Scenic Bramble Hill Farm
The Amherst Archery Academy held its first outdoor Olympic style archery competition this morning using tournament like rules and regulations, held at the wide open, bucolic Bramble Hill Farm on the outskirts of South Amherst.
The "Spring Gathering" event was limited to students of the Amherst Academy but was so successful it may morph into a more open competition next year.
2 archers per target, 12 arrows to score
The monsoons of yesterday gave way to bright skies and dead still air, picture perfect for an outdoor event like this. Friends and family gather to the rear of the contestants with each archer in the line of just over a dozen firing six arrows per "end", times six ends (36 arrows) comprising a "round".
Today's event totaled three rounds.
Bow(dacious) line up
The Amherst Archery Academy was founded in 2011 by Kyle Bissell, a level two certified USA archery instructor. Around that same time the Hollywood blockbuster "Hunger Games" sparked a wave of interest in archery.
Archers on the line