| Name: | Murray Elliot |
| E-mail: | murrayelliot@blueyonder.co.uk |
| Newsgroups: | rec.sport.archery, alt.archery |
| Type of user: | I use the sagi board regularly... a great source of info! |
|
| Determination! |
They can be a valuable source of information, but take everything you read with a pinch of salt until you can validate and verify the information contained therein!
There are trolls (people who start arguments just for the hell of it) galore, but ignore them and they *always* go away, or learn their lesson. Eventually. Mostly.
Ooooh gadgets! toys! Yeah! I love playing with new toys, but my budget precludes doing much of that :o(
Currently shooting:
Win&Win NX Xpert / Winex limbs.
8125 string.
ACE 620s + SpinWings + Beiter 2X2L in-out nocks
Tab: Cavalier Elite
Rest: Win & Win magnetic
Clicker: Win & Win & Beiter
Sight: K&K Tigerseye (Cna't get them any more! Shame)
Stabilisers: Win&Win Fomax
Bracer: Beiter.
Lots of other "junk"
Joined Cupar Bowmen around 1990 after popping balloons at a local Game Fair. I was HOOKED!
Spent a couple of years just messing around really. First bow was a korean wooden takedown. Next one was a Border Comet (yet another wooden takedown). Neither of which could be tuned to any degree. Was fairly successful with that kit at local club events. Developed clicker panic!
Gave up archery for about a year and a half in 1995 and returned in 1997. During this time I'd developed fairly severe target panic! Went back to basics (even did a beginner's course) and conquered the target panic.
Decided to get serious in 1998. Reaching 90m with the Comet and ali's was errrmmm... challenging! So, I bought the Stylist, and never looked back, p.b.s went up at an alarming rate - much to my amazement. Went from 890 FITA in 1998 to 1142 in 1999. Pushed my Portsmouth p.b. up to 576. Learned LOTS of things, met lots of people - 1999 was the most interesting year so far! Was also invited to join the Eastern Area Squad that year - which I accepted immediately!
2000 was a very hard and disappointing year. My form went out the window, and my confidence fell to near zero. So I spent the year chasing my averages from the previous year, setting no new pbs. Arthritis has meant I cannot shoot as often as before (especially in my drawing hand). Considered going to a trainer bow (one with wheels), but decided against it for now.
I worked hard on my form from the end of the outdoor season 2000 until the start of the next - keeping shoulder down, head still, deep anchor, continuous movement, etc etc. Scores plummeted but I started to regain confidence and enjoy my shooting again.
Start 2001: my scores are back to where they should be, my draw is over an inch LONGER and I'm getting better groups... but more importantly, I'm enjoying my shooting, and that's why we do it.
Mid-2002: just won the East of Scotland Champs, won Lasswade Albion, won Banchory FITA (AND shot a 1210 into the bargain)... Working hard on reversals, and shooting whenever I can.
End-2002: Ranked #1 East of Scotland gents recurve. Invited to join the Scottish Squad. Gobsmacked.
Since then I've been on Scottish senior squad and development squad each year. Scores go up and down, mainly due to psychological issues. Considering I almost had to quit in 2000 though, I'm doing ok!
2007 invited to GB Paralympic Development squad - here's hoping for great things to come.
Lots of thoughts! Mostly covered in the archer's reference at www.archersreference.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk (sorry - no room for this in the links section below!)
Remember... we do archery because we ENJOY it.
