Village Squire, 1979-01, Page 17SPORTS
Ken and Carol Adams show some of the hardware they have collected in t..o ears of
provincial, national and international competition in bare bow archery. -Photo by Elaine
Townshend.
Peter and Elaine Steer of Lucknow haven't found so much time to practice their hobby since
moving back to their home town to start a business. --Photo by Elaine Townshend.
14 Village Squire, January 1979
Lucknow archers
collect 150 trophies
in 2 years
BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
A Lucknow foursome. Peter and Elaine
Steer and Ken and Carol Adams, won more
than 150 trophies in two years in organized
archery competitions in Canada and the
United States. Carol held the Canadian
Indoor and Outdoor Barebow Champion-
ship and the Ontario Outdoor Barebow
Championship in the women's division
several times. Peter was Canadian Outdoor
and Ontario Indoor Barebow Champion in
the men's division in 1977. and Ken took
over in March 1978.
They became interested in archery in
different ways. Peter enjoyed hunting but
wanted a more challenging form of hunting
than with a gun.
"An arrow is just as deadly as a gun."
he explains. "but the hunter has to be a
'bettersneak' the ideal range is five feet."
Ken was introduced to archery by his
nextdoor neighbour in London. and one of
his goals was reached. when he was finally
able to beat his neighbour in a competition.
Elaine and Carol decided that participating
was more fun than just watching their
husbands. The two couples met at a
competition at Byron. and for the next two
years, they travelled together almost every
weekend to competitions around Ontario
and in the U.S. They usually camped out
and took Peter and Elaine's two children
with them.
"We had a lot of fun," they all agree,
even though they recall shooting in rain
and snow. Ken quips, "I've shot some of
my best scores in the rain."
Possible total points in a competition are
600. Ken and Peter consistently shot above
500, while Carol and Elaine shot from 300
to 400 and sometimes higher. Obviously
skill, hard work and top equipment were
involved as well as fun.
During the week, they practiced for two
hours every day. They estimate the value
of their equipment at $3.000 to $4,000
each. A precision barebow costs a
minimum of $300, and a dozen arrows sells
for $50. The investment of an archer,
_including equipment, travel and competi-
tion entrance fees, is about equal to that of
an ardent golfer.
Japan has the best manufacturers of
archery equipment; the United States is
second. The Lucknow archers are willing to
give advice to any beginner contemplating
the purchase of equipment. Although