Archery Restored To The Sports Of The People

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 31, 13 January 1939, Page 4

Archery Restored To The Sports Of The People

Likely To Spread To New Zealand

ROBIN HOOD and his merry men would feel quite at home in many parks throughout the world to-day, for the air is filled with the twang of unloosened bowstrings and the swish of feathered arrows. Archery, one of the most ancient of sports, is taking the modern world by storm. Part of this revival of popularity may be attributed to the interest in the Warner Bros. picture, "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (it’s

not the first time an important movie has started a new craze). But the picture can have had little influence, for instance, in Germany where, as part of the "Health Through Joy" movement in the Fatherland, girls and. boys are now being taught archery as a modern -sport. In New Zealand, there are as yet few modern Robin Hoods. Tkirty or 40: years ago, archery was one of the mere polite pastimes, and on many a pateh of greensward, bands of daintily-clad ladies and their escorts might be observed pulling the longbow and shooting their arrows at the butts. One of the most beautiful spots in the Christchurch Botanical] Gardens is still always referred to as the "Archery Lawn." For years it has been just an archaic name; but perhaps it will come to have a real application again — if the city fathers permit, and if interest in archery revives in New Zealand as it has in ‘other countries. Inquiries among Wellington sports depots revealed that there was, at present, no general demand for archery equipment, though isolated requests came from time to time, and they could be filled if mecessary. if the truth were known, there are probably a good many enthusiasts for the longbow scaitered up and down the Dominion -apart, of course, from the hordes of small boys to whom "bows and arrows," usually made from willow saplings, are essential equipment for every game of Cowboys and Indians. The writer knows of cne man who possesses a stout six-foot bow of English yew with which he proudly claims to have once shot a rabbit on the run. Cross-examin-

ed, however, he will admit that it was @ pure fluke! Yet such an achievement is by no means beyond the ordinary powers of modern archers, many of whom would probably not he put to shame by Robin Hood and William Tell if they could reappear in the fiesh. Some readers may recall having seen a newsreel in which the present champion bowman of America not only shot an apple off somebody’s head from 2 long distance, but went one better than William Tell by taking a cigarette out of his living target’s mouth! Archery is now gaining a firm fiold in Australia, so it may not be long before it comes across the Tasman. The swords club! and fencing clubs of Sydney recently formed an archery scciety to teach the use of the

longbow in addition to the science of the sword; and there is already reported to he a mem, bership of about 100. t But America appears to be t# place where most bows are OW being bent. A_ recent city-wide Robin Hood archery tournament, sponsored by the Chicage Park district, served as a springboard for many amateurs to try their hands. Now almost 8600 archers shoot their arrows toward conceltric circled targets spread in parks skirting the west side of the city like an arc, At the time of this tournament, more than 250 archers were successful in coming through the preliminary contests and qualifying for the finals of this picturesque and fascinating sport. But hundreds of spectators were’ so intridreds of spectators were 680 intrigued that they hied themselves arrows. It is the chance to build one’s own tackle, under expert supervision of course, that is believed to have made archery &6 popular in many parts of America. It is extremely popular in Hollywood, too, but since film stars are busy people, most of them get their equipment ready-made.