Guildford Archery Club

Guildford Archery Club was founded in 1954, and for many years has had a membership of around 60 - 65, with a spread of ages from Juniors of 9 years old to Senior Citizens who we politely regard as ageless.

The club's inaugural Meeting was on 11 December 1953 at Stoke Hotel. From January to March 1954, 21 members enrolled, a field (rented from a farmer for £10 pa) with Club hut (rented from Stoughton Football Club for £3 pa) located at Worplesdon was the club's first shooting ground.

1954:

First President: Mrs S Langford-Lloyd, member of Royal Toxophilite Society
First Chairman: Mr E Bevan
Club agrees to bank at Lloyds;
Design of Club badge agreed;
Club upper limit of 40 members put in place;
President's Cup trophy donated by President;
First Acorn Trophy Shoot held on 19 September
Club Championship first shot on 3 October - trophies include President's Cup, Howard Wiseman trophy, Founders' trophy;
Entry to winter postal league taken up;
Annual adult subscription set at 2 guineas;
Junior Section formation agreed, limited to 8 members between 12 and 16;
Annual General Meeting held at Star Inn, Guildford (venue for at least next 10 years)

1955:

First Have-a-Go arranged at Guildford Fair 25 June;
Members issued with membership cards including club rules and fixture list;
First Club Opening Shoot on 3 April;
Club tassel colours approved as "halves of royal blue and magenta red, with gold net and magenta red cord" (for longbows?);
Black Prince Trophy presented by J Banyon (first Secretary) for best Junior score in Club Championships;
Acorn Runner's Up Shield acquired; agreed that GAC members should not compete in Acorn Trophy Shoot (127 entries);
Proposal to move to Friary Sports Ground;
Committee reduced to 7 member/posts.
Club hut purchased from Stoughton FC for £12;

1956:

Move to Friary Sports Ground and sale of old Club hut for £6;
Introduction of "Guildford Round" - 4 dozen at 100 yards and 2 dozen at 80 yards - for internal use only;
Doctor Godfrey Wotton first attends Committee meeting - appointed Match Secretary;

1957:

Trophies (shields) for Opening Shoot incorporating flint arrowheads presented by Mr D Hawkins (Armourer);
Bruce Trophy (a cup) presented by Mr G Bruce to be awarded to the "Junior showing the most promise during a season";
Acorn Sub-Committee set up;
GNAS Handicap Medal received for annual award;
Additional trophy for Club Championships (lady with most hits) agreed at AGM to match Founders' Cup which has always been won by a gent.

1958:

Opening Shoot includes clout target;
MidSummer Trophy Handicap Shoot first mooted;
Application to GNAS to make the Acorn Trophy an Open Shoot;
First attempt at Club Annual Dinner and Prize Giving - canceled;
Club library mooted.

1959:

Mrs Langford-Lloyd resigns as President; replaced by Mrs Angela Barnsdale;
"American Handicap Tournament" introduced: 5 (later reduced to 4) declared rounds to be shot between May and September as a Club internal tournament for which a new set of arrows and medals would be awarded;
Club Dinner held on Valentine's Day (20 members at 5 shillings a head);
First Midsummer Trophy Handicap Shoot held on 21 June - "Quiver" trophy (designed to be worn!) presented by D Hawkins;
Acorn entry of 223, using 36 targets;

1960:

Field Ground rent increased to £25 (from £15) a year!
Club Dinner held on 12 February (21 attendees);
Subscriptions held at 2 guineas; honorary auditor appointed;
Acorn entry of 240, using 40 targets;
Doc Wotton became GAC's first Master Bowman

1961:

Club Dinner held on 10 February (23 attended);
Field Shoot Trophy presented by President;
Second Field Shoot Trophy (Hunting Horn) presented by Bill Sutton (retiring Armourer);
First Field Shoot on 5 October, second one on 5 November;
Second Club Dinner, including prize giving on 18 November.

1962:

Colin Ellesly joins Junior Section;
Membership of 29 seniors, 7 juniors;
Acorn limited to 252 entrants;
Club Championships on 14 October, Field Championships on 27 October;
Club Dinner on 1 December;
AGM agrees that Club should pay for engraving on trophies - Committee not happy to implement (costs!).

1963:

Doc Wotton appointed Team Manager of National Team shooting in World Championships;
First Agincourt Trophy Handicap Shoot on 20 October (nearest Sunday to St Crispin's Day) for trophies presented by Gordon Bruce;
Club Field Championship on 29 September, Club Championships on 13 October;
Acorn set up for 46 targets;
Club Dinner on 2 November (45 attendees);
Additional trophies presented by President for Opening Shoot, Midsummer Shoot, Championships and Agincourt - Barnsdales.

Two club members, Mick Brown, Les Powici, did a 24 hour archery marathon and were in the Guinness Book of Records.