EVERY month the Forest of Bere Bowmen run a medal round on a handicap basis, when people shoot eight dozen arrows at a range of distances.

Club members were thrilled that June Burchell, who is in her 80s, won on handicap and by a large margin too.

Burchell has been part of the club for many years now. When she agreed to be used as a demonstration model by her next door neighbours who ran archery courses, little did she realise how involved she would become.

Being a widow and finding Sundays especially lonely and boring, she then leapt at a chance to complete a beginner’s course, knowing that club day was a Sunday.

Her 70th birthday present from her family was a bow and some arrows. Since then, she has shot regularly all year round, both indoors and outside, although not shooting quite so far now as in her early days of archery.

She also helps out at club functions run by the Forest of Bere Bowmen, including the have a go sessions for the public.

The Forest of Bere Bowmen run beginners’ courses in archery in the spring and summer.

Visit the website at: www.forestofberebowmen.co.uk for details.