The Dunedin Archery Club is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year and treasurer Julie Butler said the club would be having an informal evening function to celebrate the anniversary, enjoying some cake and acknowledging the club’s "fantastic" volunteers.
The club is running a raffle with 85 draws with a first prize of a learners course for two valued at over $300, with the raffle being drawn later in the year.
During the weekend of August 5 and 6 it is hosting an indoor tournament at Forrester Park, with archers from across New Zealand invited to attend.
In recent years archery has experienced a resurgence in popularity, perhaps inspired by Hollywood archers including Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) in The Hunger Games and Legolas (played by Orlando Bloom) in The Lord of the Rings.
Mrs Butler said the club had archers ranging from ages 11 to 91.
"One of the great things about archery is that it is a sport for people of all ages and levels of fitness."
Thanks to funding support from the Otago Community Trust, Bendigo Valley Foundation and the Lion Foundation, the club is able to provide archery equipment for people starting out, allowing them to try before progressing to buying their own equipment.
"It is not a cheap sport, but we do supply the gear for beginners."
The club is hoping to create a scholarship fund to assist archers with tournaments.
A long-term goal for the club is finding space to create an indoor archery range.
Concept plans outlined a range of 18m, but it could be up to 25m.
"So obviously the building footprint would need to be larger again," Mrs Butler said.
The club is holding its annual Mother’s Day Have a Go this Sunday at Chingford Park between 1pm and 3pm.
"An opportunity to do something fun with mum."
Club history
- The Dunedin Archery Club was formed in 1938 by Nick Ryan, who began his interest in archery while looking for an activity to do with his family during a summer vacation in Brighton.
- He researched archery at the public library, finding references in old books and the Encyclopedia Britannia on how to make a bow from yew branches.
- He could not find any seasoned yew timber so instead experimented, making bows from ash, Oregon pine and lancewood, or horoeka.
- Practise began at the appropriately named Robin Hood Park near the Beverly-Begg Observatory.
- In 1940 the council granted a lease of a portion of Jubilee Park for the use of an archery range. A clubhouse was opened the following year.
- Ryan is known today as the "father of archery in New Zealand" and his name lives on in the form of the Ryan Shield, the New Zealand club championship.
