About Island Archers

Island Archers is a rapidly-expanding archery club, based in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis.
We shoot recurve target archery every Wednesday evening between 7:00pm and 8:30pm, all year round.

Archery and is a sport for all ages and abilities, and we would like to hear from anyone who always wanted to give it a go, but never quite got round to it, or was too shy, or whatever. Don't worry, we're very friendly, and we never take it too seriously, although we do insist that safety procedures are strictly adhered to at all times by everyone.

Sadly, delays in getting the appropriate disclosures to coach under 16s and vulnerable adults (a necessary evil in this day-and-age), have resulted in the temporary closure of our junior section, until all the 'responsible adults' who would help run the junior section have been checked out be the necessary authorities, and we apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause.

Although archery is a very sociable sport, it is also a truely individual sport, and no-one else is to blame if you don't hit the gold. It's a sport that promotes concentration, consistency, and discipline if you want to progress to the higher levels of the game. Some, however, aren't especially interested in refining their technique, or are indifferent to tournaments and competition, and are happy just to use archery as a way of 'tuning out' from the working week, and we're more than happy to have their company on the shooting line.

We especially welcome beginners, and tuition and equipment is provided free, although there is a modest 'target fee' of £4 per evening session (1½ hours) to cover venue hire and equipment maintenence costs. Beginners are welcome to shoot with us for up to a maximum of 6 sessions, but thereafter, to comply with our insurance obligations, we have to ask them to become a member of the UK archery national governing body, GNAS, and the simplest way of doing that is to join the club (it's only forty quid per year)! However, if people just want to come along and try out archery for a few sessions, and decide that it's not the sport for them, or don't especially want to join the club, we won't pressure them.

Archery is one of the few sports where people with disabilities can compete at the same level with few compromises as the more able-bodied, and it is not uncommon to see disabled archers, sometimes in wheelchairs, shooting alongside their able bodied friends on the same shooting line. We would welcome interest from the less able-bodied - Come along, and you never know, you might find that it's a sport that has you hooked for life!

Visiting archers, whether they shoot recurve, longbow, or compound, are very welcome to join us to punch a few holes in bits of paper, providing they can provide a GNAS membership number, or other positive proof of insurance. There are numerous outdoor and indoor tournaments throughout the year; an important part of the sport for those of a more competitive nature. Nevertheless club and recreational archery is just as important for people who find they have little time for any serious commitment, though still enjoy 'shooting arrows' with friends, family or colleagues in the familiar surroundings of their club.

We meet every Wednesday evening between 7:00pm and 8:30pm all year round, at one of three venues;

• The Nicolson Institute Assembly Hall or occasionally;
• The Matheson Hall, if the Assembly Hall is being used for school events.

A change of venue is normally posted on the website, but you're welcome to contact us if you're unsure where we're likely to be, and want to come along to a session.

We're still working on a permanent outdoor venue that will give us the ability to shoot to competition ranges and isn't populated by corncrakes, a protected bird species that's very adept at building nests exactly where we don't want them! But watch this space - we're currently involved with a project whose facilities will give the club everything an archer could want in an outdoor venue, including a shooting line sheltered from the elements, catering facilities, and, most importantly after all those coffees, toilets!

Having packed everything away, usually at around 9pm, we usually relocate to the HS1 café/bar, next to the Royal Hotel in Cromwell Street, Stornoway, to have a gossip and consume a large Latte or two before heading home. Prospective archers wanting to know more are very welcome to join us there and quiz us about the sport.

If you need more information, please feel free to use the contact us form, we’ll get back to you as soon as we can, and hopefully you can come and join us for a few sessions!