Welcome to the White Mark Bowmen website.

White Mark Bowmen, based in the High Wycombe area, is one of the the largest field archery clubs affiliated to the English Field Archery Association which itself is affiliated to the International Field Archery Association. We are also registered with the National Field Archery Society.

This site will tell you all about our club organisation and includes a course guide and a detailed layout of our archery range. There is an online magazine and a picture gallery. In the members area, club members may log in to gain access to extra site features like uploading photos to the gallery and posting messages. You will also find information about joining White Mark Bowmen.

We hope the site will enable the members of the club to keep in touch with the committee and each other in between the monthly shoots and, perhaps, persuade others to consider joining.

What is Field Archery?

Field Archery is an all-weather sport in which people of all ages may practice and enjoy the ancient skill of archery either in competition or just for fun. Small groups of archers set out to shoot a series of targets, called a round, laid out in the natural terrain of the countryside. Each target presents a new challenge, being a different size, shot at a different distance, and situated in a different setting. After all the archers in the group have shot the required number of arrows at the target, they make their way up to it to tot up their scores and retrieve their arrows, then move on to the next target whilst taking in the beauty and ambience of their surroundings as they go.

So Field Archery is very different from Target Archery in which a long line of archers shoot repeatedly at a correspondingly long line of identical targets set out on a flat and often featureless shooting ground. Nevertheless, Target Archery does provide an ideal environment in which to develop and maintain the techniques and disciplines required to be a successful archer.

Under IFAA rules a round normally consists of 28 targets or, optionally, twice around fourteen. The rules define a number of types of round, specifying the style, distance, and size of the targets, and also the number of arrows to be shot and how they are scored. Targets may be paper roundals or images affixed to foam butts, or they may be moulded foam 3D shapes. Some of the rounds are described in the Features section of our Magazine. IFAA rules allow archers a choice of bow styles, ranging from the traditional English Longbow to the modern, high-tech compound bows with sights and and other aids.

Want to try Field Archery?

White Mark Bowmen run Have-a-Go sessions and Beginners' Courses. Have a go sessions are run on selected Saturdays throughout the year. Dates for 2013 may be found in the shoot calendar. All are welcome including children over 7 years old accompanied by an adult. All equipment is provided and tuition is given by qualified instructors. The have-a-go days have proved to be very popular so places must be reserved through the secretary. Beginners' Courses are arranged with the Lead Instructor: instructors@whitemarkbowmen.co.uk.

See the Have a go page for full details and Club Location for directions to the club.

Recent uploads

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May 5th Barry bemused!

May 5th What was in his drink?

May 5th MNF - Wild Boar