My Story
I tried archery when I was 5, but I was too young to really enjoy it. Then I never thought of it again.
Fast forward to August 2025 and an advert for a beginners' course at a local archery club, South Moorlands Archery Club. Clear instruction and guidance from the coaches using their club bows and arrows meant I really liked it. Six weeks later, after passing the beginners' course, I started going once a week and seemed to be doing OK.
I didn't start archery knowing where it would take me. At first, it was simply about learning to shoot a bow and trying to hit the target.
Then I started competing. And winning! I wanted to get better, the competitions became bigger, and I started setting goals. Suddenly, I found myself becoming part of the Archery GB National Talent Development Programme, representing my county and then the West Midlands, and competing nationally — all within my first year!
I'm still only at the beginning of the journey, but I want to find out how far I can go.
What archery has given me
There's more to archery than hitting the target! Select each skill below to discover what I've learned along the way. 🏹
When I first started archery, I didn't really know what to expect. I was just learning how to hold a bow, aim and hopefully get my arrows somewhere near the middle of the target!
As I've improved, I've become more confident in what I can do. I've gone from shooting at my local club to competing at bigger events, meeting new people and taking part in the Archery GB National Talent Development Programme. Things I wouldn't even have imagined when I started.
But confidence isn't just about winning or shooting good scores. It's also about being brave enough to try something new, asking questions when I don't understand, and believing I can improve even when things don't go to plan.
I still get nervous sometimes, especially when I'm trying something for the first time. But I've learned that being confident doesn't mean knowing you'll succeed. Sometimes it just means being willing to give it a go!
Archery has bought many people into my life. From the friendly club members, to the supportive club coaches, to the competition competitors who have become more like one big friendship group. Working with the fantastic Archery GB coaches with their knowledge, patience and gentle guidance, and having an opportunity to mix with elite athletes and just chat about crochet, cello and of course archery! It is a fantastic, welcoming community.
Training has taught me so much about practice and patience. I also do karate and both work together so well, breathing techniques, stances, repetition, body posture and responding to feedback. The early mornings for competitions, shooting in the rain, equipment care all support self dicipline.
I know I'm only 13 and I've got a lot still to learn. I'm not expecting to be the best archer in the world today! I just want to keep improving, keep competing and see how far I can take my archery, just one arrow at a time. Archery helps me believe in myself. I can do hard things, I can improve. The next arrow can be better than the previous one.
Talking to lots of different people, different ages, backgrounds, and levels of skills. I act as an ambassador for my club and see myself as an ambassador for archery. Safety aspects also mean you are always watching out for each other.
Strength: Drawing my bow regularly has helped me develop strength in my arms, shoulders, back and core. I didn't realise quite how physical archery could be when I first started!
Balance and Stability: I've learned how important it is to stand steadily and keep my body in the right position. Even small movements can make a difference to where my arrows land.
Hand–Eye Coordination: Archery has helped me improve my coordination and control. Getting everything working together, from aiming to releasing the string, takes a lot more practice than it looks!
Focus: I've learned to concentrate on what I'm doing and block out distractions, especially when I'm preparing to shoot.
Patience: Some days things don't go to plan, and I've learned that improving takes time.
Emotional Control: If I shoot a bad arrow, I can't change it. I have to reset and focus on the next one.
Goal Setting: I enjoy having something to work towards, whether that's a new personal best, improving my technique or learning a new skill.