you are part of a long lineage of archers which will continue to grow as more are inspired to take up a bow.