Archery
[Range Location][Range Rules] [Arrow Vrs Helm]
Training Saturday afternoon 2 - 4pm, weather permitting.
Training Saturday 16 June 2007 Cancel due to family emegency
Next training Saturday 23 June 2007 weather permitting.
What form of Archery and Projectile combat is trained and what do I need to provide?
Bows: Long bows (D sections) and flat, Crossbows (Tiller only), Pole slings, Slings, Axes and Javelins
When you start training with the Phoenix Company, all of your equipment is provided. If you enjoy archery with the Phoenix Company, please obtain a basic costume as soon as possible. Over a period of time you are expected to obtain all your equipment so that other beginners may use the company equipment when they start. A general rule within the Phoenix Company is that company gear is to be shared however beginners have priority use of all company equipment.
In medieval times, the two main reasons for partaking in archery were war and hunting. The archery style of the Phoenix Company portrays this.
War: if faced with a massive French army of horsemen there is a real need for rapid fire; Clout (plunging fire) is required to cheat the protection of a Saxon shield wall.
Hunting: you may only get one shot at a rabbit, which could be the difference between eating and going hungry that night, so accuracy is required.
As with all re-enactment groups the aim of the archery section within the Phoenix Company is to recreate a moment in history, and for this reason a minimum standard of costume has been introduced. This is a minimum standard but there is nothing stopping you improving this basic level of costume, if you wish. All Medieval costume is expected to be able to be referenced back to designs within the company’s time period (1100-1400AD). Patterns for this era are available. If you do the work yourself a costume can cost as little as NZ $20.
Costume requirements:
Tunic
Medieval footwear (bare feet will be fine until you make shoes)
A hat or hood (Sun protection)