Something Goes Twang

Something Goes 'Boing' (TwangII) 20th Aug 06

After last year’s rather successful ‘Something goes Twang’ archery day out, by popular demand I was tasked with organising another one. The venue was to be the same as before, The Derwent Bowmen Archery Club, located at Darley Bridge just outside of Matlock. As previously it was envisaged and planned as a family day out rather than just a bike run, with lunch first in ‘The Three Stags Head’ pub (nice food, good beer) which is virtually attached to the archery field, then archery. The meeting point for the bike contingent was set for reasonable 10.00 at McD’s at Barlborough (J30, M1) and then on, via a small run round Derbyshire to the club. As ever I endeavoured to find some sort of feature/place to stop at and have a look. And this trip I picked Arbor Low stone circle, located near Monyash (signposted off the A515). Although the weather was a bit dull and damp, this was August after all, the run through Chesterfield and up into the Derbyshire dales was uneventful traffic wise, but at one point John did think he’d lost his wallet (probably empty anyway) out of his jacket.
	Arbor Low henge was found, and duly visited, with a rather over enthusiastic farm woman collecting the £1.00 ‘contribution’ to access the site. The monument is E.H. but sits on their farmland. It is in a rather impressive setting, sitting on top of the limestone plateau, and would have been better but for the light drizzle blowing in the wind. It’s said to be the most important stone circle after Stonehenge (?) and it is certainly an impressive piece of construction. 4500 years old and still there is not bad going by any ones books.
Never mind the history, lunch and the pub beckoned, so back on the bikes for a short run down the A5012, very pretty, into Cromford, and on through Matlock, which although it was Sunday lunchtime wasn’t so bike busy, and onwards to Darley Bridge. We arrived at the Derwent Bowmen clubhouse to be met by the rest of the gang. A quick change out of the leathers and off for lunch. We were expected back at 2.00 for basic instruction in toxophally (archery) before being let loose with at plugging arrows into targets.
	We got back on the field at the required time just as the sun came out, fantastic luck. There followed about 3 hours of archery, some good, some not quite so good, but all great fun and I’m sure everyone enjoyed themselves. Everyone improved in skill over the session, and despite our best efforts no one got shot. About 5.00 the fun was declared over, not least because the weather had decided to let its self down with a burst of light drizzle. We helped get all the archery equipment packed away before getting back into our bike gear. Expressed our thanks to the D.B.A.C., and then made our separate ways home, all in all a very good day out.
Special mention must go to the archery club for allowing us to use their kit and equipment, and especially its members for staging this event for us. They were always very helpful and tolerant of our efforts, and full of advice and anecdotes. To any other H.O.C. members reading this I would highly recommend getting in touch with your local archery club, and there are more about than I imagined, and see if they would stage a ‘Have-a-go’ event for you. It’s a very family friendly day out, not expensive, and makes a refreshing change from the usual run out and back thing. Happy riding, Nog and Loopy.