Beginners

Four week beginners' courses are offered throughout the year; we aim to hold eight to ten courses each year with up to twelve beginners on each. The courses are supervised and taught by a minimum of two coaches drawn from our coaching team of Grand National Archery Society trained and qualified coaches. We endeavour to ensure that there is a ratio of at least one instructor for every 3 or 4 beginners at every lesson and these instructors are normally qualified coaches or coaches-in-training under the supervision of more senior coaches.

Lessons are always held out of doors on Saturday mornings, starting at 10.30 at our field adjacent to Stoneham Lane. They last two hours (although the first lesson is normally a little longer because of the time taken to issue equipment). The club provides all the archery equipment you will require: we strongly recommend that you do not purchase any archery equipment until after the course.

At the successful conclusion of your beginner's course you will be invited to apply to join the club and the GNAS. Membership of the GNAS provides you with ongoing liability insurance: an essential requirement if you wish to shoot. You are not permitted to shoot at any venue, including the club ground, if you do not have GNAS membership. Unlike full club members, beginners are only insured to shoot during their lessons and while supervised.

The Club's teaching equipment is made available those who have just completed a beginner's course, until they have obtained suitable equipment of their own, from about 12.45 until 15.00 on Saturday afternoons if a coach is available to supervise. Dates when the equipment may be available are listed on the Calendar of Events under "Improvers". These dates may change at relatively short notice and we cannot guarantee that a coach will be available. Advice on suitable equipment for the individual archer to purchase will be provided by the coaches during these sessions.

Once you have your own equipment you will find that help and advice is readily available from other club members and the coaching team is more than willing to assist with ad-hoc coaching. Formal ongoing coaching for individuals or groups can be arranged on request and see the coaching pages for the dates of pre-arranged open coaching sessions.

Please note that juniors (those under 18) must be accompanied by a parent or designated guardian while at any of our venues.

For further information on beginners' courses and to arrange a place on a course, please contact Adam Darbyshire on 07751 010023 or send an email enquiry.

We can can provide an A5 gift certificate such as this should you wish to purchase a course for someone as a gift.

Kate is rightly proud of her groups of arrows in the gold at the end of her beginner's course.