Saturday, 5 May 2012
Throwing arrows
The sport of throwing arrows was invented in the early 1970’s in Coventry. It was first played on a field between Wood End and Potters Green. The field was created after a pond and dry canal were filled in and grassed over. In 2010 the field still exists.
Making a throwing arrow is simple as you only need 4 things.
1) A green garden stick-nowadays they come in 60cm lengths
2) Two playing cards
3) Thin string
4) A knife
First you split the stick at one end about 15mm longer than either the width or length of the cards. Place the two cards central to the stick in whatever direction you choose when splitting the stick. Bind the stick tightly above and below the card and carve a small notch 5mm below the binding below the card. Trim the card into flights. Trim the end of the arrow into a point.
After the arrow is made you will need a piece of string approximately 2 and a half times the length of an arrow with a large knot at one end.
Methods of play
There are two distinct methods of play.
1) Over arm
2) Underarm
In both cases the string is placed in the notch and looped over the knot securing it in place by keeping the string taut. The string is wound from and must past once around the forefinger or first two fingers. It can be wound around more times and around the hand also Once the string is wound around the hand so the arrow can be easily grasped near it’s point while keeping the string taught it can be thrown. This is accomplished by flicking the arm and wrist and releasing the arrow at the required trajectory. With practice height, distance and accuracy can all be achieved
Overhand is used for distance and height and underhand is sometimes used for accuracy.
The game.
A course is set out alternating between ends of the field and encompassing different targets. Each player throws around the course and must get within 2 feet of each target on the course. The first throw must be done with one foot on the start point and each subsequent throw must be done with one foot where the point of their arrow lies.
A score is kept of how many throws are taken and also the distance from the target achieved.
In the event of a tie on throws then all the distances are added and the person with the smallest total wins,
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3 comments:
Absolute rubbish throwing arrows Swiss Arrows Yorkshire Arrow Viking Arrow Devon bung arrows have been around for about 500,000 years. I was throwing them in 1962 and killing vermin with them
I agree the arrows have been around a long time but not the sport as described.
Yes it is, It's ancestor was the dart it was originally one of the four earliest successful hunting techniques, the others being (or what they evolved into) Shot putt, Discus and Tickling fish. A dart originally was furnished with a point on both ends, later feathers were added making it the first hunting, "Weapons" system (not the additive of a throwing stick) as stated elsewhere, Woomera & Atlatl " awful misunderstood made up word" The dart was always the most ancient of all pointed throwing weapons, it's pedigree is obvious.It was always pre-eminent, the original form of hunting by throwing a pointed stick. Don't believe all this rubbish about the English archer cutting down an arrow to throw at log ends or bear casks to while away time between battles. Throwing arrows were always carried by archers.
The Throwing board and the sling were contrived thousands of years later (actually the throwing board is a sling but a rigid version, they are both slings) they mimicked the action of the dart thrower. The dart throwers entire body is a sling (if you know what your doing) Later the two slings were combined and the bow (BOUGH) and arrow was invented. The bow is nothing more than a sling. Why do you think that modern day dart players stand as they do.
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