The highlight of this week was most definitely my first session at Brampton View Care Home. We have been arranging this for a while and due to work I had to cancel our first arranged date. It was definitely worth the wait, an afternoon spent with a lovely group of ladies. New dates being arranged for the future and I am very much looking forward to it.
As always the day job is extremely busy and so I have had limited time for the last 6 weeks and I work hard at balance, so please bear with me if I don’t have the first date/time you ask for.
In unrelated news I have a date for my wing walk, this is so important to me as it was the last promise I made to dad as he declared that I am “bloody bonkers”. So 27th June 2025 should see me flying attached to the outside of the plane. There will be more about this, likely after Christmas but I am excited for it.
Ongoing projects are going well and it’s amazing to see some of the places who welcomed me in with Integr8archery CIC right at the beginning along with those groups started within the last 6 months really starting to bed in.
So many smiling faces across many groups, I really use smiles as a measure of how we are doing, and I love seeing them.
Thank you for trusting me to introduce you all to my sport, in my opinion it is the best there is ❤️🏹
After last week’s success at the British Flight Championships, the NCAS regional championships and a successful summer of delivering events to amazing community groups I shot for the county this weekend. I’m not going to lie I was anxious as I hadn’t had chance to practice after the tweaks that we had made, I didn’t even have sight marks, but off I went and I am so very pleased that I did.
Our county squad is one of the most supportive environments you could find yourself in, and I have been fortunate enough to have been part of the squad since my first year shooting in 2018.
The Thoresby is a fantastic regional shoots and I and been lucky enough to take part in previous years, this year was even better, some of us have discussed it and we have no idea what the difference was but we hope it continues. We always have the family feel within each squad but there was most definitely a family feel, that we are all EMAS and though shooting against each other in individual, team and squads the support, laughter and camaraderie across the field was fantastic.
I came away with the bronze medal in my category it most importantly I shot well, I scored well and the whole day felt great, there was consistency in my shooting, though the many videos do confirm some changes which I had believed maybe happening as I tire. Finally the work that Martin and I have put in is coming together and we know what to work on next and I have a lot of optimism about what the indoors and next summer might hold 🤞🏻
When we only get the odd numbers and you hit right in the middle 🫣😂😱 only a 9! I love the long days of 1440’s and Hereford’s but as I can choose to shoot 50+ I shot my first ever Bristol 2 round. Great fun and great company.
Whilst there I had a chat about the plans to start me on my judging journey so hopefully there will be news on that path soon.
Work has been a huge focus for the last week and will be for the coming week at least due to some serious issues that require extra support and hours from all of us. I thank everyone who is being patient with longer than usual delays in replies to communication but I think everyone knows that I will give what I can, when I can and deadlines met.
I have also had some welfare/safeguarding matters that I have had to give priority to, so again please accept my thanks that these have been dealt with over some other matters.
This weekend is my weekend in 4 to work and as ever I will be out of the loop for much of it and I have taken some extra hours to help support what is happening.
Thank you to those who check on me and to those who share their achievements, I love hearing how it’s all going and seeing the photos you share with me ❤️🏹
This has been a crazy busy week, trying to fit everything in has been exhausting but I have pulled it off, I think 🤔
The meetings, online and in person were all attended. Crazy shifts at work all done and emotionally and mentally exhausting they were too. A couple of reviews were completed for existing projects. Plans to move short term to long term for 2 projects, created and discussed and now to get them up and running. The art show/auction attended and proud to have played a tiny part in raising money to enable Off the Streets to fund more bleed kits and I won the silent action for the piece that I had bid on!
Helping others to do their bits for the community is part if what we all do and when I get my desk set up in a few weeks this will be hanging on the wall close by for sure.
Saturday the decision was made to call of the activity session for the seniors group, where we are it was wet and incredibly windy, they had warned the tail end of the hurricane was going to hit but we had tried to remain optimistic 🤗
Sunday saw the National Flight Championships and I had decided to enter only 2 categories for a variety of reasons. In 2021 I came home with 4 golds, in 2022 I came home with two golds, a silver and a bronze. 2023 saw my flight interrupted for incredibly valid reasons. For 2024 I had originally set my goals as beat the 2 county records that I set in 2022 so that the new ones would see my club changed. Also to earn my next raptor badge having earned the Merlin in 2022.
The decision to shoot only 2 categories meant I would only have the chance to break my county record in Target Compound not exceeding 45lb. As I wasn’t going to be shooting the flight recurve bow. Break the county record I did, plus laid down the first of the 2 required distance to earn the kestrel raptor badge.
My little longbow measured in at 19lb which meant she was easily over matched in the Not Exceeding 35lb but I shoot this bow because it makes me smile.
I also ended the day with a silver medal in my compound category – not too shabby!
Monday saw the Northern Counties regional flight and here I achieved the second score I needed to claim my kestrel raptor badge 🥳
I also manage to beat my new county record for my target bow NE 45lb 🥳 excellent news
I am very happy, how could I not be, I am surrounded by amazing friends when I shoot flight and I would never change that! Flight is my most favorite form of archery but I have had to pay for putting my body through all of that 😱🤷♀️🫣
Tuesday I would gladly have stayed in bed but I had a session arranged for the amazing young people to have a session @ Kingswood in Corby. Another great session and thanking everyone as always for everyone’s warm welcome each time we come over.
The SEND sessions are an awesome chance for those who, for various reasons, have found other sports/activities are not right for them 🤗
I am incredibly proud of the young people who have helped me deliver the sessions over the summer, all 4 have been amazing 😎 thank you
The pointy sessions have been well attended and it’s been great watching the young people develop confidence with each session.
Without a doubt the theme of the week has been friendship, without it I would certainly have struggled in such a busy week.
The Archery England Federation Cross Badges are almost up to date and it has been awesome seeing people pleased to have them and wearing them, picked up my shirt and hoody so now when I deliver in person I am on brand and I do love delivering in person.
Some planning and reviewing done and some admin, admin is so dull 😂 but I actually enjoy it I think it makes the OCD part of my brain happy 😃
I am currently dealing with 5 different safeguarding cases so please do have some patience as whilst we are looking after everyone these are a priority after my day job!
This week saw me deliver the first session to the group from Support Northampton. On a Saturday there are a group of like minded seniors who come together and try to stay active and also have some social time. These were a lovely group and there was lots of smiles and laughter and soft archery enjoyed by all. As we all know it doesn’t take long for a little competitive edge to kick in and this was no different 😂 but it was also very nice to see them supporting and encouraging each other. I am looking forward to our next session as they have borrowed the kit to deliver to another group, I cannot wait to hear how that went.
It was great to catch up with everyone at the Home Nations Cup and what a great event it was, great to see the fantastic feedback everyone is leaving. Well done to everyone involved.
Managed to spend some time sorting out my bow and very much improved and hopefully will manage a reasonable score at the Thoresby when I shoot for the county, but this weekend is all about flight for me ❤️🏹
Catch you all soon, enjoy the weather as the forecast is a little bit of a rollercoaster 🤞🏻
Tuesday was an excellent day, visiting youth festival at Lilleshall and catching up with friends, supporting some amazing juniors and having some conversations face to face to save some meetings. I took a couple of guests from Kingswood Urban Project too, letting them see our sport up close and in a competitive environment, both assure me they had a great day but also it was a great chance to see the sport I love and am so passionate about through other people’s eyes. Fresh perspectives are always a good way of reviewing what we see.
Some meetings, some confirmation of events allowing things to be firmed in the calendar and a Sunday morning brunch by the canal with archery friends as we put the world to rights – great fun.
DISC soft archery session and to help me and Archie this month the amazing Deb Horne who was visiting for the weekend lent a helping hand, I love this group and though we didn’t get many visitors this week it was nice to share it with a friend.
Despite the day job requiring a lot of my time this week I have kept on top of everything archery related from integr8archery to welfare officer and everything else I do too, thank you to the few people over the weekend who recognised what the last couple of weeks have demanded from me and sent me messages, never expected but always appreciated.
This coming week is mostly meetings, planning and work in the day job, except for Thursday which I have set aside for all things archery but in particular getting in control of the English Federation Crosses for Archery England. I am very much looking forward to get these little bits of shiny progress sent out for the archers to display in whatever way they do. For me it’s my hat, I know many decorate their quivers so I look forward to seeing some photographs of new bling soon.
Have a good week, stay in touch and for anyone who keeps an eye on my patterns for communication my weekend of working has changed to allow my to shoot my flight competitions so I will be working this weekend Friday afternoon until late Sunday evening.
Back home saw a swift return to life! But weeks ago a trip to London had been planned for me and Rose as a late birthday trip for her. Her love of art saw a trip to frameless followed by shopping and an Italian dinner along with some little impromptu drop ins as we travelled the city. I love spending time with her, she’s amazing company and I am blessed to have amazing friendships with my children 🤗🥰 she’s mending well and we can see the possibility of normal being a very real thing for her, her determination over the last 9 months has been inspiring ❤️
County meeting, dealing with clubs across the region and a couple outside who want to engage to resolve the issues around welfare officers, some safeguarding matters and getting ready to take on the Archery England Federation Crosses all keeping me busy when I have not been at work this week!
The news that my hard work paid of and I have passed my PBS course 🥳 is rewarding, and that I have been asked to be one of a handful of people selected to be trained in how to deliver the 1 day course across the business, makes it very rewarding but I have to say, if anyone ever suggests an intense level 5 course – consider with caution, it’s usually over 2 years for a reason and 5 months was incredibly had work 😱🤔😳 but worth it in the end and I can go back to concentrating on my level 3 and level 4 courses, lots to do and equally intense subjects, but hopefully by the new year I will be able to look back with some pride over what I have achieved across the 3 courses.
A little bit of finalising plans for the coming weeks and that allowed me to focus on Monday’s session at Kingswood Urban Development Project, grateful to be indoors as the heat was somewhat intense! As previously we ran bookable SEND sessions in the morning and drop in sessions in the afternoon. Caught up with people we had seen before and saw lots of new people two, across the day we catered for around 50 people, great to see everyone and hope to see them next month. Some great feedback from both sessions but particularly around the SEND provision which is always great to hear, it’s good to know we are getting it right, whilst we plan with everyone when working together, we only know if it’s working by hearing from those who come along.
I had been asked by several people to drop in to Lilleshall for a catch up and to offer support at this year’s youth festival. I did just that and was joined by Rob and Aidan from Kingswood Urban Development Project who hopefully enjoyed it as much as they said, they were certainly good company. List of great matches, lots of hugs and catch ups and I collected those badges I will be setting out to get in the post soon. 😊
Some intense hours at work over the next week as we support a young person going through an especially difficult time so please be patient if that impacts my time here.
Lots of meetings last week to get some events finalised and myself ready to get to Dunster for 10 days.
After my trip to A&E and the issues with my health there had been some very real conversations with medical professionals about if I should cancel the trip. We agreed on 5 out of 8 days of shooting and the last weekend I would take on the 2 nationals. These decisions affectively halved the arrow count. I also agreed that I would be a responsible grown up and listen to my body and make reactive, responsible decisions throughout the trip.
Originally the plan had been to come down Friday and relax Saturday and shoot Sunday. However Jack and I had manage to get tickets to a through the night event at Warhammer on the Friday, knowing that I would be travelling to Nottingham and back and would be exhausted before setting off to Somerset, I decided that Sunday I would not take part in the Somerset County championships as my body would not be able to cope. Most definitely the right decision as just sitting on the range reading my book and resting to get over the previous few days still resulted in a lot of pain.
As a result when I woke up Monday morning and was still suffering I decided that the sensible thing would be to ditch the plan and shoot the short metric, half the arrows and a lot less walking. However when I got back at lunch time the incredibly heavy rain that had persisted through the morning saw a lot of archers stopping, the thing with sitting to shoot is that whatever the weather you are in it! You also get cold quickly as you aren’t moving around, so with the pain I was already carrying I withdrew, not wanting to risk the week when I could sit it out and enjoy the rest of the week!
Tuesday I got up, some mild pain in several areas but excited and looking forward to shooting! Set up, start and some miscommunication saw me being told my arrows were consistently missing even when making lots of adjustments, so I decided to quit and stop shooting! Except I hadn’t missed and though low scores they were scores! So I had allowed comments to feed my vulnerable beliefs around my abilities! Except I hadn’t missed but by then it was too late I had withdrawn!
Today was longbow day, definitely got in the way of some very talented archers but they are all amazing and never shouted at me but accepted me and my lack of ability and let me join them. Our boss was calm and chilled and I have had a great day thanks to the people who shared their day with me. Thursday and Friday have been set aside for me to recover before the madness of the weekend and shooting the reduced week means I can explore, so explore we will ❤️🏹
Wednesday and longbow has a variety of dress options!😂
It’s been a busy 7 days! Couple of safeguarding meetings that went well and hopefully issues can be resolved soon.
School games finals day, always great fun, the months of activity across the county and for many, the chance try new sports and choose one to focus on, and compete to get to finals day. Northamptonshire Sports do such an amazing job of ensuring teams, schools and providers all do what we need to across the months. Over 1100 children come together across the various sports and 10 school teams of 4 came together for the archery finals. Children from years 5 to 10 put on an amazing display and a great day was had.
The weekend saw JNOC and as I have withdrawn from AGB competition volunteering for this outdoor season it was a little strange at times but I had plenty to keep me busy. Supporting Rose is always great and a privilege, she blows me away. What she’s gone through since October would have stopped many but she has continued and the sport has, at times, kept her going. No medals but a well earned blue rose award.
In addition I was able to support the amazing team from Ebbsfleet Academy and have the rare chance to chat face to face with all of the committee and Deb managed to get a team photo of us all together ❤️🏹
I was able to support 9 other individuals and a few parents who I support always plus a bunch of others from across the county and wider, I am proud of everyone of them and saw some medals, some new PB’s, some English federation crosses and some rose awards claimed. As always accompanied by the weather dome that is Lilleshall and provided some turbulent conditions at times. Awesome work by everyone.
Home and back to work, now tidying everything up ready for heading off to Dunster at the weekend. Following my trip to a&e 2 weeks ago I have made some responsible decisions about what I should be shooting and of the possible days I have entered 5. My set up is not right and there will not be time to make the corrections needed so I am expecting absolutely nothing, not even decent scores! But I will be spending time with great friends and that is what I am going for – that and the ice cream 😜
So, prepare for next week being reduced communication 🙃
As always it’s been a busy busy week. 4 events delivered and I am blessed that I have great coaches who work with me 😊
I very much enjoyed the day at Kingswood Urban Development Project, young people get spoken about harshly and society seems to expect the worst from them. I am privileged to work with young people who enjoy sharing their sport with other young people.
I am always careful when choosing who I want to deliver for every group and one of the most important things for me is acceptance, equality diversity and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.
This week has seen us deliver a combination of soft and pointy archery to 118 people, some open groups and some SEND specific but many different ages. A bunch of meetings too and I am particularly excited to be adding some soft archery for a group of seniors who like to be active on weekends.
I love sharing our sport and showing that it is so adaptive and excludes no one! ❤️🏹
Also finished everything for submission for my course tomorrow and the presentation is all ready to go, 🤞🏻 for the assessment and I pass, the waiting will bother me as always so I apologise now to anyone who listens to me get impatient whilst I wait on the results 😜
Thank you as always for the patience for my 1 weekend in 4, lots of hours and some intense moments saw me sleep when I got home to recover and I managed to wake up shortly before a meeting 😱
Have a good week and remember in just a few weeks it will be the second anniversary for Integr8archery CIC so if you need an excuse for cake, there it is 😜🎂 I shall be celebrating in the weekly blog for 104 weeks but the actual date will be 28/6/24 🥳
wow! It never ceases to amaze what I achieve, my brave step in setting up the CIC and believing in myself – protecting everything from everyone and carefully choosing who I will and will not work with – it’s paid off and I am so very excited as I approach my second anniversary.
Massive decisions to make come October but I shall plough on until then. It is these anniversaries when I really feel the loss of my dad, our weekly chats about my little business were a highlight of my week and there have been so many more weeks without him than with him. His opinion was priceless and I did talk in those last few weeks about what his ear meant to me, and we talked of my future plans and it does mean a lot that I can still hear him as I continue to achieve things.
Saturday I woke to the news that one of the coaches had their vehicle broke into overnight and amongst the things taken was my arrows kit which the coach had used to deliver an event for me and was coming to return for me to use on Sunday. No blame on the coaches part but for a little while there I thought I would have to cancel an event I was doing Sunday as I had a double shift Saturday that would prevent me going out to source kit. However a local scout group lent me kit and Sunday saw me deliver to 11 young people who attend a local church group – church jam which is about friendship. The group included ages 5 to 15 and some SEND adaptations. I met some amazing young people and we had a great time.
Not had much time for my own shooting due to work and study commitments, last classroom session before I hand in my portfolio and do my presentation for the level 5 so a lot of work to do in the next 2 week to ensure I have done the best I can do before completing the classroom session to be able to teach and lead as a practitioner if I pass my assessments! 🤞🏻
Meetings this week to plan and review new and existing events and projects.
Have an amazing week and I hope to see you soon, thank you to those who keep me up to date with how you are doing 😊
