"It probably started, according to the experts about 1600BC in southern Europe and Africa. The longbow or jokingly the 'bent stick' gradually spread out over Europe.
A longbow found in Scotland to be seen in the National Museum is probably 6000 years old.
Longbows found in Denmark and Germany used against the Romans, about 100AD onward are exactly the same as the longbows found on the Mary Rose which sank in 1545.
The Vikings are generally thought to have introduced the longbow to England through their raids and settling in York. It is thought that the Welsh may have used the longbow before that and were more skilled than the English in its use.
The Welsh archers were recruited by the English to fight the Scottish and French.
As the use of armour increased so did the draw weight of the longbow, ie. the weight held on the fingers at 28 inches of arrow.
With the aid of computers the draw weight of the bows from the Mary Rose ranged from 100lbs to 175lbs, the majority being around 150lbs. full draw would have only been held momentarily; the damage was done by the shooting rate- 10 - 12 per minute and the shower of arrows.
An archer cannot fire an arrow - no gunpowder or other propellant is used, just muscle and technique.
The longbow is still shot today and is gaining in popularity. Today's longbows are laminated in Yew or Osage with Hickory and Lemonwood with a draw weight of around 50lbs.
TODAY
Today, shooting alongside the longbow men are recurve and compound archers.
Present day bows are very hi-tech. recurve bows have moved from one piece and at one time all steel, to three pieces - a riser or handle and a pair of limbs. These bows can have micro adjustable sights, stabilisers and a variety of strings.
The compound bow has a short handle with concentric cams (pulley wheels). This system allows an archer to draw a heavy weight - 50 - 80lbs which reduces to a much lighter weight when drawn. One indisputable fact remains - it is all down to the archers technique and above all consistency.
Red Kite Archers are a target archery club who welcome all bow disciplines. Our shooting ground at Caersws is open all the year. Our web site, listed to the right of this page, will explain everything. Please contact us or just come along and see for yourself."
Article by Lawrie Woodhall
Found out about another ancient sport...
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