Best weekend of the year!!

I’ll try not to ramble on with the story but, it was a great weekend so, please bare with me. I snapped a lot of pictures but won’t load them all. Just most of them…

A few months ago, I spoke with Jim Belcher, owner of Sky Archery U.S.A. and Belcher Custom Bows. Explaining the difficulties with drawing the 60 + pound bows I’m used to. An injury I suffered a few years back has finally caught up to me and the bow weight I have used is now too much. With his expertise and guidance, we decided the Belcher SSR takedown recurve would be the best option for my needs; http://belcherbows.com/catalog_open_ssr_limb.htm ;

He developed this bow for shorter draw archers. It has the smooth draw I need to relieve the pressure on my neck but still gives me the cast and arrow speed I like. This bow does that and more. After adjusting my form to compensate for my neck injury, I’m drawing 27 “. This bow, at 58” – 55 @ 27, draws smoothly and shoots a 9 grain per pound arrow, at 27” draw length, 192 fps. With an arrow cast that provides flat arrow flight to 30 yards. Simply amazing!

After speaking to Jim last week, I made plans to drive to Brighton, Michigan and spend the weekend with Jim and his lovely wife, Sandy. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the pleasure of spending time with them since last October. So I was pretty psyched to get started and have a great time with good friends. The added benefit was Jims’ brother, Roger and his family, were visiting from England. Just like Jim and Sandy; Roger, Susan and the boy’s were as gracious and welcoming as one could ever hope.

The excitement and fun began as soon as I arrived at Jims’ house Friday afternoon. I opened the truck door and stepped out to greet friends with a warm hand shake and a long hug for Sandy. The bows were already braced with a pile of arrows ready to be loosed. Targets poised for an onslaught of projectiles. The bow strings got a great work out and the targets expressed the look of pain. Watching Jim shoot is a sight to see. Growing up shooting bows throughout the English country side with his dad, Jack, http://belcherbows.com/dad/ ; has instilled a steady hand and an eagle eye for the kill shot. Roger shoots and sounds just like Jim. Obviously from years of training provided by their dad, one of England’s most celebrated bowyers and archery champions.

An added benefit to the weekend, Simon Stanley and his lovely wife Sarah would be spending the weekend with us. With this news, I was honored to be among this group of old and new friends.

Needless to say, Friday night was filled with hours of laughing from stories of their childhood and tall tales of their adventures across England. A chance to get to know Jims brother, Roger and his old friend, Simon is a memory I will not soon forget. For those of you not familiar with Simon Stanley, he is the worlds foremost English war bow expert.

He also holds the world broadhead flight record. He shot the Belcher Union Jack longbow at the championship. 68” – 148 lbs at 32”. Using a 1,180 grain wood arrow, tipped with a two blade broadhead, the arrow launched 375 yards.

He and Sarah came over the pond to shoot Jims new bow he made for Simon. A one piece Thunderbird recurve. An astonishing 60” length, 145 lbs at 32” draw. Unbelievable!

Here, Simon is shooting the prototype. 60” – 130 lbs at 32”. I believe Simons’ exact words were “well, that’s quite a lovely bow to shoot, isn’t it? “. Without missing a beat, and the expression of AWE on my face, I simply replied “I’ll have to take your word for it, Simon”.

sport. Simons ability to draw that weight over and over without strain was an amazing sight to behold. Roger and his boy’s launching arrows in the yard and Jim enjoying every minute with laughter and old memories coming back to life was a thrill to be a part of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR0pvYkZy7A

Simon is a wealth of knowledge in the history of archery. Even though I needed Jim to translate for me on occasion, he was kind and patient with my onslaught of never ending questions. Simon sitting pic

After the unfortunate passing of Mr. Roy King;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/technology-obituaries/6840541/Roy-King.html ;

mentor to both Simon and Jim, Simon has become the leading expert in English war bows. Commissioned by the H.M.S. Mary Rose Trust to continue the preservation of the 132 English war bows discovered in the hull of Henry the VIII favorite ship;

http://www.maryrose.org/ship/bows1.htm ;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rose ;

Simon is now the only person permitted personal access to these works of art and has spent countless hours handling and inspecting these priceless artifacts. Receiving first hand knowledge on the brilliant construction of these bows is a conversation I will never forget. What an unforgettable experience.

Extending to me an open invitation to gain access to and a personal tour of the 500 year old war bows if ever I journey to England, I graciously accepted and was deeply honored at such kindness directed toward me. After a great day filled with archery, we headed to Sky Archery U.S.A. headquarters.

A personal tour of the shop from Jim, we laid our hands on the tools Earl Hoyt developed and personally used for the production of his line of traditional bows.

Then, we had the pleasure of watching and learning the art of traditional bow making from a true master bowyer. Jims skill and in-depth knowledge of the physics of limb design, function and optimal performance is overwhelming. With the skill of a master craftsman, he demonstrated the tools and machines used to produce his line of ILF limbs, risers, and complete line of Sky Archery and Belcher Bows products. With no time to waist, the construction of the 145 lbs. 60” recurve Simon will use for the world flight championship began. The two discussing the limb design needed to handle such weight, the risers’ shape for Simons hands and how the bow will cast a 1,180 grain arrow. Watching each process like a hawk, I stood in utter amazement as the recurve began to take shape.

Unfortunately, my time visiting was coming to an end and the return trip to Pittsburgh was near. After strong given and received handshakes and a great hug from Sandy, my drive back home commenced. The five hour drive seemed to fly by with the memories of a great weekend spent with old and new friends. Can’t wait for another visit with my friends, Jim and Sandy Belcher.

If you read this Jim, thank you for the best weekend of the year!

Watch Simon demonstrate flight shooting;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR0pvYkZy7A

Like a dork, I forgot to post pics of the new bow.

16 " Cocobolo riser - 60" 50 at 27" limbs for practicing form.

58" 55 at 27 for hunting.

Jim named the bow " The Bacon Buster " for hunting pigs.

Love that bow. I just got off the phone today with Jim. Gonna buy one. That SSR limb is awesome.

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