WFAC08 Namibia

zetabow · WFAC08 Namibia

Well preps for the world champs in April held in Namibia are going nicely.

I'm getting on really well with the new AFB Bow Andy Soars made me, my practice has only been out to 55 yards as thats all I have at the moment, most of my practice is walkback start at 10 yards, shoot and walkback a few yards and shoot again, this if very effective for no-sighted archers as it really helps build a mental picture of the arrows cast and develops a nice gap system very quickly.

This week I was really pleased with my progress shooting a 50cm face 95% of my shots are in the 5/4 scoring zone right out to 55 yards, I'm due to go to Estonia for 3 weeks in March to practice on some Field/Hunter courses (no field courses up my way). my only worry is the longer shots as not getting enough practice in, seems I'm sure of the gaps but every now and then something falls apart and get a run of long range shots that just keep dropping low, I know I'm keeping good back tension, if anything i'm maybe trying too hard and pulling through the shot, if I can get my head round this minor problem before the competition I should be in for a nice result.

Today I shot my last arrow at 55 yards, went right in the spot and split and arrow, it was soooo sweet it really made my day

Dawn

Good to hear the update zetabow

Sounds like you should be very pleased with the way your shooting is going

Good luck with it all and bring back some pictures and a full report wont you

Steve B

Very nice prep work zetabow. I was going to attempt to get along to this , but I am not know for various reasons, you make sure that you have a great time and enjoy yourself, I am sure that you will do well. By the sound of your practice it sounds like no need to even ask that though

zetabow

I hope you do make it Steve, missed 2006 champs in Australia as I was in hospital recovering from surgery and 2007 was the start of my rebuilding of fitness and shooting form.

Ular Teppor from Estonia is my hot tip for Namibia, he won the Europeans in Sweden last year and shot around 330- 350 all week, he's keen to win a world title and is shooting full time now. I was pleased with my result in Sweden (3rd) as only had a week to prepare, these rounds take a lot of work, more a confidence thing really.

I'm putting a lot more work into this coming competition, if Ular wants to win he's gonna have to work for it

Desert Archer

Steve,

As a real proponent of NFAA/IFAA field archery from this side of the pond I will be watching for news of your success. Best of everything too you...good trip, good shooting, good result.

Dave

zetabow

Had bit of a setback last two weeks as i picked up Flu and then Bronchitis which totally knocked me off my feet. Shot the bow today and felt very average groups, still not feeling 100% so hope it's just that I'm still recovering and a lack of focus.

I'm off to Estonia on Wed to get two weeks training in, I hope this will pull my form back to where it was a few weeks ago. Seems Namibia will come around a lot quicker than I wanted. I go back to work for a week after I return from Estonia then fly to Namibia on 2nd April the tourney starts on the 7th April so have a few days to settle and get some more practice in.

Frustrating when I'm putting so much work in and these unavoidable things nock you back.

Bushy

sorry to here you have not been well and hope that you are feeling better soon

Chedawan

I'm with Bushy, hope the recovery's fast!

Steve B

You get better Steve, things are looming up fast. I am sure you will be fine though

zetabow

Im still in Estonia at the moment training. First week was a nightmare as I was still feeling under the weather with this Flu still lingering. Did some shooting and my shooting form had really dropped only managing around 300 to 320 on Field and Hunter rounds which is still pretty good but I feel not quite good enough for tis event.

As Ive got better from the Flu my scores have gone up and feeling much more relaxed with my form. still not easy shooting in 0C and the odd flutter of snow but 340's are pretty nice with a 364 hunter today. think the World record is 372.

I hope to shoot around 330's in Namibia with competition pressure. we will see but the important thing is I'm feeling a lot better all round.

Eaglearcher

364!!!

It sounds like your training is going particularly well.
Keep it up and good luck in Namibia

zetabow

Thanks EA. It was a nice round 177 first half then 187 second half with 16 missed arrows out of the 112 with 14 spots.

I'm not going to fool myself into thinking I can do that in Namiba, I'm shooting 3 to 4 hours every day between two different courses and feel that I'm getting used to these courses now and I have no competition pressure just my own practice pressure. I'm still weak past 60 yards as this was where most of my missed shots were.

So I think 330 to 340 is a good score to aim for in Namibia and feel it should be good enough to take either 1st or 2nd place.

Joe(thebow)M

Sounds as if things are coming along pretty good, Zetabow. No reason
not to carry on with the good shooting in Namiba. Good luck!

Steve B

Will be very interested to watch how you go Steve, make sure you say hello to the Aussies that are going, they are all friendly

zetabow

Well i'm back in the UK for a week before I fly off to Namibia on the 2nd April. Had a great time shooting in Estonia, it was pretty difficult with 0 to -2C temp and the wind chill on some days made it feel -6C, it took some dedication to go out everyday and shoot in that weather (the wood look beatiful in the snow), seems to have built into some nice steady shooting and on most days of the second week I didn't miss much under 50 yards.

I still worry about my weak areas on the longer rangers, I did finish the last day with a nice 350 score on a hunter. We went round and shot the long shots again 64 58 and 70 yard walkup, the 70 yard walkup was the last and at first I said I wouldn't shoot it as i didn't want to leave the course on a downer (best I done all week was two arrows for 7 points) but my desire just to shoot go the better of me when Katrin drew her bow up on the 70 yard peg and I joined her, I was glad i did as I shot a 17 (5,5,4,3) scoring a X on the 70 yard peg. Walked off the course smiling like a Cheshire Cat.

Great two weeks and well worth the trip. All I need now is a steady 5 days shooting in Namibia and not to let the pressure get to me.

either way and whatever the result I think I will enjoy the trip.

Dawn

Sounds like you are well prepared now

Best of luck when you go, and we do like to see pictures you know

especially when you are saying the woods look beautiful in the snow

Have a great time

Eaglearcher

Heres wishing you all the best in Namibia. It sounds like you have hit your form there mate.
Just keep your cool and go out and enjoy yourself. I was hoping to get there myself but things just didnt go to plan. Keep us posted if you can and dont forget to post those photos.

Steve B

Looks like Zetabow is doing rather well here I have been keeping an eye open for the Ausssies and watching our own Longbow sensation...here are the day3 results.....GO Steve

1 1070 Jaco Wessels AMLB South Africa 269 331 438 0 0 1,038
2 1054 Steve Morley AMLB England 264 311 446 0 0 1,021
3 1353 Ular Teppo AMLB Estonia 284 343 380 0 0 1,007

Eaglearcher

Wow.
Those scores are tight.
It looks like Steve had a bit of a bad day on Tuesday but hes coming back.
Keep it going Steve!

Chedawan

Yup... Keep on in there!

Eaglearcher

Well we are into the last day and Steve is lying third.
its tight up at the top and its still possible for any of the top three to take the competition.
Keep it going Steve!

Steve B

Thats a very tight game the longbow fellas have going, as you say Eaglearcher anybodies game ...go steve, go steve, go steve

Joe(thebow)M

I sure wish this kind of stuff was telecast on T.V. so's I could watch.

With any luck maybe someone will post some footage from this on
'YouTube' and I'll get to see some of the action that took place.

Good luck to all who are taking part!

Steve B

The final Results for our own Zetabow aka Steve Morley

1 1353 Ular Teppo AMLB Estonia 284 343 380 332 337 1,676
2 1070 Jaco Wessels AMLB South Africa 269 331 438 319 300 1,657
3 1054 Steve Morley AMLB England 264 311 446 317 309 1,647
4 1082 Martin Koini AMLB Germany 234 244 342 249 253 1,322

Great tustle between the top three, positions swapped regularly over the 5 days, well done Steve great showing and great effort, it could have been anybodies

Sam

well done steve

Chedawan

Congratulations Zetabow (Steve), glad to see all the hard work paid off. Sure you'll be annoyed to not have come in a touch higher, but it's a great showing none the less.

Joe(thebow)M

Wow! That's some good shooting. Congratulations Steve on a great
effort. Looks as though an arrow or two here or there was the only
difference in the scores and that it was anyone's contest to the end.

Dawn

Well done and congratulations Steve

Looking forward to hearing all about it and did you get any photos

zetabow

HI Guys

Arrived back in Estonia last night around 11pm.

Had a great time and the courses were the toughest Ive ever encountered and it was a good thing we went a few days early as being 2000m above sea level and plus 25C most days I gained 5 yards on my arrow cast. 80 yards shots with sheer rock face as a backstop was intimidating and quite a few guys were breaking 10 arrows a day.

Ran into problems on first day and just couldnt get release right. was snatching and couldnt figure out what the problem was. at first I thought maybe target panic but I felt pretty relaxed considering the event and location. by the end of day two I figured it was the Tab causing finger pain and my subconcous making me flinch on release. changed Tab which helped but my confidence had already been destoryed by that point. I shot really nice out to 55yards but struggled past these distances where Ular ad Jacco just kept hitting (great to watch).

I can post pics (if someone can tell me how) and will post a link to some 2000 pics when they become available.

Some local Bushmen took part in the competition which was great to see and they got a standing ovation from everybody at the awards. Jacco who came 2nd is a bowyer and loaned the Bows and arrows to the Bushmen and awarded the 5 Bushmen these bows at the awards.

Was pleased with the result and the fact that it was fairly tight competition. well done to Ular and Jacco they both shot great. Katrin my girlfriend won Ladies Longbow and think had 4th highest Longbow score in the tourney.

I also pick up gold for the England team. think this is first time England has won gold all but two people from UK picked up a medals. so great effort from everyone.

Ill be home (UK) next week and will try and post some pics and give a more detaled account of the trip.

Selwoc

Well done Steve and all the others from the UK. I saw the results on-line yesterday, as you say, we had a good showing there.

Joe(thebow)M

Thanks for the update Zetabow. Looking forward to seeing
some pictures. Well done!

segolden

Knew you'd do good, congrats!

Bushy

well done steve glad to here you went on so well

Eaglearcher

Well done Steve.
Coming back to form after that first day is quite a victory in itself. Congratulations on getting on the podium.
England getting the gold is great news too. I look forward to seeing the photos.

Chedawan

Great stuff Steve, can't wait to see the photos.

zetabow

http://www.zone.ee/sirrait/Namiibia_2008/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26065907@N03/

sorry pics took so long, I've been busy arranging my move etc......not enough hours in the day

ENJOY

BTS

Great piccie's mate.

Selwoc

Great photos Steve, makes me feel that I missed out on a great experience.

Chedawan

Love the pics... I'm going to have to give international competition a go one day!

Dawn

Fantastic pictures Steve

Looks like it was quite an experience

Steve B

Thanks for the photos Steve great to see where the event was and terrian used, I am guessing you met Ray Paterson, (the guy with the bushy grey beard and Acubra hat) good talker but a very interesting guys to listen too .. looks like everybody had a great time as well ...

Joe(thebow)M

Thanks for the pictures Steve! Someday I hope I too
can take part in something like that, and that sure looks
like a great place!

Eaglearcher

Great Pics mate.
Thanks for posting them. There seemed to be TOO many rocks around for my liking and those butts were SOOOO small.
I heard that some guys were going through 10 arrows a day.
Still...it looks like the scenery alone would have more than made up for it.
Well done again and congrats to all the England team for getting the Gold in the championship of nations.

Bushy

some great pics there steve looks fantastic