The 294th Recorded Meeting in the 330th year of The Society of Archers
ANTIENT SILVER ARROW
held at Brayton High School, Selby, North Yorkshire
on Saturday 18th May 2002
The Clerks Report
May 18th 2002, a typical May morning, wet and misty, 63 gentlemen of whom 50 are Longbowmen have assembled on the playing fields of Brayton High School, Selby. With all members grouped around the Society’s Flag the captain called on the assembly for 1 minutes silence in respect for the memory of past Capt; Gordon Foster, deputy clerk, who died unexpectedly a few weeks ago. Gordon was Capt; for the year 1980. Shooting commenced at 10.30am. The Lieutenancy being taken again by Gary Aldred of Lancashire. The Captaincy followed a couple of ends later to Chris Battersby of Cumbria. Now the game is on for the highest score and most hits, or the best gold and sweepstakes.
Two Hours, time to replenish the inner man, the buffet lunch is excellent as usual, the wine free flowing and friendships growing. Shooting resumed at 3.15pm, the Swear bags were busy as usual, the contents amounting to £29 are to be presented to the Captain’s Mother’s local Methodist Church.
When tea was over and results were in, the Captains Lady Mrs Barbara Phillips, looking very smart in her outfit, presented the trophies and sweepstakes to the winners and an engraved goblet to each of the Lady Scorers, the Judges received the usual bottle of something liquid. After presenting his Lady with a big bouquet the Capt; thanked the members of his club and others for all their very hard work.
Mr Stanley Snow., Clerk to the Society.
TROPHY WINNERS 2002
| The Scorton Trophies | ||
| Captain of the Arrow | … | Chris Battersby |
| Lieutenant of the Arrow | … | Gary Aldred |
| The Horn Spoon for Worst White | … | Barry Lydon |
| The Ben Hird Sword for most Hits, Longbow | … | Adrian Hayes |
| The Alain Holt Ladle for Highest Score, Longbow | … | Brian Richards |
| The Thirsk Insignia for Yorkshiremen | ||
| The Silver Arrow & Gold Quiver, for Highest Score | … | Bob Ripley |
| The Thirsk Bugle for most Hits | … | Noel Lawrence & Chris Battersby |
| The Thirsk Silver Medal for Best Gold | … | Graham Tune |
| The Subscription Trophies | ||
| The Gold Medal for the Captain of Numbers | … | Gary Aldred |
| The Gold Medal for the Highest Score | … | Bob Ripley |
| The Phillips Cup for the Best Gold of the Meeting | … | Graham Tune |
| The Sweepstakes | ||
| Best Gold | … | Gary Aldred |
| Second Best | … | Graham Tune |
| Third Best | … | Chris Battersby |
| Most Golds | … | Gary Aldred & Bob Ripley |
| Second Most | … | – |
| Third Most | … | Chris Battersby |
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
We also had the pleasure of the company of:
J. Bowers and C. Line both of whom shot in the longbow
Minutes of the 294th Meeting – 18th May 2002
After the Toast to the Queen followed by toasts to the Arrow and the society of Archers the minutes of the 293rd meeting were read by the Lieutenant, these were accepted as a true record and duly signed by the Captain.
Apologies had been received from four Gentlemen, the Clerk then read out last year’s and this year’s gracious reply to our loyal message.
The Clerk reported a balance of £3124.12 in the Reserve Fund, and £501.88 in the Admin Fund. As a result of a meeting of Captains after last years shoot a Clerks Badge of Office was commissioned from Norman Edwards, this was done in time for this years meeting. Made in Hallmarked Silver at a cost of £48 it met with the approval of the Gentlemen.
The website set up last year now has three titles available for the use of the society, it was decided to link all three, past Captain Chriss Line agreed to carry on with the development of the site.
Last years Captain informed the meeting that the Captain’s register needed more parchment pages, two will cost approximately £180 and this will be enough for 45 years per page. The cost to be stood by the Reserve Fund. The Past Captain reported that the Arrow had been on display at the Royal Armouries all last year.
Discussion of ownership of the Arrow took place – in the event that a winner may die whilst the Arrow was in his possession would an Executor take it to be part of the deceased’s estate? It was decided that a rule be added to the rules of competition making clear that the Arrow and all other Trophies remain the property of the Society for all time.
Following a majority vote it was decided to revive the tradition of buying back the Arrow each year, due to an oversight it had been left out for several years.
Owing to the untimely death of past Captain Gordon Foster it was necessary to appoint another Deputy Clerk. The Clerk suggested a much younger man and recommended Past Captain Andrew Neal of Selby as a worthy candidate, this was agreed by all past Captains present.
After thanking the caterers for an excellent meal the Captain ended the meeting at 2.55pm.
Also in the year 2002
Monarchy: Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Prime Minister: Tony Blair – Labour Party
The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth dies, aged 101 years
UK Census for 1901 published first time on the Internet at www.census.pro.gov.uk/
The three Scorton Arrow websites referred to in the minutes are: www.scortonarrow.com & www.societyofarchers.org.uk registered by Philip Rolls and operating since 2001 and www.societyofarchers.co.uk registered by Chriss Line but not as yet operational.
Stranger than fiction – new Captain Chris Battersby ‘dreams’ of winning the Arrow the night before the Competition and was so convinced he ‘just knew’ he would win it whilst driving down from his home in Cumbria to the event!
Finally, be it noted that since 1673 – a cumlative annual total of 7,005 Archers have now entered the competition and hit the target at Antient Scorton Silver Arrow meetings.
