December 2023
I apologise to all Nottinghamshire archers as it’s been nearly a year since my last confession. Quite a lot has happened this year, which has taken my attention away from this article.
It started with the county losing our long time sponsor due to a business restructuring. This caused us to change county team shirt suppliers and we now have to purchase the faces used at all the county tournaments.
Another change, this time very positive, has seen us increase the profile of the county nationally, entering teams into the National Inter- County championships held at Lilleshall. Medalling on the first day and still performing on the second day when the shoot was cancelled due to weather conditions.
Lizzie Eyres in conjunction with the coaching and development committee officers is working on encouraging female participation in the sport, hopefully holding shooting / training sessions early next year. It’s up to us all to encourage participation in all archery disciplines and genders. I would also like to see more juniors participating, remember, archery is a family sport.
It was good to see Welbeck Archers coming back into the tournament fold last year with their new field. I’m looking forward to their shoots, which will surely help spread the competition load in future years. They are looking to organise the 2024 EMAS clout event as it’s Notts turn to host this shoot next year.
AGB are increasing the number of National tournaments putting greater pressure on the county and clubs keeping archers interested in local events. It is good news that Sherwood Archers will be running a couple of WRS WA720 H2H competitions next year. This gives the county the full gambit of rounds from grass root archers through to our elite shooters.
It has come to the time when the long-term older vanguard who have run the county for many years are now either retired or will do at the end of next year. I have to say many thanks to them all for the work they have undertaken, keeping the county working. I am finding out now how much work is involved in this county lark.
Mario has recently decided to step down as a regional judge to county judge for next year. If you were traveling around the county, shooting in the many and varied competitions we host, you will know that he is always there as Chair of Judges, this is required for all record status shoots. This left a hole which would have to been filled by importing judges from outside the county causing extra cost. It was decided that I would study hard and take my regional exam in October. I passed and this has luckily filled the gap, but we are still down a judge as Andy Kay retired last year.
Mario has also retired from the County coaching organiser post at the 2023 AGM. Mandie Elson stood down as County development co-ordinator due to workload and other commitments at the same time.
Jane and Mark Burton of Sherwood Archers have stepped into the committee roles of County coaching organiser (CCO) and county development co-ordinator (CDC). I know they will do a good job as they are very conscientious.
Finally, and most important. The committee are looking for a replacement for Mike Thomason as secretary. He has been in the position for 15years and decided to step down after the AGM in November 2024. If anyone is interested, please contact me or Mike ASAP as it would be useful to work together to make the handover as smooth as possible. Without a secretary there will not be a county.
I would like to encourage more club members to start attending the Notts county committee meetings, these are open meetings and your opinions count. Your club secretaries should be sending out the meeting invites. It would be great to see at least one representative from each club. This would help make meetings quorate, as well as supporting and informing the decisions we have to make.
With that may I sign off by wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!!
Bernie Dicks
County Chairman.
December 2023