A CONCENTRATED effort in running "Come and Try" sessions and beginners "Oz Bow" courses has proven successful in attracting new members to Wangaratta Target Archers (WTA).

Help from the Rural City of Wangaratta has improved public awareness of the club which welcomes people to try the fun sport of target archery.

Next year will see the two sessions rebadged and presented as “Have a go with a Bow” and “Go for Gold”, to learn more please contact the club.

Archery is a sport for a diverse community.

It is a sport where members of a family can shoot alongside each other and compete on an equal basis.

It can also attract elite athletes going for Olympic gold.

All ages are attracted to the sport.

It's not just a physical activity, the best archers shoot more with their brains than their arms.

By adapting the equipment, those with restricted physical abilities can also enjoy themselves on the range.

The club is also keen to increase its female membership and appropriate equipment is available for learning.

Wangaratta Target Archers is affiliated with Archery Australia, the national governing body for the sport, and Archery Victoria for the state.

The year ended with the club's Christmas novelty shoot where archers shot a “Clout" where arrows are lobbed onto a target flat on the ground at 60m using equipment normally used by beginners, great fun, then crazy scores.

Shot at 30m on a large target face, down side is that the archers have no idea what the scoring is going to be until after the arrows are shot.

It could be reversed, that is the 10 becomes a one, the nine a two etc. or only the highest and lowest arrow is counted, or worst of all the current score is taken away from your total.

All archers had great fun and it was a fitting end to a great year for the club.

The WTA Shield was presented for winning the handicap competition held over the entire year, and went to Lorraine Offermann.

Congratulations for all of the heard work you have done to do so well.

For more information please, check the website at wangarattaarchers.org.au, Facebook at facebook.com/WangArchers/, or contact Rob on 0401 917 787.