About the Bowmen of Danesfield
In West Somerset, the archery club the Bowmen of Danesfield has a long tradition going back over 20 years. For us, it’s not all about serious training: we love it when our teams or archers win, but we’re just as enthusiastic about our groups that simply meet for fun.
We don’t differentiate between our members. Anyone is welcome to join us. Our coaches are team members just like anyone else and will be happy to discuss all aspects of what we offer.
We’re always happy to welcome new members who are interested in joining in with club activities, helping us organise and being part of our community.
We meet several times a week, at our base of Danesfield School, Williton. The school has offered fantastic support in our activities since the beginnings of the club.
During the Summer months, we shoot outside on Danesfield Middle School Playing field and inside during the Winter.
We often get asked can you tell me more about the Bowmen of Danesfield. The club is a member of Archery GB’s On- Target programme and strives through coaching to advance your archery skills for your enjoyment of the sport.
The Bowmen of Danesfield is a place where we participate in the sport of archery but it is much more than that it is also about, our social activities, about developing together, it is about losing and winning together and being part of an active community.
Archery is a sport with a long tradition, especially in Somerset where the oldest Bow in England was discovered. It is known as the Meare Heath Bow and dates back to approximately 2700 BC.
The archery club has held the Somerset Interclub championships where a hundred archers took part in the competition and has had archers go on to take part in the Olympics.
Which Bow Are You
The bow comes in four main types Long Bow, Bare Bow, Recurve and Compound and at the club, our archers generally have a preference for one type.
The traditional Long Bow used for centuries by the archers of England.
Perhaps you would prefer to shoot a Bare-Bow. This is usually a recurve bow but without all the technical attachments.
You might like to get a bit more technical with a Recurve Bow which comes with sights.
For those of you who like to take the technical bit to new heights you might choose to shoot a Compound Bow.
Archery GB
We are full and active members of the national governing body The Grand National Archery Society – known as Archery GB The senior Club no: is 1484 and the junior Club No: is 1491.
We are part of the OnTarget Programme this is designed to encourage club development.
Grand Western Archery Society
Each region of the UK has a regional organisation and in the South West of England comprising the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, it is the Grand Western Archery Society.Somerset County Archery Association
The county of Somerset has a very special place in the regions archery being the first to set up its own county archery society in 1950.
It also is the home of the Grand Western Archery Meeting held annually each year at Dunster Castle where hundreds of archers from home and overseas compete over seven days.
You can find out more about the Bowmen of Danesfield by taking part in one of our beginners’ courses or by joining us if you are already a trained archer.