Winter Combinations
In its earlier years, Green Hollow Bowmen used to find the incentive to get out in the field on baltic winter days by entering teams for the BLBS Postal Portsmouth Competiton. This was fun for a while, but a Portsmouth round is very short-range – only twenty yards – and eventually it was felt that rounds which involved a bit more walking might be a good idea so as to avoid hypothermia setting in. Mugdock’s not the warmest place in winter, after all, though still unfailingly pretty, especially when it snows. Hence, the Winter Combinations were dreamt up.
The name of the competition doesn't just refer to the cosy under-garments which are de rigeur for winter shooting outdoors. The competition consists of a combination of shooting styles and skills – in this case target and clout.
A Western target round and a Double Clout round are shot each month from October (“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...” – Keats) through to February (“Brrrrr!” – Green Hollow Bowmen). Members can shoot as many or as few times as they like, with their best two of each kind of round counting towards the final result.
All sounds a bit chilly? Hah! We longbowmen are hardy people. Besides, when it comes to a Sunday afternoon in darkest January, shooting in our Combinations in blizzard conditions sure beats sitting indoors by the fireside with a hot cup of tea to hand and a good movie on the telly. Well, actually, it doesn’t, but what the heck...
Johnny models the new official club winter kit
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