The 316th Recorded Meeting in the 353rd year of The Society of Archers
ANTIENT SILVER ARROW
was held at Harrogate Rugby Club
on Saturday 24th May 2025
The Clerks Report
The 24th day of May 2025 saw gentlemen gather at Harrogate Rugby Club for the 316th Recorded meeting of the Antient Scorton Silver Arrow Tournament. 64 gentlemen shot with 54 carrying the longbow. The weather was overcast with a moderate side wind.
Lieutenant Craig Benson sounded the bugle to bring the gentleman to order. The Captain, Ian Harris welcomed everyone to the shoot. The Clerk advised the Arrow had been returned and was available to be shot for, reminding the gentleman of their responsibilities.
Shooting got underway at 10.30am prompt with the Captain and Lieutenant taking aim. At the 2nd end the Captain’s son Aiden Harris achieved the best red becoming Lieutenant Elect. Shooting continued to the 12.30 scheduled break for luncheon. No black spot having been achieved.
The usual luncheon was taken in the Rugby Club. The quick but effective annual meeting passed with a proposal in principle being agreed about a recently obtaining old Scorton trophy and how it would be reassigned. The Captain presented Lieutenant elect with his brooch.
The gentlemen returned to the field for a further 2 hours shooting. After an hour of shooting, and still no black spot, the Clerk took the step to reduce the shooting distance to firstly around 88 yards then to about 60 yards. A black spot needed to be achieved. After several ends at 60 yards Andy Yates achieved the accolade and became Captain elect. For the remaining 25 minutes the gentlemen returned to 100 yards. Throughout the day no black spot was achieved at the 100 yard distance.
The Captain’s Lady, Fiona, presented the trophies to the deserving winners, together with the usual glasses to the Lady Scorers. Finally the usual bottle to Sean the Judge and another to the Clerk.
The Clerk then explained the reasoning behind the reduction in distance and the need to reach a “shot” black spot, adding that history dictated the format undertaken.
The meeting was rounded off by the retiring Captain passing his thanks to all those involved in the organisation of the day. The proceeds of the swear bag and other donations went to the Captain’s chosen charity, the UK Dementia. A total donation of £150.00 was made to the charity.
TROPHY WINNERS 2025
Judge: Mr Sean Gleeson
| The Scorton group of Trophies | ||
| Captain of the Arrow | … | Andy Yates |
| Lieutenant of the Arrow | … | Aiden Harris |
| The Horn Spoon for Worst White | … | Richard Weatherby |
| The Scorton Longbow Group of Trophies | ||
| The Ben Hird Sword for most Hits, Longbow | … | Hamish Freeman |
| The Alain Holt Ladle for Highest Score, Longbow | … | Patrick Revell |
| The North Ribblesdale Spoon for Best Longbow Arrow at the 1st end after lunch | … | Patrick Revell |
| The Tri-Centenial Trophy for most Golds,Longbow | … | Martin Middleton |
| The Thirsk Insignia for Yorkshiremen – born within the County | ||
| The Silver Arrow & Gold Quiver, for Highest Score | … | Ian Hiscocks |
| The Thirsk Bugle for most Hits | … | Kev Ward |
| The Thirsk Silver Medal for Best Gold | … | Roy Dixon |
| The Subscription Trophies | ||
| The Gold Medal for the Captain of Numbers | … | Ian Hiscocks |
| The Gold Medal for the Highest Score | … | Kev Waard |
| The Phillips Cup for the Best Gold of the Meeting | … | Andy Yates |
| The Sweepstakes | ||
| Best Gold | … | Andy Yates |
| Second Best | … | Kev Ward |
| Joint Third Best | … | Roy Dixon & Roger Brasenell |
| Most Golds | … | Ian Hiscocks |
| Joint Second Most | … | Kev Ward & Chris Battersby |
| Proceeds of the Swear Bag | … | £39.95 |
TOURNAMENT RESULTS 2025
We also had the pleasure of the company of Ken Billings (R), Neil Dimmock (L), Joh Nuttall (L) and Mark Read (L)
Entered but did not shoot : Roger Ayton, Clive Roebuck, Kevin Schofield, Gordon Marshall and Ian Hunter.
Minutes of the 316th Meeting – 24th May 2025
The Captain, Ian Harris, asked those present to be up standing for the Loyal Toast. Gentlemen archers, who had shot the bow with the Captain in the morning, were asked to remain standing whilst guests retired from the room.
The Captain then proposed the toasts to The Society and The Arrow, The Captain and Lieutenant Elect and absent friends. Special mention was made of Wyn Roberts who had recently passed with fellow club members bringing his bow to shoot.
The Lieutenant, Craig Benson, read the minutes of the 315th meeting. These were accepted as a true record.
Apologies for absence were received beforehand from Clive & Tom Woolley, Richard Allan, Martin Jordan, Ged Hebdige, Peter Brook, Pete Titterton, Daryl Oxley, Stewart Atkinson, Simon Jenkins, Mark Hayes, Kevin Schofield, Allan Shuker and Dave Phillips.
The following matters were discussed:
- The Palace did respond following the 2024 loyal message and white rose. His Majesty the King thanked the gentlemen for their kind wishes.
- His Majesty, The King had been sent the usual Loyal Message and Single White Rose shortly before the 2025 shoot. To date no reply has yet been received.
- Website – Again thanks to Alan Hoddinott.
- The accounts for The Society were presented. The current funds stand at £5,885.37, a slight increase on the previous year. The insurance costing the same as the previous year, £167.44.
- The main topic of the year was notification that one of the Society’s old trophies was about to be auctioned. The Hutton Coates Best Gold Trophy which was won outright by J W Phillips in 1935.
- The Clerk asked for pledges to try and obtain sufficient funds to purchase the trophy, but at last minute an anonymous offer to purchase the trophy for the Society was received via a third party. The auction came and went with bidding successful. The generous benefactor and cost of the trophy will remain confidential.
- The Clerk asked for authority to refund himself £90 paid for postage getting the trophy. This was agreed.
- A proposal in principle for use of the Hutton Coates trophy had been received, this was read out as follows: “That the Trophy be re-purposed and to be awarded to the archer attaining the Best arrow on the last end of shooting”. The proposal in principle was accepted and will go to the 2026 meeting for final acceptance.
- Following last year being the final year of Adrian Hayes generous bow donation, both Ian Marr and Colin Hope approached me at the end of last years shoot to offer a bow and a set of arrows for raffle. This is extremely generous of both of them.
- The Captain’s chosen charity is UK Dementia. This was unanimously approved by the Gentlemen present.
- The Lieutenant elect, was presented with his brooch by the Captain.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 14.23.
