Centaura Field Bowmen
One big Family, For all the Family
Welcome to
Centaura Field Bowmen
Please take a moment to sign the Guestbook.
News of the Centaura site is spreading around the world,
so please include club name and country.
We like to hear what visitors think.
Our next event is...
Sunday 7th September 2008
N.F.A.S. Pre-Champs
Big Game Open Shoot
Admin Closed 10:15 On Peg 10:30 with luck
Hot Food & Drinks Available
All Classes Welcome
45min Dinner
Pre-Book by phone to Janet & Peter
on 01332 760971 or 07989 190143 at weekends
Future events...
Friday 26th December 2008
Centaura Breast Cancer Charity
Boxing Day Open Shoot
36 Target Big Game Course
Hot Drinks, Soup & Cobs Available
Shoot Through
All Classes Welcome
Pre-Book In December by phone to Janet & Peter
on 01332 760971 or 07989 190143 at weekends
Congratulations to our medal winners @
Forest of Arden's shoot 20/07/08
Team Centaura at the 3D Champs 2008
What is Centaura?
Centaura is a N.F.A.S. Governed Field Archery club and has been around, in one form or another for about 30 years, with Peter and Janet Bates always at the helm.
Field Archery? What is it?
First find a wood and then place some targets in it (they can be foam lifelike animals,
paper targets or even handmade original works of art)
and then invite people from your club, and other clubs to shoot at them.
But you know there is more to it than that, right?
Field archery is regulated by a governing body known as the N.F.A.S. (more information available on our Links page) and is very simliar to hunting with a bow and arrow, as they did in times gone by, but with 2 notable differences;
1. No animal is hunted, as hunting with a bow is ILLEGAL IN THE UK, and not very nice anyway, so we shoot at paper ones instead.
2. The route is strictly and SAFELY controlled and very similar to a round of golf, moving from peg to target to peg, etc in a links format. All targets are designed to protect missed shots overshooting, by placing in a low embankment/gully or with large backstops made of archery netting or similar stopping material. Training is monitored to establish accuracy within a given range, and then gradually opening this up to a course standard maximum yardage.
The Facilities
- A six and a half acre sycamore wood located at Aston-on-Trent, within easy reach from the M1 J24, A50 & A6.
- A full 38 shot undulating terrain course, well laid out from Peter's vast knowledge and experience, to test the best of archers and offer achievement to novices.
- Clubhouse with refreshments & simple outdoor toilets.
- A covered all-weather 22 yard practice range
- A measured bow sight calibration range of up to 80 yards.
- Off road parking for in excess of 20 vehicles.
Anyone interested will be assured a fine welcome and invited to try their hand with club equipment to suit all ages/sexes and abilities.
For ٠.50 per person per session you will be insured to shoot at the club whilst training in archery basics, under supervision, for 4 weeks max.
After 4 weeks you will be asked if you would like to join the club, if you decide to join you will be charged 㾶.00 Adult ٣.00 Junior (U16) or 㿀.00 Family (2 Adults & 2 Junior) also the club rules state that it is required that you join the UK Field Archery governing body know as 'National Field Archery Society' (N.F.A.S.) This will be an additional charge of 㾻.00 Adult ٥.00 Junior (U16) 㿊.00 Family (2 Adults & 2 Junior). It may seem expensive but it means that you will be insured to shoot at any organised N.F.A.S. event, and shoots all around the country.
Additionally; on Fridays (in the winter) there is an indoor gathering at Rykneld Activity Centre between 7.00pm and 9.00pm for ٠.50/per person, usually a time for technique adjustments/practise and socialising.
The Training
Peter will personally train all individuals, interspersed with his own stories/experiences to keep you entertained for hours, in the standard training bow, the Recurve.
Once your technique has been established and you wish to further your enjoyment, you could join the club and decide to try some of the different types of bows in archery.
You may wish to adopt the Longbow as a historical favourite or the ever popular Compound bow, or continue on with the Olympian choice, the Recurve, American Flat Bow (A.F.B.) or even a Mongolian Grassland Bow to name but a few.
Peter also holds training days on a saturday in the clubhouse, generally upon request the week before, just recently he showed us how to make bow strings, and wooden arrows.
The Safety
The first thing on everyones mind when you think of archery is SAFETY, and here at Centaura is no exception. You will be mentored in the art by Peter who is a qualified coach recognised by the NFAS and one of the longest running coaches who knows all there is to know about archery, both he and all the other established archers will be on hand at all times to help you appreciate the potential dangers and rules governing the safety of us all. This is a growing sport and one all the family can enjoy and take part in.
