For news about competitions, please see the 2012 competitions page.

1 May – we're flooded. What a start to the main season. We've already cancelled the first of the general beginners' classes scheduled for tomorrow night.

6 May – the flooding has gone, but with rain yesterday and the ground still muddy the second of the beginner's classes was cancelled. Today was a different matter, we got in a club shoot and another beginners' lesson for the 'family and friends' group. Handicaps were reduced and lots of records were set by both beginners and club members, including what are hopefully County records for both Michelle Carey and Joedy Taylor. We'll be submitting the claim at the end of the month, then have to wait and see, but it will be good to get more county records for club members. The congratulations are below, the scores and handicap reductions are in the stats section.

6 May – Adam has been at it again with his accidental trick shots. You may remember his 'Friar Tuck', reported in the November section of the 2011 news page. This time he skewered two score pads, his own and his mum's, so far up his arrow that he turned them into a sort of score pad kebab (first photo).

12 May – at last, we've been able to start our main beginner's course, beautiful sunshine, if a slightly cool breeze. We had 15 people taking part. They all seemed to enjoy it as they've all said they'll be back next week.

13 May – a special congratulations to Adam and Andy Perkins for taking part in their first external competition and both winning. They were competing in the twelfth Bromyard Bowmen's Open FITA 900 near Worcester. Andy shot the FITA 900 winning the highest handicap adjusted score salver and Adam shot the junior equivalent, winning the boy's barebow medal. The second photo shows 'the boys' relaxing at home with their trophies.

16 May – we've now been able to start our Wednesday evening beginners' course for 2012. Warm and sunny it was an ideal first session with eight people taking part.

Congratulations go to:

• Gary Avery for setting a new overall 2012 record, reducing his handicap by one point and getting his first bowman score with his recurve (12/05).
• Michelle Carey for going out a distance, reducing her handicap by one point and setting new group club and, hopefully, county records (06/05).
• John Chappell for venturing indoors for the first time and setting a new group club record (08/05). For gaining his second third class score (12/05). For reducing his handicap by one point and qualifying as third class (16/05).
• Julie Flowers for setting a new group 2012 record (12/05).
• Dave Fullerton for setting new group club and indoor records and reducing his handicap by one point (08/05).
• Luke McCaffrey for setting a new overall 2012 record (06/05). For setting a new group 2012 record (12/05).
• Adam Perkins for setting a new overall 2012 record (06/05). For setting new overall 2012 and club records (12/05). For taking part in his first external competition and setting new overall 2012 and club records (13/05).
• Andy Perkins for setting a new overall 2012 record (06/05). For beating that same record (12/05). For taking part in his first external competition, setting a new overall 2012 record, which is also hopefully a county record (13/05).
• Anna Perkins for setting a new group 2012 record (06/05). For setting a new overall 2012 record (12/05).
• Mary Perkins for reducing her handicap by one point (06/05). For setting a new overall 2012 record, reducing her handicap by two points and getting her first third class score (12/05).
• David Smith for setting a new overall 2012 record (12/05).
• Joedy Taylor for going out a distance, reducing his handicap by two points and setting a new overall club, group 2012 and, hopefully, county records (06/05).
• Lee Taylor for switching bow type, going out a distance and getting his first ever second class score (06/05).

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1 April – our first coaching session of the year. In beautiful weather a group of three 'family and friends' of other club members, had their first taste of archery. The numbers were made up by a returnee to the sport, who came down for an assessment to see if he remembered enough to join or if he needed more lessons. They all seemed to enjoy themselves as they've all said that they will be back.

4 April – the Hot Cross Floodlit. Once again we were so lucky with the weather, very still and quite warm. The results are in the Hot Cross Floodlit section of the 2012 Competitions page, the congratulations are below.

12 April – welcome to our first new member of the year Ian Hattam, who is returning to archery after a fifteen year or so break. He used to shoot at university, but hasn't shot since. He turned up today with a spanking new compound bow, the technology having changed so much since he used to shoot.

15 April – any six-gold end deserves a special mention, especially when it's done early on in the beginner's course. Yes it was only ten yards, but in today's wind and in the last end of the round, it was some going, so a special congratulations to Julie May on her achievement. Our two young beginners, Anna Perkins and Luke McCaffrey deserve a mention as well for the sheer grit and determination of shooting a longer distance than they've shot before, finishing the round despite the cold and the wind and above all, for doing it with a smile on their faces. Oh, and all three set 2012 records as well, see below.

20 April – it looks like the trend of the last few years of joining and setting a new record on your first shoot as a member is set to continue this year. In this case it was Ian Hattam shooting compound and he beat the previous overall club record by 85 points, getting a second class score to boot. Well done Ian.

Congratulations go to:

• Michelle Carey for setting new group 2012 and club records, reducing her handicap by one point and qualifying as first class (01/04).
• Dave Fullerton for setting a new overall 2012 record and reducing his handicap by one point (01/04). For setting a new overall 2012 record (06/04). For beating that same record (11/04). And again (12/04).
• Ian Hattam for coming for an assessment to return to archery and setting a new group 2012 record (08/04). For setting new overall club and 2012 records on his first shoot as a member and getting his first second class score, which was also his first third class score (20/04).
• Peter John for getting his second second class score (01/04). For setting a new group 2012 record and qualifying as second class (06/04).
• Luke McCaffrey for setting a new overall 2012 record (15/04).
• Sheena McCullagh for setting a new overall 2012 record (06/04). For setting a new overall 2012 record with a different bow type (11/04). And doing it again on a different round (20/04).
• Julie May for setting a new overall 2012 record (15/04).
• Andy Perkins for setting a new overall 2012 record and reducing his handicap by one point on his first outdoor shoot this year (01/04). For reducing his handicap by another point (08/04). For setting a new overall 2012 record, reducing his handicap by a further two points and getting his first third class score (12/04).
• Anna Perkins for setting a new group 2012 record (15/04).
• Mary Perkins for setting a new overall 2012 record on her first outdoor shoot this year (08/04). For going out a distance, setting a new 2012 group record and reducing her handicap by one point (15/04).
• David Smith for setting a new overall 2012 record on the second week of his beginner's course (08/04). For converting to recurve and setting a new overall 2012 record on the third week of his beginner's course (12/04).
• Joedy Taylor for gaining his barebow starting handicap and classifying as second (01/04).
• Lee Taylor for setting new overall 2012 and club group records (01/04). For reducing his handicap by one point (06/04).
• Clive Wilkins for setting a new overall 2012 record (06/04).

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We all know that Robin Hood came from Nottingham, right? And some even know that he was quite probably Robert of Locksley. Well not according to a Sean McGlynn, a history lecturer at the University of Plymouth and the Open University. He thinks that Robin Hood may actually have been William of Keynsham who lived in the early 13 Centaury. Before you all get too excited, I should point out that the Keynsham in question is not 'our' Keynsham, for the full story see Was Robin Hood really from Kent? Thanks (I think) to Jim Brooks, our liaison officer at the rugby club, for finding this interesting tit-bit and passing it on to us.

11 March – the first good outdoor weather of the season and several of our members have come out of hibernation, to very good effect with one taking an overall club record. For those that had over-wintered the good weather brought reduced handicaps, new classification levels and more records.

Congratulations go to:

• Michelle Carey for getting setting a new group indoor 2012 record and reducing her handicap by one point (09/03). For setting new group 2012 and club records, getting her barebow starting handicap and her second first class score, which was also her third second class score and so qualifying as second class (11/03). For setting new indoor group 2012 and club records and reducing her handicap by another two points (16/03).
• John Chappell for setting a new overall 2012, reducing his handicap by a massive five points and gaining his first third class score (14/03).
• Dave Fullerton for setting new overall indoor 2012 and club records (09/03). For reducing his handicap by one point (14/03). For setting a new overall 2012 record (15/03). For setting new indoor overall 2012 and club group records (16/03). For qualifying as Archer with his recurve bow (28/03).
• Peter John for coming out of hibernation, setting new overall 2012 and club records and gaining his first second class score of the year; he'd got two in 2011, but 'lost' them as of 1 January, so has to start all over again (11/03).
• Rod Luton for setting a new overall indoor 2012 record (17/03). For doing it again (30/03).
• Sheena McCullagh for setting a new overall 2012 (18/03). For beating that record by 30 points (21/03). For changing round and setting new overall club and 2012 records (29/03).
• Bob Taylor for setting new overall indoor 2012 and club records (09/03). For switching bow types, submitting three indoor scores and so gaining a starting handicap and classifying as G (30/03).
• Joedy Taylor for switching bow type and submitting his first second class score without having gained third class in any bow type (11/03). For setting new overall 2012 and club records and getting his second second class score (18/03). For reducing his indoor handicap by three points (30/03).
• Lee Taylor for reducing his handicap by one point (11/03).
• Clive Wilkins for finally submitting enough indoor scores to regain a classification (09/03). For beating his own overall 2012 record set on 12 February (21/03).

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3 February – winter may finally have arrived outdoors, with temperatures below freezing, but it was certainly warming up indoors with two records being set, handicaps being reduced, a classification improvement and a starting handicap and classification being set.

7 February – quite an achievement at today's indoor shoot, Mark Pollard, never having shot an indoor round with his longbow decided to give it a go and added a massive 32 points to the previous overall club record, setting an overall 2012 record in the process. Well done Mark.

17 February – not be outdone by the achievements of the adults, our youngest member, Isaac Eamer, decided to switch bow type at the indoor. Shooting barebow for the first time since his beginner's course, he bagged himself a group 2012 record. Well done to you too.

19 February – it seems to be the month for switching bow types and pulling off amazing scores, this time it was Michelle Carey doing the unbelievable. Even those of us who regularly shoot multiple bow types tend to have a 'down' round or two as we switch, not so Michelle. She had achieved third class with her recurve shooting 50 and 40 yards. When she then went out to the FITA 60m she struggled because her bow is so light-weight she couldn't sight on the target, so next time out she shot the round barebow, her first barebow shoot with this bow and her first time at barebow since her beginners' course last summer.

Instead of Michelle's score dropping drastically, as would be expected, and bringing her in at around third class, she shot to one handicap point lower than her recurve handicap and thus put in her first ever first class score completely by-passing second class in the process. She also made a clean-sweep of the records setting not just group, ie ladies, records, but overall ones. That really is some going Michelle.

Congratulations go to:

• Michelle Carey for getting her third third class score and so qualifying as third class (05/02). For changing bow type, slamming in with her first ever first class score and setting new overall club and 2012 records in the process (19/02). For getting a second class score, which along with the first class on the 19 February, makes a second second class score (26/02).
• John Chappell for setting a new overall 2012 record (15/02).
• Isaac Eamer for changing bow type and setting a new group indoor 2012 record (17/02).
• Liz Ewins for gaining her indoor starting handicap and classifying as F (03/02). For reducing her indoor handicap by a massive four points (17/02).
• Dave Fullerton for setting a new overall indoor 2012 record (03/02). For setting new overall club and 2012 records (15/02).
• Rod Luton for setting a new overall indoor 2012 record (03/02). For beating that same record (11/02). For setting new overall club and 2012 records and reducing his handicap by one point (29/02).
• Andy Perkins for reducing his indoor handicap by two points (03/02).
• Mary Perkins for reducing her indoor handicap by four points and classifying as F (03/02).
• Mark Pollard for changing bow type and setting new overall indoor club and 2012 records (07/02).
• Joedy Taylor for setting new overall 2012 and club group records, reducing his handicap by one point and getting his first third class score (05/02). For getting his second third class score (12/02).
• Lee Taylor for reducing his indoor handicap by one point (17/02). For setting a new club group record and overall 2012 record (19/02). For beating those same records and reducing his handicap by one point (26/02).
• Clive Wilkins for setting a new overall 2012 record (12/02).

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1 January – Happy New Year everyone. May all your arrows fly straight (into the gold) and may all the longbow (and barebow) archers miss the woodwork.

Our first attempt at shooting for the year. Only Sheena and Matt turned up, but half an hour after arriving they got the first woodpecker of the year. As it had started to rain just after they got there they weren't actually shooting so it wasn't the normal sort of woodpecker we get at archery, it was instead, a male European Green Woodpecker. He flew in across the main road and joined them in the car park for about two minutes before returning from whence he came. He was the first woodpecker that Matt had ever seen and only the third one that Sheena had seen. Unfortunately he was about 10 yards away, and without zoom cameras, they couldn't capture him themselves, instead the photo is from Wikimedia Commons.

Handicap Improvement Medal – this is awarded annually to the club member who has achieved the highest handicap reduction in the previous year. There are very strict eligibility criteria set by the GNAS, so for 2011 those were:

• Being a club member by 1 July 2010 and still being a member on 31 December 2011, and
• Holding a starting handicap in the relevant bow type on 1 January 2011, and
• Having submitted a minimum of eight scores during 2011.

And the winners were:

• Bristol Bowmen Juniors – no one eligible.
• Bristol Bowmen – winner with a handicap reduction of four points Gary Avery (recurve).
• Golden Phoenix Archers – winner with a handicap reduction of six points Sheena McCullagh (longbow).

Gary and Sheena also took their respective runners-up places with reductions of two points each shooting barebow. Third for Bristol Bowmen was Clive Wilkins and joint third for Golden Phoenix Archers were Rod Luton and Bob Taylor.

6 January – with no one having shot outdoor yet this year and the weather closing in, we decided to shoot for the Child Protection Officers' New Year Best Gold Trophy at the first indoor shoot instead. Called on the fifth end of a local rules Portsmouth, the winner, with an arrow in the exact centre of the 10-ring, was club captain Gary Avery.

18 January – Gary Avery has done it again, he's beaten his own County record, setting a new overall club record in the process. He's also the first person to reclassify this year and at Bowman no less.

19 January – a first for the club, our congratulations go to club member Bob Taylor and his wife Ann on the birth of their first great grandchild. Amelia Evelyne Ann Boyes-Adams was born at 6.19 this morning, weighing in at a very healthy 8lbs 8oz, to proud parents, Bob and Ann's granddaughter, Lizzie Boyes and her partner Matt Adams. The photo was taken when Amelia was a mere three hours old.

Congratulations go to:

• Gary Avery for setting the first overall 2012 indoor record and winning the CPO New Year best gold (06/01). For jointly setting the first outdoor overall 2012 record (08/01). For setting a new indoor overall 2012 record (13/01). For setting the first new overall club record in 2012 (18/01). For setting a new overall indoor club record (27/01).
• Michelle Carey for setting the first group 2012 indoor record and reducing her handicap by one point (06/01). For setting a new group 2012 record, reducing her handicap by one point and getting her first third class score this year (08/01). For getting her second third class score (29/01).
• Dave Fullerton for setting a new indoor overall 2012 record and reducing his handicap by two points (13/01). For setting new indoor overall 2012 and club group records (27/01).
• Ian Lassman for setting a new indoor overall 2012 record and reducing his handicap by one point (13/01).
• Rod Luton for jointly setting the first outdoor overall 2012 record (08/01). For beating that record (15/01). And again (18/01). For setting a new overall indoor 2012 record (27/01). For beating his own 2012 outdoor record set on 18 January (29/01).
• Sheena McCullagh for setting an overall 2012 record (22/01). For beating that same record (29/01).
• Jodey Taylor for jointly setting the first outdoor overall 2012 record (08/01). For reducing his indoor handicap by two points (20/01).
• Lee Taylor for reducing his indoor handicap by one point (27/01). For setting a new overall 2012 record (29/01).
• Mr Woodpecker for being the first woodpecker of the year (01/01).

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