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The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

Issue 3, November 2010 Welcome to the Parthian Shot, occasional newsletter of the BHAA. This is the third issue ... and yes I know we didn’t manage to get four out in a year as promised. However, hopefully that has meant there has been no compromise on quality and once again thanks to all those who have submitted articles over the last 12 months. The focus for this issue are the Dark Ages - and notably the infamous . Described in history books as “the scourge of God” they were the original bad-boys of horse archery ... or were they?

Dark Age Horse Archers by Rick Lippiett During the Dark Ages Central Eurasia and Central Europe underwent a series of complicated, and seemingly endless migrations, invasions, conquests, reconquests and occupations. This was in contrast to Greater Persia which enjoyed some relative stability for 400 years under the Sassanid Empire (which had fairly seamlessly replaced the ).

The situation was otherwise in the lands occupied by modern day Ukraine, Turkey, , Bulgaria, Romania and the Balkans. Hun Nomad Horse Archer - Horse and Hun Rider taking a break. Note slung bow & straight sword During the Dark Ages (roughly from 100AD - 600AD) an area of Central Europe became a prominent powerbase and would remain so much like the Mongol Tribes and Clans 1000 As they were later described, ‘The Scourge of for at least the next 500 years. The Romans years later. Amongst these Sarmatian tribes God’ would sweep out of the East in an unholy named that region Pannonia, and indeed for were also the Saccae (the former Greek name whirlwind of violence and destruction and some of the time it was considered a province for the ), Roxolani, Iazyges, Siraces, completely overwhelm most of the nomadic of the . However there were a Aorsi and the Alani. peoples occupying Pannonia; ultimately either number of notable incursions by both nomad destroying or allying with these tribes to These were all related peoples and were of and Gothic tribes and consequent expulsions further their conquests - which reached ever- similar culture and ethnicity. These tribes of Roman powers - these numbered some of further Westwards and Southwards towards shared Central Europe with the ever-present the heaviest defeats of Roman armies in that Rome and Byzantium. Gothic Tribes (who would later divide into age. The region encompasses an area that is Visi- in the West and Ostro-Goths now referred to as the Carpathian Basin and Although it would be the sacking of Rome by in the East) and a plethora of Slavic and this remained a fertile and desirable area for Gothic tribes that would bring about the final Celtic tribes that lingered in these central a succession of nomad migrations from the destruction of the , European lands loosely or occasionally held Central Steppes. the Huns would provide critical deathblows by the Roman Empire. Ultimately by the 4th between the infamous sackings (first by By the time the first millennium had passed its Century AD they were about to be over-run the in 410AD and secondly by first centenary the Scythian migration West by a fierce, nomadic warrior tribe who shared the 455AD). Despite conquering or had been all but assimilated and dominated neither culture nor ethnicity - but had in all allying a number of Sarmatian tribes, in the by a similar (some may even say the same) probability at one time shared their former end, the Huns were repulsed by a mixture of über-tribe - often referred to as the . homelands of the Central Steppes. These were diplomacy, trickery, famine, disease and a few In reality this was a loose confederacy that the Huns. They were undoubtedly of East key defeats in battle by the Romans - the most often warred amongst themselves over Asian origin - and thus a different cultural notable being the Battle of the Catalaunian grazelands and livestock, not to mention and ethnic make-up than the more Indo-Iranic Plains (or Battle of Châlons). internecine struggles of overlordship - nomadic tribes occupying Pannonia.

Where did the Huns come from? Traditionally historians have associated the Huns who appeared on the borders of Europe in the 4th century with the Xiongnu who migrated out of the Mongolian regions in the 1st century AD. However ,the evidence for this is apocryphal at best and there are no historical records that definitively answer where the Huns in Europe of the 4th century came from . All we can say safely, is that the name Huns, in , described prestigious ruling groups of steppe warriors that migrated from Central Asia to Central Europe and beyond. The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

THE SARMATIANS The Sarmatians flourished from about the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD. The Greek name Sarmatai derives from the shortening of Sauromatai apparently by association with lizards (sauros). Suggestions for the reason the Sarmatians were associated with lizards include their reptile-like scale armour and their dragon standards.

Herodotus describes the Sarmatians physical appearance as blond, stout and tanned - in short, pretty much the same as the Scythians before them. Indeed Herodotus believed the Sauromatians originated from an unfortunate marriage of a band of young Scythian men and a group of Amazons. According to Pliny (the Elder), Scythian rule once extended as Sarmatian Heavily Armoured Cavalry - these “universal horseman” utilised both bow & lance far as Germany. By the third century BC, the Sarmatian name appears to have supplanted the Equites Sagittarii Clibanarii - evidently Nearly 300,000 refugees resulted from this the Scythian in the plains of what is now heavily armored horse archers based on the conflict and subsequently the Emperor south Ukraine. Considering the overlap of heavy cavalry of contemporary Sassanid Constantine was attributed the honorific tribal names between the Scythians and the armies and possibly made up of the Sarmatian Sarmaticus Maximus. (This was the historical Sarmatians, no new displacements probably “knights”. episode that formed the basis for the 2004 took place. In all probability the people were King Arthur film directed by Antoine Fuqua) The Sarmatians remained dominant until the same Indo-Europeans they used to be, but the Gothic ascendancy in the area now under yet another name. THE HUNS and then disappeared from historical record The Huns were a group of nomadic pastoral also describes the Sarmatians’ following the Hunnish destruction of the people who, appearing from beyond the Volga, similarity to the Persians - the Sarmatians Gothic empire and subsequent invasion of migrated into Europe AD 370 and built up wore long, flowing robes and were Central Europe. From bases in Hungary, an enormous empire in Europe. The Huns accomplished horse warriors. In the late fourth the Huns ruled the entire former Sarmatian may have stimulated the Great Migration, century A.D Roman sources describe a severe territory. Their various constituents enjoyed a contributing factor in the collapse of the defeat which Sarmatian raiders inflicted upon some autonomy under Hunnish rule, fought Western Roman Empire. They formed a Roman forces in the province of Valeria in for the Huns against a combination of Roman unified empire under the Hun, who died Pannonia in late 374 A.D. The Sarmatians and Germanic troops, and went their own in 453; however their empire broke up the almost destroyed two legions - the legions ways after the Battle of Châlons (except those next year. failed to coordinate, allowing the Sarmatians of the Alani settled near Orléans that fought to catch them unprepared, divide them, and with the Roman Alliance). , a Goth writing in in 551AD annihilate them one at a time. describes the Huns: Goths attacked Sarmatian tribes on the north Sarmatian horse warriors (including those of the in what is today Romania. “A savage race ... they cut the cheeks of the of the Alani and Roxolani) differed from In their efforts to halt the Gothic expansion males with a sword, so that before they receive the earlier Parthian cavalry units in that the the Sarmatians armed their slaves. After a the nourishment of milk they must learn to heavily armoured cavalry had combined the massive Roman victory against the Goths by endure wounds. They are short in stature, quick roles of the lighter cavalry, or skirmishing Constantine II (son of Emperor Constatine in bodily movement, alert horsemen, broad horse archers. These horse soldiers would be the Great) the Goths were repulsed. However, shouldered, ready in the use of bow and arrow” adept both at using spears and horsebows (as the local enslaved population revolted against The Huns kept herds of cattle, horses, goats, well as the lasso). Some have claimed that this their Sarmatian masters, pushing them beyond and sheep. Their other sources of food “universal horseman” was to be the blueprint the Roman border. Constantine I, on whom the consisted of wild game and the roots of wild for the Western European knights of the Sarmatians had called for help, defeated the plants. For clothes they had round caps, Middle Ages. However, this doesn’t explain rebels and moved the Sarmatian population trousers or leggings made from goat skin, and the loss of the skills in both lasso and horse back under its auspices. However it came with either linen or rabbit fur tunics. In warfare archery a price and in the Roman provinces Sarmatian combatants were enlisted in the Roman they utilized the bow and javelin whose Nevertheless by the 5th century Notitia army, whilst the rest of the population was arrowheads and javelin tips were originally Dignitatum (one of the few surviving distributed throughout Thracia, Macedonia made from bone, but were quickly replaced documents of Roman government) mentions and Italy.

Legacy of the Sarmatians Whilst the Sarmatian tribes mostly disappeared from the annals of history, one endured into the Middle Ages. The who had remained settled in the Caucasus acted as mounted mercenaries to the Byzantines before coming under the dominion of the Tartar dynasty. The Alani repulsed the Mongol hordes, and fought on the side of the Tartars against Tamburlaine - following which a large proportion of their nation was massacred. However, some survived and became the modern-day Ossetians. Those Alani that migrated westwards during the Great M igration settled in the Loire & Brittany in Gaul, Lusitania in Iberia and even North Africa - where they allied with the Visigoths. Even though the Alani were eventually assimilated, their legacy was evident from hunting dogs to horsebreeds and horsemanship in nearly all these regions (and many town names & crests still bear references to the Alani to this day.) The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

by iron tips as they migrated into Europe. Whilst bow and javelin were used primarily as ranged weapons, the Huns employed both swords and lasso in melée. Their iron swords were long, straight, double-edged swords of early Sassanian style. The Huns also employed a smaller short sword or large dagger which was hung horizontally across the belly and used for close combat fighting. Both sword and dagger grips were sometimes decorated with gold.

With the arrival of the Huns, a separate tradition of composite bows arrived in Europe. The bows were slightly assymetric and were reinforced with lathes on the siyahs and grip. However there is no indication that these bows were superior to their Eastern, Scythian Hun Invaders or Sarmatian counterparts - and may reflect more the poor quality of materials that Supplementing their wealth by plundering north of the Po. Furious with the East Roman made up the bows (and thus needed such and raising tribute from Roman cities to the Empire (who were under treaty) Atilla reinforcement). south, the Huns maintained the loyalties of a returned to his palace in Pannonia and plotted number of tributary tribes including elements to invade their lands in retribution. But whilst The fourth century Roman chronicler of the , , Rugians, Sarmatians, and celebrating his marriage to a beautiful young Ammianus mentions that the Huns had . Initially they made peace with Gothic princess he suffered a nosebleed and no kings but were instead led by nobles. Romans, returned to Pannonia and sought died (this has been attributed variously to For serious matters they formed councils to expand eastward into Sassanid territory - a drunken stupor, nuptial over-exertion or and deliberated from horseback. Jordanes however they were checked by Sassanian Shah perhaps even murder by his new, possibly and Ammianus both report that the Huns Yazdegerd I in Armenia. Seeking easier, softer, unwilling, wife!) practiced scarification, slashing the faces of prey they turned their attentions Westward their male infants with swords to discourage once more. Following the death of Attila, allied forces of beard growth. Another custom of the Huns the under the leadership was to strap their children’s noses flat from After several crushing defeats the Byzantines of , king of the Gepids, defeated the an early age, in order to widen their faces, (in in the East Roman empire eventually sued Hunnic forces of , the son of Attila (who all likelihood to increase the terror their looks for peace and paid tribute to the Hun kings. had struggled with his half-brothers Irnik and instilled upon their enemies.) For a time this placated Attila and Bleda; that Dengizich for supremacy after Attila’s death). is until 445 AD when Bleda was killed in a Ardaric eventually killed Ellac in single As the Huns surged into Europe in the 4th bizarre hunting accident; which was probably combat and Hunnic dominance in Central and century, they crossed the Volga river and arranged by Attila himself. As sole ruler Attila Eastern Europe was broken as a result. The attacked the Alani, most of whom were once again rode Southwards and reached the handful of Hunnic forces left were expelled then subjugated and joined in the wars and walls of Contantinople. However he couldn’t by Ardaric - fleeing Eastwards and back to the invasions of the lands of the Ostrogoths and quite topple the East Empire and the Hun lands that they had originally left. Visigoths. In 395AD the Huns began their armies were held back by the Byzantines; first large-scale assault on the East Roman who once again sued for peace and made a After the disintegration of the Hun Empire, Empire - there followed a 30 year period treaty with Attila. This time Attila rode West they never regained their lost glory. Once with many alliances and battles both with to attack both the Visigoths and West Roman disorganized, the Huns were absorbed by and against the Gothic tribes and the East Empire in Gaul. After much success as he more organized polities. One reason was and West Roman Empires. During this time pillaged and fought across Gaul and the that the Huns never fully established the the Huns strengthened their powerbase as Gothic Empire of North West Europe, Attila mechanisms of state, such as bureaucracy and they conquered Pannonia - subjugating the was finally checked at Châlons by Flavius taxes, unlike the Bulgars, Magyars or Mongol Sarmatian (Roxolani and Iazyges), Slavic Aetius. (see overleaf.) Whilst this was not a Khanates. Like the Avars after them, once the (Ante) and the various Celtic tribes that had crushing defeat, Attila was repulsed by the Hun political unity failed there was no way to settled there previously. Roman-Visgoth alliance and Attila headed re-create it, especially because the Huns had south into Italy to strike at the core of the become a multi-ethnic empire under Attila. Attila the Hun Roman Empire in the West ... However he was Given that the Huns were a political creation, Under the leadership of Attila the Hun - who destined never to take Rome, combinations and not a consolidated people, or nation, their ruled with his brother Bleda - the Huns of famine, disease, and an East Roman force defeat in 454 marked the end of that political achieved dominance over several major rivals. invading the Hun homelands, stopped Attila creation.

Arrow Storms A symbol of status among the Huns was a gilded bow - which showed the importance they placed on their horse bows. Equally their foes learned to respect and fear the bows of the Huns. The tactic of circling horse-archers in an ever wheeling whirlwind, just beyond the reach of the enemies ranks, firing their bows as each horse-archer passed in front of the enemy, was a very succesful and demoralizing battle manoeuvre. The Romans (and others) called it an “arrow storm” as the Huns, by virtue of the ever-changing “face” engaged against the enemy, were able to keep up a phenomenal rate of fire - especially since it is likely the Huns became adept at taking the arrows from the hand rather than a quiver (similar to the modern Hungarian competition style.) The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

THE BATTLE OF THE CATALAUNIAN PLAINS 451 AD by Dan Sawyer In many ways the story of Attila the Hun’s greatest defeat, at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, is best told by telling the story of the man who beat him. That man was Flavius Aetius, the leading Roman general of the age and a man who had known Attila for years. In 405AD, when Aetius was still in his teens, he was sent to live with King Rugilas of the Huns. While there he learned horsemanship and archery. It is not stated explicitly, but we may speculate that he learned to combine the two skills into Hunnish horseback archery. On his return to Rome he maintained a close relationship with the Huns. In 423, when he backed the wrong man in a struggle for the succession, he only survived the subsequent purge because an army of Huns was at his back. During this upheaval the Visigoths, under King Theodoric (whose father Alaric had sacked Rome in 410AD), had tried to seize Roman land. Aetius defeated them and their enmity was to last over a decade.

For the next six years Aetius forged a brilliant career in war and in politics, becoming the chief general of Rome. When the Emperor moved against him in 432 he again fled to the Huns, still ruled by his friend Rugilas. With their help he returned and became commander-in-chief of the Western Empire and the power behind the throne. In 434 Rugilas died and was succeeded by his nephews Attila and Bleda, who ruled jointly until Bleda’s death, allegedly at Attila’s hand. Attila thus became sole ruler. He raided the Eastern Roman Empire mercilessly, extorting vast tribute as payment for withdrawing. When this tribute stopped under a new Emperor Attila was spoiling for a fight, but he had already raided the East and bled it almost dry. His eye turned West instead.

Relations with the West, and particularly with Aetius, had been positively cordial, with the Huns sending forces to support Aetius in his various campaigns. This relationship was upset, however, by one of the most scandalous incidents in Roman history. Having been caught in flagrante delicto, the Emperor’s sister had been married off and kept a virtual prisoner. She wrote to Attila, enclosing a ring and asking him to free her. He took this as a marriage proposal and wrote to the Emperor accepting and requiring half the Empire as a dowry. This was the first that Valentinian knew of his sister’s letter and he refused, trying desperately not to provoke Attila. He failed and the Huns invaded the Western Empire. Realistically, of course, this episode was little more than a pretext for invasion and plunder. Aetius knew that his armies were not sufficient to withstand Attila. He needed allies and in particular he needed the Visigoths. He persuaded King Theodoric that the best defence for the Visigothic territory, threatened by Attila, was to meet the Huns in battle before they reached those lands. Their combined armies marched to attack the Huns, who were besieging Orleans. The Huns broke off the siege and withdrew to the Catalaunian Plains. In the resulting battle both armies consisted of multi-national alliances rather than individual nations. In particular the Romans were aided by the Visigoths and the Huns by the Gepids, whose king, Ardaric, was perhaps Attila’s closest advisor.

We know little about the battle itself, but the following seems likely. It seems that the Huns attacked and broke the Roman centre. The problem was that their allies were not able to match this victory so the Romans were able to attack the Huns’ flanks and rear. The Huns were overwhelmed and withdrew to their camp. The following day the Roman alliance set about besieging the Huns’ camp. Theodoric had been killed in the battle and his son, Thorismund, wanted to assault the Huns but Aetius, anxious lest the annihilation of the Huns leave the Visigoths too powerful, persuaded him to return home immediately lest one of his brothers claim the throne.

So why did the Huns lose? It has been credibly suggested that they may not have been using their customary horseback archery tactics. Even if they had, Aetius knew those tactics as well as anyone. Nonetheless, the Huns were coming from a siege, which is not a natural place for horseback archers. They were low on rations and the area around Orleans is nothing like as well suited to the maintenance of thousands of horses as the Steppe or the Hungarian plain. The suggestion is backed up by the fact that they charged into the Romans rather than standing off as would be usual for horseback archers. This battle, therefore, may well show that Steppe archers do not succeed anything like as well when they abandon their traditional tactics. Gibbon notes that ‘neither the spirit, nor the forces, nor the reputation of Attila were impaired’ by this defeat. The Roman alliance could never be reformed and the following year Attila ravaged Italy, withdrawing only because the Eastern Empire was invading his lands. Attila died the following year (453) on his wedding night. As usually happened when a steppe leader died, his sons fought and their neighbours took advantage. In particular Ardaric, Attila’s close friend, led his Gepids to a crushing victory over the Huns, effectively ending the Hunnic empire.

In 454, barely 18 months after the death of Attila and 3 years to the day after the Catalaunian Plains ended, Aetius was assassinated by the Emperor, who feared and resented the great general. 6 months later the Emperor himself was assassinated by Hunnic officers who had served under Aetius. The Catalaunian Plains marks Imperial Rome’s last victory. 25 years later the last Emperor, a boy named Romulus Augustus, was forced to abdicate. He had ruled only in name, the Empire being run by his father, Orestes, a former aide to and emissary of Attila the Hun.

Descendants of the Huns Many nations have tried to assert themselves as ethnic, or cultural successors to the Huns. For instance, the Nominalia of the Bulgarian Khans indicate that they believed they were descended from Attila. The Magyars (Hungarians) in particular lay claim to Hunnic heritage. Although Magyar tribes only began to settle in the geographical area of present-day Hungary at the very end of the 9th century, Hungarian prehistory includes Magyar origin legends similar to the Huns. The Huns who invaded Europe represented a loose coalition of various peoples, so it is possible some Magyars might have been part of the original confederacy, or may later have joined descendants of Attila’s men as they were repelled Eastwards and who still claimed the name of Huns. The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

least to try them and feel the difference. One Kaya Traditional Korean consequence of the low mass of the Kaya Horsebow is that it has low inertia. This, combined with the high speed of the limbs, means that by Dan Sawyer the bow can feel twitchy when it shoots. I did not get particularly tight groupings This bow was not available in this country with the Kaya and felt that I was having to when we ran our review of bows last issue, so concentrate on holding it still more than I here is a short review of the new (here at least) usually do. This feeling has been confirmed Kaya Korean bow, also known as the KB90 by others. Personally I have always gripped (Quicks code), which is available from Quicks my bow relatively firmly and found that with priced £125. I’ve shot the Kaya a couple of concentration I could tighten the groupings times now, most recently when Claire and I fairly well after a while, and I am sure that with spent an hour or so trying 30lbs, 35lbs and practice they could be tightened further. Lucy 40lbs draw weights. I’ve also compared notes confirms that the twitchiness can be reduced with a competitor at EOCHA who shot a 40lb equally well by taking a loose grip on the Kaya (this bow is popular with the Korean bow. The moral of the story seems to be that team), with Neil and with Lucy, a new recruit anyone trying the Kaya should be prepared for to the BHAA who’s been shooting a 35lb Kaya inaccuracy at first but should be aware of its for a while now. cause and the fact that this can be rectified.

My first impression of the Kaya apart from its A final note is the string. I would recommend looks (leather wrapped with a leaf-like pattern) anybody buying a new horsebow to look long is that it is very light in the hand. You really and hard at the string. They tend to come hardly notice that it’s there. It has a built-up with big heavy strings made of a relatively handle section, unlike most horsebows. Claire stretchy material called Dacron. By switching really liked this feature, having always had to a lighter, stronger and less elastic material issues keeping a consistent grip on the Grozer such as Dyneema or FastFlight, the weight Old Scythian that we both shoot. Personally of the string can be reduced significantly. I would have liked the grip to be fractionally Traditional archers have tended to avoid this larger and my hand felt a little cramped. An because Dacron is kinder to wooden bows, extra few millimeters and it would have been which can break from the extra shock caused lovely. In practical terms it is not a major by less stretchy materials. The Kaya would not problem to build up the handle, so the handle have this problem, I suspect, especially with a goes down as a big plus, although possibly not Flemish spliced string rather than an endless to everyone’s taste. loop (if you don’t know what I’m talking about The bow draws smoothly and easily with little here then do feel free to ignore the techy geek if any stack (the feeling given by some bows and move on…). We also found that of the that towards the end of the draw they get very three bowstrings provided, one had the centre hard to pull back any further). It feels a few serving in the wrong place and the other had it pounds lighter than the marked weight. I’ve unravel as I shot. I would recommend getting not measured it but that’s how it feels and I a new string! would recommend trying a bow 5lbs heavier In summary, the Kaya is very light and very than you usually shoot when trying the Kaya. fast. It would be particularly useful for those The Kaya’s draw may feel light but it shoots who have trouble reaching the longer range shots such as the Hungarian event can offer, like a bow 5-10lbs heavier than it is. This is Kaya Traditional Korean since high arrow speed means long range. It Top & Middle Top: one of the fastest bows I’ve shot and certainly Bow ( & Bamboo Arrows) is probably not the bow to get if you are not the fastest horsebow. This is, of course, all Cost: £125 Length Strung: 42” linked to the light weight (in the sense of going to work on your archery, because it can mass) of the bow – light limbs travel faster be twitchy and inconsistent in the hands of Middle bottom : Kassai “Panther” Magyar Bow £200 (very similar to the much cheaper than heavy limbs and these are very light and somebody who has not got used to its little Greyhound £150 or Avar £140 ) very fast. That said, the 30lb bow did not have ways. I highly recommend trying one out, if Cost: £140 - £200 Length Strung: 50”- 52” the same feeling of speed. It felt rather more only for the fun of it. Some will like it, others sluggish than the 35lb and 40lb bows. This will not. This bow may well be destined to be Bottom: Grozer Old Scythian Bow may have been the particular bow but I would the Marmite of the horseback archery world. Cost: £150 Length Strung: 45” recommend trying to go to 35lbs or higher, at But you won’t know until you try it.

Top 3 Recommended Beginner Bows under £150 The Grozer Old Scythian is basic but reliable. Some people have issue with largish grip but overall it is a sound, well-crafted bow. Kassai Greyhound (Magyar) is suitable for horse-archers over 5’6” tall or Hawk Hunter (Avar) - for those 5’6” and under. Both these bows are longer than Scythian or Korean bows so some people may find that a problem. Even so they are remarkably light and well built for their size and very consistent shooters. TheKaya Korean Traditional bow is exceptionally small and light, perhaps a bit twitchy, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. Grozer & Kaya bows are available from Quicks Archery (& a few others in the UK) and of course you can try before you buy. Kassai bows are available off the shelf from http://bowshop.eu amongst others (or eBay) The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

This article will be about Ottoman Making a Thumbring thumbrings. This form of thumbring seems by Gökmen Altinkulp quite successful in history as the Persian, i Mughal and Mongol thumbrings are The thumbring has been an integral piece very similar in shape. But even Ottoman of equipment of the Central Asian archery thumbrings can differ in shape and size as you school. It is called ‘zehgir’ (Persian), ‘shast’ will see overleaf. or ‘okçu yüzüğü’ (Turkish). Among others, horsearchers and archers of these cultures used it in various forms: Ottoman Turks, Materials for a thumbring The best materials for thumbrings are ivory, Seljuk Turks, Mongols, Persians, Tatars, jade, agate, bone, or walrus ivory. Horn is Mameluks, Mughals, Romans, Koreans and inferior as the material is softer and the Chinese. thumbring can deform after a while. Metals Advantages such as bronze or silver were used as well and once you have a good original it is easy to The reasons are evident. The reason usually copy it. I do not advise antler. stated first is the “fingerpinch”, which occurs with the small bows used for horseback Nowadays it is hard to obtain ivory. For archery. But that doesn’t explain why the bows with drawweights of less than 70 lbs Chinese (Manchu) for example use the plexiglass can be used as well. We have had thumbdraw and thumbring? Their bows are positive experience with a material called ii relatively big. And what about the Japanese kestamid, which is a kind of polyamide. I lost thumbdraw and their Yumi assymetric bows? my kestamid thumbring once and drove over it accidentally with the car; nothing happened, Simply put, a release with the thumbdraw just minor scratches. I can use it for heavy technique and the thumbring is cleaner, bows of 90+ lbs draw weights. For an Ottoman smoother and faster than a 2 or 3 finger type thumbring get a block with at least 4,5 x European release. When done properly, 3 x 2 cm (1 ⅞ x 1 ¼ x ⅞ inch). This full block the release can be compared to a modern should be good quality (picture 1 overleaf) mechanical compound bow release. Sir Ralph Payne Gallwey describes the advantages of a iii thumbdraw and thumbring in a similar way Making of a thumbring With a pen you can draw the simple outlines in his treatise which he wrote more than 100 of the thumbring on the top and the sides. We years ago. will cut these parts to save time, rather than Thumbrings could be highly decorated - as starting to file down the whole block. When can be seen in the pictures opposite - and they you cut it, it should look similar to picture 2 could be permanently worn to distinguish overleaf. oneself in Ottoman society as an elite archer. Now you can drill a hole in the middle using a Note the ring on the thumb of Fatih Sultan rather big drill bit. You can use the sides of the Mehmed II, the Conqueror of Istanbul. bit to make the hole a bit bigger but for now Tests show us that the same archer achieves you can leave it small like in picture 3 overleaf. more speed with the arrow if the archer uses Now use a tool like a “Dremel” (a kind of small a thumbring and thumb release compared light rotary craft-tool used by hobbyists). Use to a 3 finger release. I see that a lot of a rough bit that will let you give a more typical European archers are very interested in this thumbring shape. You could use a normal technique and the thumbring but they lack the file as well. Make the hole bigger now though knowledge to make one. You can buy some be careful, leave it still much smaller than it online but I have seen that these are more would fit your thumb. The tricky part is now to decoration than a functional thumbring. The make a fitting hole for your thumb. The hole best way to obtain a thumbring is to make one is oval, it is not round. The ovalness is very yourself. It has to fit perfectly, otherwise it will iv slight though. In the end you should put it on, hurt you like a shoe that does not fit. turn it 90 degrees and it should lock and fit So let me describe step by step how to make comfortably. The thickness of the sides and one. Be patient though, the first ones will back can be 2-5mm depending on the material be for the bin but will give you precious and the style. experience.

More Information on Thumbrings i. Iranian Jade Thumbring 17th -18th C. ii. Ottoman Jade Thumbrings 17th C. Gökmen has his own Blog where he regularly posts articles pertaining to Turkish archery iii. Sultan Mehmed II “The Conqueror” (including the use and making of Thumbrings) iv. Historic Bronze and Replica Silver Thumbrings http://turkishflightarchery.blogspot.com The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

The sides are not straight, they flare slightly to Leather piece fit the shape of the thumb, see picture 4. Work To save the thumb when using heavy gradually from the inside making the hole drawweights, an additional piece of leather 1 bigger, and also shape it from the outside. can be glued to the inside of the thumbring as seen below on a museum thumbring (Pic When you have done this, you can use a finer C). The leather is not used between the string bit to give the final shape. Gradually use finer and ring as wrongly stated in some literature. files/bits. When you are happy with the final Instead it is placed between the string and shape you can polish it with another dremel thumb. bit and polishing paste until it is nice and shiny. Alternatively you can rub in on a carpet The size of your thumb changes according to in circular movements, but this takes a bit weather conditions. In winter your thumbring longer. Hopefully it should end up looking like might be too loose, in summer too tight. I 2 picture 5 opposite. recommend having at least 2 thumbrings e.g. one for winter, one for summer. There is no notch by the way, the string rests on top of the ring as seen in the picture 6 An alternative solution is using a trapezoid below. or triangular piece of leather. You can pull the thinner side through the thumbring on your The thumbring should not be too tight. thumb until the thumbring fits tightly, as a Otherwise the string will not have enough secondary benefit the leather will protect you space to sit on the edge of the ring and will go from the string like the conventional leather off without control. piece as seen in Pic D. 3 Compare the two different Ottoman As I warned you the first ones will be for the thumbring forms below. It is not really two bin so start with cheap material. Rather than types but two extremes and it shows how the making a few at a time, make one and shoot can differ. The closer it is to type A the with it for at least a week to see how it fits and easier it can be to hold the lock in full draw. if there are any mistakes. Making a thumbring With type B the release can be cleaner as the will take 2-10 hours depending on experience, string doesn’t touch the ring again. With this material and tools. type precious stones could be inserted as well - as seen in the examples on the previous Feel free to contact me if you need help or 4 page - without intefering with the string. An advice at [email protected] experienced archer can shoot both types with a clean release.

A B

5

C D

6 The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

at one, two and then three targets to the BHAA Summer left of track. A 12 second time limit meant SINGLE SHOT KOREAN Competition 08.08.10 that penalty points could be deducted for 1st Neil Payne 7pts/2 targets exceeding the time - which kept competitors 2nd Gökmen Altinkulp 4pts/2 targets on their toes (and particularly affected one 3rd Dan Sawyer 4pts/1 target On the weekend of the 7th-8th August, 14 competitor’s end score!) After its completion BHAA members from across the UK (and a all competitors then had two runs in the DOUBLE SHOT KOREAN guest from Ireland) met for the BHAA’s 2010 hunting or ‘Hunt the Hare’ competition. The 1st Neil Payne 10pts/3 targets British Horseback Archery Championships. Hare (centre-stage overleaf) had a small kill 2nd Rick Lippiett 3pts/ 2 targets The event was hosted by the Centre of zone which riders had to hit to score. In one (-2 time penalties) Horseback Combat in East Sussex. of the most exciting finales, probably never to 3rd Claire Sawyer 2pts/1 target Prior to competition day, competitors had be witnessed again, Gökmen Altinkulp went time to warm-up, get their eye in, try out and head-to-head with Sheffield’s Damian Stenton TRIPLE SHOT KOREAN pick horses and of course catch-up with one in a “shoot-out”. With previous hits being 1st Claire Sawyer 11pts/ 4 targets another. Despite the odd shower, spirits were rare, everyone was astonished to see Gökmen 2nd Neil Payne 7pts/ 3 targets high as the grounds were prepared for the smack an arrow straight into the kill zone on 3rd Damian Stenton 7pts/ 2 targets big day. An evening briefing, a good meal his final run. The crowd had prepared for the and fireside banter relaxed everyone for what visiting guest to receive congratulations when HUNTING SHOT became a fantastic day ahead. Damian’s arrow smacked in even closer to the 1st Damian Stenton centre spot! Nice shot Damian! 2nd Gökmen Altinkulp Glorious sunshine met the campers on 3rd = Zana Greenwood competition day and soon enough the All would agree the event was a huge success. 3rd = Franklin Henson track was melting under beating hooves It saw many new members competing for and whistling arrows. A Reuters journalist the first time, the development of the sport OVERALL RANKING and cameraman, plus plenty of keen furthered, and the continuation of the 1st Neil Payne 24pts photographers, caught the action which horseback archery family’s growth in the UK. 2nd Claire Sawyer 13pts involved competitors battling it out in The BHAA Championships is an annual 3rd Gökmen Altinkulp 10pts the Korean style as well as the BHAA’s event. Want to compete in 2011? Then join up “hunting” style. The Korean track involved all ASAP! email us at [email protected] competitors riding down a 90m track shooting

Champion Neil Payne riding his Appaloosa Runner up Gökmen Altinkulp riding the turbo- Zana Greenwood, riding her 8 year old Cross mare, Anabel in the Single Shot charged 11yr old Welsh Cob gelding, Sputnik Andulusian gelding Niagara in the Double Shot

What has BHAA Membership ever done for us? Why join the BHAA as a full member? Well, firstly you’ll be in line to know about BHAA events, tuition courses and competitions (like the above). We’ll also provide assistance and advice for those wishing to attend international competitions, and through our organisation you’ll have access to cheaper personal insurance for horseback archery. Obviously there’s the occasional quarterly horseback archery newsletter and you get to vote at Annual meetings. But the perhaps the real benefit is being a part of an emerging sport in the UK, and helping support and promote this ancient martial art. The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

Promoting the Sport

2010 has seen an incredible amount of groundwork around promoting the sport and traditions of . Largely these have been due to the indefatigable efforts of Karl and Zana Greenwood at the Centre of Horseback Combat. Both the sport in general and the BHAA have benefitted from both their sterling endeavours, and that of several other BHAA members (notably Neil Payne, Claire Sawyer and Dan Sawyer). This is a round up of the PR the sport has gained so far in the UK this year alone. TV Coverage During the August BHAA Competition a Reuters cameraman shot footage that has been syndicated to TV networks in Turkey, the Ukraine, the USA and of course here in the UK. Some of this footage was used for the October 16th edition of the BBC Breakfast Special - presented by Mike Bushell (who also came to the Centre and shot some additional segments of him learning horseback archery). Further reports have also appeared across the UK on BBC South East local programming (featuring the Centre as the only establishment of its kind in the UK) and an additional feature on ITV’s Meridian News centred around the BHAA competition. Magazines & Press The sport was featured in October’s edition of the HORSE Magazine in the “We Try …” section. Furthermore a feature appeared in an August edition of the Sussex Courier (where the reporter again tried a half-day course) and the Horse & Hound edition of the 23rd September featured an article on “New Exciting Courses to Try”. Finally the Horse and Rider December issue goes on the shelf during the first week of November and will feature a fantastic 3-page spread.

I think everyone should agree this is fantastic for the profile of the sport in the UK and has brought Horseback Archery to a wider audience than ever before. There are of course further plans afoot and once these have been discussed at the BHAA AGM in November we hope to build upon such a successful year Top: Damian Stenton lines up the winning shot in the Hunting Competition Middle: Franklin promoting mounted archery in the UK. Henson, aboard his Andalusian Bo, celebrates hitting the Hare in the Hunting Competition BBC Video on Youtube: Bottom: All the BHAA 2010 Competitors at the awards ceremony. The Hare taking centre-stage! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_kizv5n6JM All BHAA Competition Photos © Alan Sawyer

The Centre of Horseback Combat The Centre of Horseback Combat teaches courses in jousting and horseback archery. Full day courses include lunch and an opportunity for horseback archers to try jousting, and vice versa. Archery on foot is available for spectators to have a go as well. Children and dogs are welcome, a play area is provided although supervision is required. We have a fully equipped clubhouse with games, Wi-Fi, snacks and drinks to occupy spectators and families, and the viewing balcony provides superb views of the action. As the sun goes down, please join us for a barbeque and some drinks in the Clubhouse, a perfect end to a perfect day! For more info go to www.horsebackcombat.co.uk The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

EOCHA 2010 by Claire Sawyer

In early September Dan and I had the added difficulty with Mercenario still throwing On the Saturday evening we were treated honour of representing GB and the BHAA in phantom jumps here and there. There to a skill at arms and jousting show at the European Open Championship were many students of this style at EOCHA accompanied by the wit of Fred Piraux of Horseback Archery (EOCHA). wearing their matching kaftans. (EOCHA 2010 event manager). Competitors gathered at the venue outside Brussels on Friday with the afternoon put Dan competed in qabaq on Sunday morning The competition was a great learning aside for trying out and being paired with and performed well in his 3 runs. It was experience and Dan and I were happy horses. I was lucky enough to get a super interesting to see how some people leant to both come midway up the field in Andalucian stallion called Mercenario and backward to aim upwards and others leant the Korean event. The overall winner Dan got another French stunt horse called over the horse’s shoulder and twisted round. was Christian Prestin (Ger) with Michal Cisco. It was the first time qabaq had been included Sanzcenko (Pol), Roger Ittig (Swi) and in EOCHA and the difficulty was clear, of 11 Robin Descamps (Fra) taking the next Saturday was a beautiful day and a small competitors taking 3 shots each there were placings. The highest placed Brit was Mike crowd gathered to enjoy the sun, HBA only 2 hits of the 30cm target on an 8m pole. Ashington, an independent competitor action and crepes. 35 competitors from who shot mostly with his longbow, who 10 nations paraded behind their national We both competed in Sunday’s Korean came joint 7th. The highlight for us was flags then those on horseback did a gallop competition with 2 runs at the single and the experience as a whole; a chance to ride past; this was even more exciting than double shot and then 2 goes at the 5-target run and compete under a little more pressure, I expected as my horse unexpectedly on a lengthened track. The rules of EOCHA meeting competitors from across Europe decided to jump the qabaq lines which had are that you need to hit 3 of the 5 targets in and from Korea, and the exchange of ideas been painted on the track overnight. order to score points on the multiple shot and techniques. Many thanks to Zana which put the pressure on. Maybe it was just who came over with us and was a huge On both Saturday and Sunday (which this pressure but the 5 targets in 150m seemed help with the horses. We would encourage unfortunately was a bit of a wash out) to come faster than expected and many other members to enter international there was competition in all 4 disciplines. people seemed to having difficulty in hitting competitions, everyone there has had to I competed in the Hungarian competition enough to score, though arguably those on the cut their teeth at this level of competition on Saturday. It was only my 2nd time Sunday benefitted from the run turning into at some point; we found the atmosphere trying this style and I struggled a little a quagmire in the rain causing the horses to welcoming and Christian Schrade very with the long range shots and there was slow considerably. The final competition was encouraging. Get in touch with BHAA the Belgian event – a cross between single committee members if you want any All EOCHA Photos © Claire & Dan Sawyer shot Korean and it’s a knockout. advice or help.

European Open Championship of Horseback Archery (EOCHA) The central concept of EOCHA is a meeting of like-minded people across the globe to compete together and become friends. EOCHA aims to incorporate any competition style; and to honor the best mounted archer in all skills - not just the specialist in one style. EOCHA aims to help re-discover ALL horse- archer traditions ranging from American Indian of the Great Plains to the ancient Scythians of the Central Steppes, and from Norman Longbow Riders to Ottoman Sipahi. EOCHA encourages the members of the different participating countries to look to their national historic traditions and compete in authentic costumes. EOCHA aims to continue being both a competition and a celebration of the cultural experience (which happens on the Saturday night!) The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

Training Your Horse For Stage One – Desensitise the Horse Origins & Aims of to the Equipment EOCHA Horse Archery - Part 1 I prefer to do this holding the horse myself by Christian Schrade by Damian Stenton but you could use an assistant, either way the horse should not be tied up. Whilst Since the first German Championship in Introduction presenting the various items of the equipment which 5 different countries participated, Welcome to the first article introducing the to the horse ensure you are stood in a safe we wanted to become truly international. training of the horse for horseback archery. position should the horse spook or jump and Personally I like foreigners, I love foreign Why the first? Well fundamentally there are that if you have an assistant with you they are food, and foreign rites and customs; there is three basic requirements of the horseback stood on the same side as you are. The aim also a powerful drive in me to do everything archer’s horse: is to not firmly hold the horse in place but better the next time – always wanting to to allow it to ‘drift’ if it feels the need to do struggle for improvement. After my wife and 1. Acceptance of the bow, quiver, arrows & so, you need to be in a large enough area to I visited Korea 4 years ago, and hosted their shooting in proximity. allow this and also have safe footing underfoot return visit to our German Championship, 2. Maintenance of pace. which is not slippery. we were sitting at home and brain-storming 3. Maintenance of direction. how we could make a bigger, better, The essence here is to teach the horse to competition and with whom we could get to stand still and accept the equipment by The purpose of this first article is to suggest ‘approaching’ with the bow, quiver, shooting participate. We started with naming; a good a possible systematic process on training the name can be an omen for success. glove etc from a position the horse feels horse to accept the equipment and arrows comfortable with, allowing the horse time to So why EOCHA? First we did not want being shot off their backs. smell and investigate it; if the horse remains to be global or worldwide - when we can calm and still, you remove the stimuli or barely invite more than five different Pre-training Checks ‘retreat’ as a reward. If you find a spot where nations. Second we wanted to be open - open the horse becomes uncomfortable remain minded, with an open heart and an open • Have a basic knowledge of horse there until they become calm and/or stand understanding to welcome everybody. In psychology and how that affects their still again before retreating. At the very least other words we wanted to make it possible behaviour. we want to reward the horse looking toward for everyone to come and feel happy • Have a good knowledge of your horses’ the stimuli and not fleeing from it. Should during the competition. Europe is difficult temperament, what their attitude to life is you find a spot where the horse is significantly enough to get together and we can only be and some idea of the reactions to expect. scared and flighty you should consider that successful if we are open with everybody. • Be able to lead safely and control your the approach was too quick or too great and The rest is just what we are doing – shooting horses’ position and pace from the ground, revise this on repetition. When the horse arrows from horseback. including standing. learns that the pressure of the approach will • Be familiar with the desensitisation / be released when they remain calm, they will As the EOCHA is an European competition approach and retreat method of introducing become more confident and remain calm for it has to move through Europe. Among all new stimuli. increasingly longer periods of time whilst the other international mounted archery • Ensure you have the use of another person accepting the stimuli getting closer and in competitions EOCHA is the only one which to help at times. different areas of their body. Once you have changes its tournament location. The first desensitised one side of your horse you must step has been done this year with the help of Desensitisation through Approach repeat the same on the opposite side; due to our Belgian friend Fred Piraux. Even though the way the horses brain works there is little the tournament was on a slightly smaller & Retreat connection between both sides of the brain scale than its predecessors - just the fact that There are a number of definitions available and therefore you should treat each side of the it has been executed abroad was a big step for the word / process of ‘desensitisation’. For horse as two separate horses. forward. the sake of this article let’s consider it to mean making less susceptible or sensitive to either When the horse is entirely comfortable with Next year it will take place in Poland in physical or emotional stimuli. You ‘approach’ all the equipment up, in and around its space, the city of Posnia. I’m sure we will all be or introduce the stimuli at a distance that is you should start to simulate the actions or impressed, because the Polish team are initially comfortable for the horse to accept, nocking arrows, dry drawing the bow etc to really putting a lot of energy and money and ‘retreat’ or remove the experience whilst prepare the horse for later stages. in this competition combined with their the horse is performing the desired behaviour. customary professionalism. Looks like being The horse then learns that by performing the Do not be afraid to build big and bold actions an EOCHA to my taste – always seeking to desired behaviour the stimulus goes away. into this stage as long as you have been improve! The art is in the balance and timing of the progressive. approach followed by the repeat.

Choosing a suitable horse for Mounted Archery Not every horse will be suitable for horseback archery, however many will. The ideal horse would be bombproof, with a good temperament and a flat, even canter. Obviously horses like this are few and far between and you’re normally lucky if you get 2 out of 3! Good temperament and a bombproof nature make life easier for general training and de-sensitising; whilst the flat, even canter means that you have minimal disruption at the point of release when actually shooting from horseback (and hopefully therefore more accuracy!) The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

Stage Two – Desensitise the Horse The ballast of a suitable assistant can be used to great effect here, again allowing some ‘drift’ to Shooting from the Ground but maintaining a safe control. Considering the approach and retreat method the aim is to desensitise the horse to the sight Once mounted have your assistant help you and sound of shooting the bow and arrow. Do desensitise the horse to having the bow and not rush this, take as much time and repetition arrow etc passed up to you and passed down as is necessary. again. Work to be able to touch and rub the At a distance – horse loose horse all over his body, both sides with the bow and arrow (you may want to use a blunt The horse can either be loose in its stable, a arrow initially). You should also work to be round pen or small paddock whilst you shoot able to drop the bow without frightening the nearby. The purpose of this is to allow the horse, as you will at some point do this if not horse to find its own comfort level by either on purpose most probably by accident! moving to the far side of the pen or moving closer to investigate what is going on. At Assuming you now have a calm, confident the very least it allows you to make an initial horse try shooting the bow whilst your assessment of the horse’s reactions whilst assistant holds your horse. We can consider maintaining safety. there are three shooting positions 45 degrees At a distance – horse held forward, 90 degrees to the side and 45 degrees to the rear. I tend to start with the 90 Once the horse is showing that he is degrees to the side and then work to establish comfortable with the above you can start to confidence in all three. Again you should use have them held at the pen or paddock fence approach and retreat as you did on the ground, side whilst you continue to shoot nearer to dry drawing, nocking, raising and lowering them. My personal preference here is to use the bow undrawn and drawn etc and finally an assistant to hold the horse, rather than tie shooting. them up, so if there is any problem they can still allow the horse to drift and assist with further desensitisation training. Stage Four – Shooting in Motion Once the horse is confident with you shooting Up close whilst standing still introduce some motion, The next step is to develop confidence with initially being led by your assistant and then you shooting up close and personal with eventually without. Building up from walk to them. This should be done progressively by trot to canter to gallop! I will cover this stage initially pretending to shoot, drawing the bow further in the next article. without arrow and should build on the initial desensitisation work you have already done. Conclusion Always be prepared to take a step back in the training presentation to take two steps The key to training is the quality of approach forward. Again an assistant can hold the horse and retreat, it isn’t always what you are doing as you work close to them and from their front that teaches, but when you stop doing it! side and towards the rear. I personally prefer If each of the above stages is given enough to work on my own here, tucking the rope time and repetition, and you also consider loosely into my belt so it would pull through spending the time required to establish sound if the horse panics or pulls away. You must control of pace and direction, you are on your have developed a solid foundation prior to way to forming the relationship necessary for venturing into the areas of the horse’s space successful shooting. that could potentially be less safe. Remember this is not a training manual, rather a brief outline. If you have any questions or Stage Three – Desensitise the From top: Damian training Senator, an 18yr would like any points explaining further or Horse to Shooting from the Saddle old, warmblood gelding. 1. Shooting on the expanding you are welcome to contact me – ground while held. 2. Shooting mounted Having done the ground work it is time to [email protected] whilst standing still. 3. Shooting mounted climb aboard. In all of the following work you at walk. 4. Shooting mounted at trot, and must be able to anticipate the horse moving finally 5. Shooting Mounted at canter. off and have a suitable method for controlling Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/ this. watch?v=8mhQQxBFK0

Choosing a horse (contd) ... It goes without saying that while not impossible, hot-blooded breeds such as Thoroughbreds or Arab horses add more difficulty into the process (but there are good examples of both types being used successfully for horseback archery of course). Traditionally Turkish and Korean horseback archers have favoured small, fast ponies - whilst Hungarian mounted archers have tended to use slower, slightly larger horses, thus enabling them to shoot more arrows. Here in the UK a Welsh Cob is a good starting point - however, this is not a hard and fast rule that ALL Welsh Cobs will be suitable. What is essential is knowing your horse and having confidence in both its abilities and of course the rider’s own confidence in their ability to train a horse for a specific sport. The Parthian Shot Newsletter of the British Horseback Archery Association

Mounted Archery Association of America Competition - Oct. 2010 by Neil Payne

The City of Redmond in Oregon recently hosted the first international horseback archery competition in the USA. Competitors from the USA, UK, Germany, Malaysia, Brazil, South Korea, Poland and Japan enjoyed a week of fantastic weather, incredible food, fun archery and great company.

The Mounted Archery Association of the Americas (MA3) had been quiet on the large- scale competition front since the International Horse Archery Festival in Fort Dodge during the earlier part of the decade. Brought together by the vision of Dr Holm Neumann, the competition this year has without doubt accomplished many great things.

The week began with trial of the horses and archery practice at Dr Neumann’s ranch out in the beautiful Oregon countryside. Against the backdrop of mountains, known locally as the Three Sisters, many of the Mangalarga Marchado horses were put to the test. One of these, Casablanca, was chosen by Jehad Shamis for the competition while Neil Payne settled for a small Rocky Mountain pony by the name of Lexi. After a few days in holiday mode, competition time soon came round as all hands hit the deck to get the course and British Cameraderie - Neil Payne congratulates Jehad Shamis on a succesful run stadium ready. Top: Bottom: MA3 Competitors from all over the globe The Saturday saw an amazing turnout Photos © Azusa Namimoto from locals. In many years of international competition experience, neither of the British team had witnessed such an enthusiastic, A closing ceremony brought the event to an Although a steep learning curve, the vocal and supportive crowd. The noise levels all too early end. Overall winners included organisers learnt a lot from hosting the event certainly contributed to competitor nerves Master Lee (Korea), Lukas Novotny (USA), and their enthusiasm to do bigger and better as the Korean style competition unravelled Michal Sanchenko (Poland) and Dana Hotko event next time, was clearly visible. over the course of the day. A well spread out (USA). course of events also saw demonstrations in Lastly, from the purely personal perspective So what did the competition achieve? It Korean mounted martial arts, native American of both British competitors, the experience has without doubt raised the profile of dancing and horse tricks. The day ended with radically changed all perceptions of America horseback archery in the USA. The event everyone buzzing from what was incredible and Americans. Without doubt the British attracted “horsey” people and all of them fun. media feeds a certain stereotype of the people. were extremely impressed with the sport and Nothing could be further from the truth. Day two saw the Hungarian style and Mogu the competitors. A cowboy in conversation Both Neil and Jehad came back with glowing take place as well as demonstrations of Qabaq, with Neil remarked “I’d love to see what you comments on how nice, genuine, warm, fast nocking, mounted martial arts, and the guys could do on your own horses!” A lot, it caring, concerned, open-minded, tolerant crowd pleaser ... shooting from horseback at is felt, will follow up and take up the sport. and wonderful all the people were. Genuine knights in armour! Secondly the competition, it would appear, has friendships were made in that week which will reinvigorated the members of MA3. last a lifetime ...

2011 Competitions

This year will see an EOCHA in Poland in September and also a further BHAA Competition - likely again to be at the end of the Summer. The 7th annual World Horseback Archery Federation competition in Korea will take place in late July 2011, and there may be further events in the USA and Europe - however the dates for these are yet to be agreed. If anyone wishes more information about representing the BHAA or competing abroad in general please email: [email protected]