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Lough Cuan Bowmen Archery has a long history intrinsically connected to the history of the British Isles and has been a competitive sport for many hundreds of years. When the Montgomerys founded Newtownards in 1606 they introduced Football, Golf and Archery – the first recorded Archery Club in Ireland. We are a sports club first constituted in 1986 affiliated to the Northern Ireland Archery Society (NIAS), the Grand National Archery Society (GNAS,) the UK governing body, and the Federation Internationale de Tir a l’Arc (FITA) the world governing body who oversee archery in the Olympics. Some of our members are also members of the British Longbow Society, the Irish Field Archery Federation and the Traditional Archery Society of Ireland. We run Have-a Gos where the public can try the sport and Corporate events, encourage archery in schools,Beginners Courses lasting 6 weeks, as well as contests which are on the calendar of the NIAS. Next year we will be running the Northern Ireland Open Field Championships and in 2008 the All British Open Field Archery Championships. We currently have four Grade 3 Coaches (there are five grades) and one Grade 1 Coach. One of our members is currently President of NIAS Aims: the promotion and encouragement of Archery (excluding hunting) as a sport and recreation. Who is it for? Membership of the Club is open to all regardless of class, creed or ethnic background. Physical handicap, including visual handicap and learning disabilities are welcome as are all ages (our youngest member was 6 years old when she joined, our oldest is 83). Archery is truly a sport for all. Training Nights: In the winter Friday nights at the Ards leisure Centre, in the summer Wednesday nights at the Ards Rugby Football Club at present. This is subject to change if facilities were to come available. Accreditation/Awards: Beginners can apply for FITA Arrow awards (5 stages) on demonstration of competence. The Skill and Activity elements in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards may be done in archery. There is a classification scheme for competence for established archers organized by both FITA and the GNAS. Currently we have one British record holder, two N.I. record holders and 6 All British Champions in the club. Contact the Secretary, Arthur Halligey on 02891873421 or 07739171141 or write to 21 Mill Street, COMBER BT23 5EG, email ahalligey@btopenworld.com www.loughcuanbowmen.com
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Louch Cuan Bowmen
