News 2025
CHRISTMAS FUN SHOOT
On December 14th we held our Christmas fun shoot, it was very well attended with 16 archers taking part which gave us four teams of four. Each team was named after Santa’s reindeer Rudolph, Dancer, Blitzen and Dasher. Team Dancer was the winner with a score of 147. This was followed by a Charity shoot in aid of First Focus organised by Dave Smith assisted by Sandy. A huge thank you goes to them.
UKRS PORTSMOUTH
We hosted the UKRS Portsmouth competition again this year although we had to find another venue as our regular venue is closed due to having a swimming pool built but Hingham Bowmen came to our rescue letting us use their indoor facilities. Fakenham Bowmen were well represented with 7 members competing and three members came away with some bling.
Tiffiny Chandler – 1st Tribow Women
Jasmin Chandler-Blacktopp – 1st Longbow women U18
Polly Warnes – 1st Compound Women 50+ and a new County Record
Fakenham Bowmen were well represented at the Wymondham Winter Worcester on 2nd November 2025 and came away with a few awards.
Tiffiny Chandler 2nd in Ladies compound
Milly Dewing 2nd in under 16 ladies compound
Stephen Dewing 1st in men’s 50+ compound (beating the overall score!) and a new county record for 50+ by 1 point
CLOUT WEEKEND
Fakenham Bowmen’s Clout Weekend returned once again! Held on the 4th and 5th October, with UK Record Status and Tassel Status, Saturday was a World Archery Metric Clout while Sunday was an Archery GB Imperial Clout, which was also the Norfolk County Clout. Fakenham Bowmen was well represented with Paul Gambling coming 1st in Longbow and Anthony Bowern 1st in Recurve at a distance of 165m on Saturday. Unfortunately, only one clout was shot due to the weather conditions. While on Sunday, Milly Dewing won 1st and County Champion in the Junior Ladies Compound, Anthony Bowern won 1st and County Champion in Gents Recurve, Paul Gambling 1st and County Champion in Gents Longbow, Stephen Dewing 1st and County Champion in Gents 50+ Compound. Team competition Fakenham Bowmen came 2nd.
NAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Our very own Tiff Chandler competed as part of the Norfolk Team at the NAA Championships at Lilleshall. Tiff achieved two PBs and Norfolk came 4th overall. Well done Tiff and well done Norfolk.
40 Years since Fakenham Bowmen Re-established
In 1985 Elaine Burbidge, a former member of Swaffham Archery club now, living in Fakenham, looked for Fakenham Bowmen only to discover they no longer existed (disbanded after Fakenham Printing Works closed as many members moved away in search of employment). Elaine along with her two sons and three other people re-established the club where we are now. A big thank you goes out to Elaine and her sons as we still enjoy the growing club we have today.
13th July Summer Fun Shoot
After the success of our first ever fun shoot last year, we held it again this year and a great time was had by all.
29th June outdoor championships
We held our first outdoor championships for the first time since Covid
Trophies and Medal Winners
Ladies Recurve – Gill Bridges. Men’s Recurve – Chris Evans. Recurve Champion – Gill Bridges
Ladies Compound – TIff Chandler. Men’s Compound – George Waller. Compound Champion – Tiff Chandler
Men’s Barebow – David Smith. Ladies Barebow – Elaine Burbidge. Barebow Champion – Alan Ducker
Junior Compound – Milly Dewing
Junior Longbow – Jas Chandler-Blacktopp
Novice Recurve – Sandy Atkins
Corporate Shoot
On Tuesday 3rd June, we hosted P4 Fastel for their 2nd archery team challenge. The weather was windy but thankfully dry this year! Lots of laughter and fun had by all.
Mayday Shoot 2025 Fakenham Bowmen hosted their annual Mayday shoot again this year and despite the horrendous weather conditions, it went off quite well. On Sunday the competitors for the longbow two way western battled against driving rain and on Monday, the competitors for the two National rounds were buffeted by high winds and strong gusts but despite this, some good scores were still achieved. A list of winners of trophies and medals will follow shortly but a huge congratulations go to everyone who competed for actually completing their round is such adverse conditions also, a big thanks go to the judges and lady paramount and the ground staff for moving the targets for the different distances on Monday without whom this event couldn’t take place. Thank you.
Medal and Trophy winners from Fakenham Bowmen
Longbow two way western 3rd Paul Gambling
Long National Men 50+ Compound 1st Stephen Dewing with a score of 377
Tribow Overall tribow Tiff Chandler Ladies tribow Tiff Chandler
Congratulations
Our first Have-a-go day of 2025
A good time was had by all at our first have-a-go of the year held on 12th April. It was very well attended and hopefully, a few of them will decide to join the club.
*BREAKING NEWS*
The Lancaster Room is now open.
The days and times are as follows:-
Tuesday evenings 5pm to 8pm (hopefully this will help those of you who work and are unable to shoot during the day)
Saturday afternoon 2.30pm to 5.30pm
Sunday afternoon 2pm to 4pm
If on the odd occasion the time changes due to the room being booked for a private function, an email will be sent and a post will be put on our Facebook page.
The club hopes that as many of you will take advantage of this new venue as it has taken a lot of hard work and negotiations to get it up and running.
CLUB NEWS 2025
23rd February – Fakenham Bowmen were represented by Tiff Chandler, Laura Bray, Jas Chandler-Blacktopp, Milly Dewing and Stephen Dewing. Tiff, Norfolk ladies Compound 3rd place and Milly, Norfolk Under 16 women’s compound 1st place. Well done Milly and Tiff.
9th March – We held our first indoor club championships since March 2020, thank you to everyone who took part. Congratulations to the following members:-
Gents Compound 50+ 1st Kevin Croxall with a score of 532
Gents Recurve 50+ 1st Alan Ducker with a score of 410 2nd Bob Barrett with a score of 369
Gents Recurve 1st Chris Evans with a score of 477
Gents Barebow 50+ 1st David “Smithy” Smith with a score of 492 2nd Mitch Brookes with a sore of 461
Gents Longbow 50+ 1st Dave Williams with a score of 479
Women Compound 1st Tiffany Chandler with a score of 541
Women Recurve 1st Laura Bray
Women Recurve 50+ 1st Gillian Bridges with a score of 527
Women Barebow 50+ 1st Sandra Smith with a score of 322
Junior Compound 1st Milly Dewing with a score of 440
Junior Longbow 1st Jas Chandler-Blacktopp with a score of 257
A special mention goes to Joseph Guild for his 425, his PB by a lot and to our newest member Nigel Hendry with his score of 323
Images can be seen here