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This page may help you answer your question that we are asked. Please refer here before e-mailing!
Have-A-Go
Can I come down and have-a-go?
Sorry, we only offer a have-a-go on our have-a-go day on The first Sunday every May. Due to insurance implications, it is not practical to do it on demand. For details of our next have-a-go see here.
How about arranging a private have have-a-go as a corporate event?
Out of hours events (Evenings or Weekends) can be arranged. Please drop us an email to discuss. A fee of £10 per person subject to a minimum of £200 is applicable to any pre-arranged private event. All events will be held at the Braywick Sports Ground. If the weather is against us on the day, no charge will be made.
Can you come along to our School and hold an event in the afternoon?
Sorry, as a small club, we all work during the day. Also Archery targets weigh 40KG each and as such we would need to hire a van to transport everthing we need. This would put costs up considerably!
Beginners Course
How old do you have to be to take a beginners course?
The youngest age we take on a beginners course is 14. There are other clubs in the area who offer beginners courses to juniors younger than 14. Once a junior has completed a course at any club, they would be able to join Maidenhead Archers.
How long does an achery lesson last?
Each lesson will normally last 1hr to 1hr30 depending upon weather conditions. If the weather is good, they tend to last a little longer. It's not normally advisable to spend much longer than that on a lesson as you would get tired and the benefit of the lesson would be lower.
How many lessons are there in a course?
Each course we run is for SIX lessons. The first four are the most important and should not be missed if at all possible The last two are mainly for improving your technique.
If I miss a lesson, can I make it up later?
The course runs for six weeks. The only time we extend the course is due to bad weather. If you have missed more than two lessons, we will discuss your options with you in order to pass the course.
Ok, I've passed the course, what do I do now?
Join a club! You don't have to join us, although you would be more than welcome to do so. Once you join, you will still have the use of all the equipment you have used on the beginners course. We will also assist and encourage you to take your skills further. See Here
And what equipment should I buy?
After passing the course, we recommend that you DON'T rush out and buy an expensive bow. This would be like buying a ferrari the day after you passed your driving test. You still need to refine your technique and your draw length and posture will inevitably change with practice. We will discuss with you when you're ready, what equipment to buy. If you would like, an experienced archer can also accompany you to the shop.
Having said that, you may like to purchase the sundry items such as quiver, arm guard, tab, bow sling, bow stand etc. early on. These are items that would not need to change throughout your archery career.
Joining and Membership
How old do you have to be to join Maidenhead Archers as a member?
Unlike the course, there is no mimimum age (or maximum age), the only proviso is that you have to be able to handle a bow safely and have previously completed a beginners course at any club or already be a member of another club that is GNAS affiliated. We would invite you along to shoot with us before inviting you to join the club. Please remember that all juniors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Can I join Maidenhead Archers without taking a course?
We have to ensure that everyone shooting has met a minimum level of skill and understands/ applies the principles of safe shooting.
Because of this, we can't invite anyone to join who has not either previously completed a course or has not shot for another club.
We ask all membership applicants to shoot with us before inviting them to join. This also gives them the opportunity to make sure they like us!
It's Winter time, its cold dark and wet outside, where can I shoot?
During winter, we shoot by invitation on Wednesday evenings in the WAMDSAD hall normally from around 7/7.30 pm. You have to join WAMDSAD in order to shoot there. An annual fee is payable to them. One big advantage this gives is that the bar is open for most of the evening!
Additionally, during Winter on Friday evenings, we shoot a Portsmouth Round at the Windsor Leisure Centre from 8pm. A range fee of £4.00 is payable for each evening. As a member of Maidenhead Archers, we provide a subsidy for at least one friday evening each month (this is ratified at the AGM each year)
Not forgetting of course, that we still shoot outside on Sunday afternoon's during winter.
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