BL-BS shoots in SE England

Background to the British Long-Bow Society

The British Longbow Society (BL-BS, BLBS) was formed in 1951 with the primary aim of keeping the tradition of shooting the English/British recreational longbow alive. It organises competitions around the UK and has affiliates in Ireland, the Netherlands and the US. The Rules of Shooting are sent to new members - basically all shoots are 2-way with no sighters and no bouncers allowed. Members attending BL-BS organised shoots are eligible for national rankings and awards.

There are a number of BL-BS websites currently active (as listed by Google). The latest official iteration appears more complete although no on-line shooting diary available yet.

Around March of each year, members receive a printed Events Diary listing all the competitions for the coming year together with application forms for all events. Below are listed those open events occurring in the SE England region (similar to AGB’s SCAS region). 

Shoots organised by BL-BS are in bold text, those organised by others (eg AGB affiliated clubs) but shooting to BL-BS rules are in normal text. There are only 2 types of shoot organised by the BL-BS, Target and Clout, listed below: 


Target shoots

Rounds are always imperial and 2-way (unless stated otherwise). The overall winner is the archer achieving the most hits (silver medal), 2nd is based on highest score (bronze medal) 3rd is based on most golds (bronze medal). These are awarded on an 'unrewarded basis' - so, if you win on hits you are excluded for the 'score' and 'golds' awards - this way more archers are rewarded.

If double rounds are shot then awards are also made for the first and second rounds, again on an unrewarded basis, in addition to the overall shoot winners.

Shooting 2-way National

Longbows shooting a 2-way round

Date

Title/location

Rounds

Organiser/contact

Details

22 April 2023

Hurricane Longbow shoot

Leaves Green Bowmen

Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Kent TN16 3AX

Single Western, 1-way

hurricane@leavesgreenbowmen.org.uk

6 May 2023

Surrey County Longbow Championships + Open (Spring)

Warlingham Archery Club, Surrey CR6 9PB

Single Western

Paul Gardner

longbow@surreyarchery.org

tbc May 2023

BL-BS Spring Target Meeting

The Royal Toxophilite Society, Archers Lodge, Dropmore Road, Burnham, Buckinghamshire

York/Hereford

Mr F. Fairfield

fg.fairfield@googlemail.com

BLBS Events Guide

10 May 2023

Southern Counties Archery Meeting (Longbow day)

Waterside Archery Grounds, Exbury, Hampshire SO45 1AZ

Double National

Carla Piper

secretary.scam@scasarchery.org.uk

17 May 2023

Silver shoot

West Kent Archery Society

The Butts, TN15 8QN

Hereford/ National

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk

20 May 2023

Coronation Shoot

West Kent Archery Society

The Butts, TN15 8QN

Windsor

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk

10 June 2023

Kent Archery Association Longbow Day

The Butts, TN15 8QN

Double National, 1-way

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk

1 July 2023

West Kent Archery Society Championships

The Butts, TN15 8QN

York 

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk

5 August 2023

West Kent Archery Society Meeting

The Butts, TN15 8QN

Albion

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk

2 Sept 2023

Surrey County Longbow Championships + Open (Autumn)

Warlingham Archery Club, Surrey, CR6 9PB

Single Western

Paul Gardner

longbow@surreyarchery.org

9 Sept 2023

BL-BS West Kent Meeting

The Butts, TN15 8QN

Hereford

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk

23 Sept 2023

Spitfire Longbow shoot

Leaves Green Bowmen

Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Kent TN16 3AX

Single Western, 1-way

spitfire@leavesgreenbowmen.org.uk

Cancelled

tbc Sept 2023

BL-BS 70th Annual Target Meeting

The Royal Toxophilite Society, Archers Lodge, Dropmore Road, Burnham, Buckinghamshire

York/Double National

Mr F. Fairfield

fg.fairfield@googlemail.com

BLBS Events Guide

 30 September 2023

South Eastern Target Meeting 

Newhaven Archery Club, Firle, Sussex

York/Double National

Ron Floor

ron_longbow1@hotmail.co.uk

BLBS Events Guide


Clout shoots

Shooting at the SE BLBS clout 2019

Shooting the SE Clout, Tonbridge

For BLBS you shoot at a target 30” diameter, white with a central 4” black spot, raised at approx 45 degrees. They are always 2-way, double (2 rounds of 36 arrows), no sighters. Gents shoot at 180 yards; ladies at 120 yards. Concentric rings are marked at 30", 4', 7', 10' and 13' from the centre. Scoring is similar to AGB but if an arrow touches the target (clout) it scores 6.

Also an additional “shoot-off by ends” is held: during the double round the scorer notes at each end whose arrow is nearest the middle – judged by distance of the part of the arrow nearest the clout, not necessarily where it meets the ground (so that archer “wins the end” regardless of score).  At the end of the double round, shoot-offs are held for 2 ladies/target and 2 gentlemen/target with the most best arrows (aka “ends won”).  Each archer shoots 2 arrows individually in turn and the nearest to the clout wins the "shoot-off”.

Date

Title/location

Rounds

Organiser/contact

Details

27 May 2023

BL-BS South Eastern Spring Clout Meeting

Tonbridge School Centre, London Road, Tonbridge, TN10 3AD (TBC)

Double

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk


tbc October 2023


BL-BS South Eastern Autumn Clout Meeting

Tonbridge School Centre, London Road, Tonbridge, TN10 3AD (TBC)

Double

Sheena Turner

tournaments@wkas.co.uk

Page updated 20 September 2023