http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html en-gb 30 Fri 18 Dec 2009 00:32:11 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=18#comment13 Tough luck Alan, I'm quite sure you did your best, and remember that winning is not everything. I shoot myself, and should be VERY proud to be selected for the Olympics! Mon 08 Sep 2008 16:02:44 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=17#comment12 Alan, in this country we have the right to say how we feel. At least you had the guts to say what others are thinking. Well done! Keep shooting those arrows and be yourself. Sun 17 Aug 2008 20:28:09 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=15#comment11 Duly forgiven Mr Schriver and my apologies to Alan Wills. Sun 17 Aug 2008 00:30:33 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=14#comment10 I heard the Koreans built a replica of the archery venue so that their archers could get prior experience!For all of us shooting at club level at leisure centres and hidden fields up and down the country once or twice a week - you are the pinnacle of our sport and we admire and support you and the GB archers all the way. The training, technique, mental and physical stamina required for this sport are hugely underestimated by those have never drawn a bow. Sat 16 Aug 2008 08:03:18 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=12#comment9 The medal expactions have been too high. Having observed the internatioanl competitions archery has had a random count of successes. Especially, it is very difficult for the men to be consistant in winning year after year. The British team has improved a lot over the past years. This we shall not forget whilst other former strong nations had to see a downturn. I hope that the pressure to perform in order to keep funding is stopped as particular those sports which are weak at the moment need the best support to establish future success. Also the wheather conditions were not alwasy the best. The rain was quite heavy at some stages. Whilst other competitions were abondoned, the archers had to continue shooting. Thanks to Alison, Charlotte, Nim Nom, Alan, Larry and Terry. I hope Sarah, Tom and Ed have learned a lot to brighten up achery's future. Sat 16 Aug 2008 06:48:21 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=11#comment8 Oh and p.s. The Great John Greaves of Windsor Forest Bowmen once said of my rookie mistake of using the term firing an arrow, 'There is no combustion in archery!' so please refer to his wisdom and use the term shoot or loose!! :) and I'm done!! Fri 15 Aug 2008 20:12:51 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=10#comment7 I would first of all like to congratulate the GB boys and girls who made it to the olympics this year as I know the scores needed to be achieved in the Fita Olympic round are incredibly high and to hear people being negative about team GB not getting any medals this year is just shocking to be honest, expecially so as they are all under intense pressure from the big wigs to do well or funds will be cut etc etc. Secondly did anyone actually watch the rounds as I did and i'm not surprised we had a struggle considering the incredible performances of the other teams such as China, Korea and the Ukraine (I loved the Ukrainians method of anchoring, very unique!!) So as far I could see we may not have done as well as we would have liked but the fact that we didn't come last was something to be cheerfull about. As for anyone who may think that Alan was a bit grumpy after...you would too as untill you have been on the line after loosing arrow after arrow at a distance of 70 metres and a draw weight in excess of 30 lbs at a target that when seen from the line looks like a tiny penny sized gold dot!! yes they are olympians but don't forget that for a few of them it was their first olympics and lets face it the crowd were in my eyes shocking with all sorts of shouts and whistles etc while the archers were in the equivalent of a golfing backswing! offputting to any archer from the uk considering GNAS/FITA judges here would remove anyone from the crowds here that would try the same thing in fact i was a bit put off myself when the koreans and chinese archers themselves would squawk whilst on the line themselves. Anyway good luck in the field archery and don't give up on 2012 Alan! Don't forget we have the paralympic archery team still who always seem to win us some medals I know Kathy Smith is a great archer and have been in competitions and practice with her so I know she will do brilliantly for us all COME ON GREAT BRITAIN!! :) Fri 15 Aug 2008 20:06:51 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=8#comment6 Alan, thanks to you and your team, not to mention Suk, you might now have another contender on your hands. After nearly thirty years of trying to get engaged in sport and failing dismally (always relegated to goalie in school hockey and finding any excuse to get out of rounders and swimming) you have won me over to archery which seems a sport anyone can try and do well at rather than something you have to have been born with rippling muscles for. It's a shame that my local archery club have already had their summer course for beginners, but I really want to have a go. As a financial and political analyst I have a keen eye for figures, maybe that same good eyesight could help me shoot a 10 sometime in the future!It would also explain why as a child I watched Robin Hood until I broke the video and used to pretend to have a bow and arrow in my hands ready to fire it.In the meantime, the best of luck in future competitions to you, Peter, Folkard, Burgess, Williamson and the rest of the team. We may not be able to beat the South Koreans or Chinese this time round, but hopefully we can only get better and better in time for London. Fri 15 Aug 2008 18:07:56 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=7#comment5 I think you will find that archery events using traditional bows already exist and have world championships and records. It is just they are not included in the Olympics and hence rarely in other main international competitions. Oh and in England you are legally exempt from prosecution if you accidently kill someone whilst practising, mind you all adult males are all still legally required to practice with our longbows. Fri 15 Aug 2008 17:59:21 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=5#comment4 mrmusic99 - unfair to have a go at Alan - I am responsible for not adding the Cuban's name to the piece - it was Juan Carlos Stevens.I hope you'll forgive me. Fri 15 Aug 2008 17:01:32 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=4#comment3 Sore loser! You didn't even have the courtsey to name the 'Cuban' you lost against... Very poor show! Fri 15 Aug 2008 16:41:00 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=2#comment2 Maybe someone can help me here. The bow used in the olympics is so futuristic, it seems to me that technology has totally taken over the event. Let me explain. The bows used at the start of the modern olympics would bear nothing in common with those used today. I think it's a bit of a shame. Yes, you can argue that it's a level playing field, but I think we're missing a chance here.If swimmers can get loads and loads of events for doing much the same thing, why can't we have additional archery events using historically accurate equipment?Just think of it. You could have a longbow event, a composite bow event, a crossbow event. All using an agreed historical design. Not only would archery become (for me, at least!) a lot more interesting, we would be investing in keeping certain skills alive. Skills that bit by but are becoming rarer. For comparison; check out fencing. Ideas? Fri 15 Aug 2008 16:16:31 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=1#comment1 Alan,When I was a kid I used to watch Errol Flynn fight Basil Rathbone in Robin Hood. Then there was Walt Disney and more recently Kevin Costner.It was one of my boyhood dreams to be able to shoot a bow like that. It was just the coolest thing ever.Therefore, regardless of whether you lost by a paltry 4 points or not, as far as I'm concerned mate, you're an absolute legend.Good luck for 2012. Fri 15 Aug 2008 13:42:29 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/wills_reflects_on_archery_exit.html?page=0#comment0 Alan, you accounted yourself well. Hope to see you getting Gold at the Oval for the London Olympics. I think the UK can do massively in this sport if people can stay together, lick their wounds and come back stronger.4 points is nothing and it could have easily gone your way. Fri 15 Aug 2008 13:33:59 GMT+1