Welcome to the Bristol Bowmen and Golden Phoenix Archers' web site. We hope that you will find the site informative and useful.

Bristol Bowmen was founded in 1961. During our first year we had 21 adult gentlemen, 12 adult ladies, 21 junior gentlemen and 1 junior lady members. Our longest serving current members, Clive Wilkins and Ian Lassman joined in the 91/92 and 92/93 seasons respectively.

Over the years we have had several bases. From the mid 70s until the late 80s we shot outdoors at Harvey's Sports Field in Whitchurch village, followed by a very brief spell at the Imperial sports ground but have been at our current venue, Keynsham Rugby Football Club, ever since. Over the same time our indoor venues have been, The Crypt on Coronation Road, Bedminster, Whitchurch Sports Centre and lastly, Brislington Enterprise College.

In the autumn of 2006 Golden Phoenix Archers was founded to cater specifically for people with disabilities. Although the two clubs are separate, we share many officers and shoot together as one club. Having a separate club for people with disabilities allows us to access extra help and support where needed.

For further details please contact the Secretary, Sheena McCullagh by email or on 0117 9494468 or 07974 694320 (mobile).

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The object of Bristol Bowmen and Golden Phoenix Archers is to actively promote and encourage the sport of archery.

We aim to ensure that participation in the sport and membership of the club will be open to all regardless of gender, disability or race.

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Outdoor

We can shoot during the week at any time at the wish of the members. For details of how to find us, please see our location page.

As we share a site with a thriving rugby club, weekend shooting can only take place when they are not using the ground. In winter this means we shoot on Sunday afternoons only, but during their closed season, unless there is an 'event', we are free to shoot when we want.

In addition, we have the following specific sessions:

• Wednesday - September to April - 1.00 pm meet for 1.30 pm shoot.
• Wednesday - May to August - 4.30 pm to dusk.
• Thursday - May to August - 6.30 pm to dusk.
• Friday - All year - 1.00 pm meet for 1.30 pm shoot.
• Saturday - September to April - No shooting (rugby season).
• Saturday - May to August 1.00 pm meet for 1.30 pm shoot. (See above paragraph about 'events'.)
• Sunday - September to April - 1.00 pm meet for 1.30 pm shoot.
• Sunday - May to August - 1.00 pm for all beginners and any club member who wishes. There is an additional start time of 2.00 pm for club members only. Please make sure that you arrive at one of the start times. We don't want to have to keep stopping the line to set up additional targets.

Special shoots

• Boxing day - 1.00 pm meet for 1.30 pm shoot.
• New Year's day - 1.00 pm meet for 1.30 pm shoot.

It will be very cold on both of those days, so we will have hot food of some description during the shoots. Turkey stew anyone?

NB Grand National Archery Society (GNAS) safety criteria must be met at all times.

Indoor

Our indoor season has now finished.

The gym where we have been shooting for the last few years is being demolished, so in October 2008 we will be starting at a new indoor venue, The Park, Daventry Road, Knowle West. More details, including a map link, will be added later in the year.

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Please note - At the committee meeting on Thursday 17 April 2008 we discussed changing the way the indoor shooting is funded. The final decision will be put to a full club vote at the AGM in September.

Due to the GNAS granting an 'extended period' each year, ie for anyone joining between 1 May and 30 September their membership runs until 30 September the following year rather than 30 September in the year they joined. Therefore, whatever the final decision at the AGM, it will be back dated to 1 May 2008. To this end, anyone joining after that date will have to sign a form stating that they agree to pay any additional money by 1 October 2008.

The three options being put forward to the AGM are:

• Leave the membership fees as they are, ie £60.00 per club for adults and £30.00 for juniors and continue paying the indoor fees as they were for last season - £5.00 for adults, £2.50 for juniors and £3.00 per person for two or more members of the same family (definition of ‘family’ to be decided upon).
• Increase the membership fees by £10.00 per adult and £5.00 per junior and reduce the indoor fees to £2.50 per adult and £1.50 per child, no reduction for ‘families’. Guests to pay the same rate as 07/08.
• Increase the membership fees by £20.00 per adult and £10.00 per junior and remove the boss fee across the board. Guests to pay the same rate as 07/08. End note.

After completing the beginners' course, everyone must, if they wish to continue shooting, join the club.

In line with the sport's governing body, the Grand National Archery Society (GNAS), membership runs from 1 October to 30 September each year. The fees are currently:

• Adults - Bristol Bowmen - £106.00.
• Adults - Golden Phoenix Archers - £60.00.
• Juniors (under 18 years of age) - both clubs - £30.00.
• Families - At least one adult and one child from the same family - £5.00 reduction in the Junior fee.

Please note, the reason that the adult fee for Bristol Bowmen is higher than for Golden Phoenix is because members of a disabled club do not pay county, region and national fees. Currently these fees total £46.00. Hence we all pay the same amount in club fees.

You may shoot as often as you like outdoors (see above for shooting days/times) at no extra cost. There may be a charge for indoor shooting, see above.

Guest shooting

We welcome visiting archers. The guest boss fees are:

• Adult outdoor - £2.00.
• Junior outdoor - £1.00.
• Adult indoor - £5.00.
• Junior indoor - £2.50.

Please remember to bring your GNAS membership card with you, for insurance reasons we cannot let you shoot without it.

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© Bristol Bowmen and Golden Phoenix Archers