Archer Spotlight - September Edition: Welfare & Safeguarding Officer and L1 Club Coach, Jane Reed

“Coach Jane, please do tell us - how did you discover Archery?”

My archery journey started as a bit of an accident to be honest!  My Dad (Phil Beadle: Club Secretary, Senior Coach and all-round fountain of knowledge) had taken up archery and was helping out at a Come & Try Archery Fun Day in the summer of 2013.  He suggested I took my daughters (Kirsten & Lisette, then aged 12 & 10) along as archery was something they could do with Grandad whilst I was at work. 

The day of the Fun Day dawned, and we showed up early (a rarity for me, obviously) and Kirsten and Lisette picked a bow each and then proceeded to take ownership of it for the rest of the day!  Eventually, they let me have a turn and I discovered how addictive it was.  We all signed up for the next beginners’ course in the September, kindly sponsored (funded) by Dad/Grandad. 

“We knew Coach Phil would somehow be involved with masterminding this family Archery activity! So did you all regularly shoot after you completed the courses?”

Both Kirsten and Lisette shot reasonably regularly as juniors, winning various medals and trophies both as individuals and part of the Junior Team.  Always good to get some bling!   However, it was me that was really keen.  I was Lady Club Champion for several years (not that there were many ladies - definitely a bit of an old man’s sport at the time) and shot regularly at competitions both as an individual and as part of a team.

“Brilliant! So, you definitely got the Archery bug (I could imagine your dad gleefully grinning at this)! How did you do in the external competitions?”

I was actually pretty good back in the day.  In April 2016, I entered West Essex Bowmen’s WA1440 (a double WA70) – 12 dozen arrows!  I hurt just thinking about it now.  This was a World Record Status shoot and attracted lots of very good archers from around the country.  I just thought it would be fun (weird, I know) and had no expectations of how I would do.  I found myself sharing a target with some of the ‘big boys’ (two of whom came 1^st and 2^nd overall in the Gents competition).  As their scores were so good – pretty much Gold all the way, I was blissfully unaware of how I was doing and so was most surprised to hear I had achieved a Lady Bowman score of 1011.  This meant I was awarded a FITA Star 1000 and an English Archery Federation White Rose.  I even got a mention in the Achievements pages of the Archery GB Magazine.  I can provide a copy for anyone who doesn’t believe me!

“Wow, that’s amazing! We really need to see that copy - not because we don’t believe you but because that’s a very cool achievement!”

Anyway, I think that was probably the peak of my shooting ‘stardom’ - I was 10 years younger, considerably stronger and had no expectations or performance anxiety.  Basically, I didn’t let my head get in the way and just enjoyed it!  Note to self: just do it Jane.

I used to enter lots of competitions both indoors and outdoors.  I am generally a fair-weather archer (wimpy, I know) so indoor competitions during the winter were my favourites.  A nice Portsmouth or Worcester in a warm sports hall, ideally with a good cake selection is always good.  The best for me was the Racketts’ Christmas Worcester where they played cheesy Christmas songs throughout the shoot and their Treasurer made the best egg mayo rolls!  The facilities and catering at any competition always have a bearing on my eagerness to attend.  The other good thing about competitions is the raffle: I’m usually lucky winning the raffle if not the competition 😊. 

Anyway, if you have any questions about competitions, the clubs which host them and the catering facilities available, just ask.  Who knows, maybe this year is the year I make a come-back and actually enter some competitions again.

“Somehow, I don’t know why, but I knew cake was going to make it into this! Glad that incentivised you to make a come-back.”

I have already made one come-back – I had a couple of years off before/during Covid and when I returned, it appeared that my arms had shrunk!  I also couldn’t manage to pull my bow using my competition limbs (34lb Uukhas) so had to use a lighter set.  I was still struggling so my Coach (my lovely Dad) shortened my arrows and fitted a clicker extender.  The joys of getting older and weaker, eh?  But the good news is that archery can always be adapted for the archer. 

“So how did your journey to become a qualified Archery Coach begin?”

I started my coaching qualification in April 2024 after helping out on the beginners’ courses the year before. I realised that whilst my own archery wasn’t as good as it had once been, I had plenty of knowledge and experience which I could pass on to new archers.  The online modules of the course were completed relatively quickly but getting a place for the in-person modules proved much more difficult.  My final assessment took place in Crawley (the closest I could get to home) and I qualified as a Level 1 Session Coach in January 2025.

Shortly after I qualified, I ran a ladies only session at the Club for the Black Does (as opposed to Stags).  It was well received but other commitments (mainly my social calendar, I confess) got in the way, so it was not repeated.  We can always reinstate the Black Does if any of our female members would be interested – just let me know.

“The Black Does was very successful! Hopefully you can bring these sessions back.”

There have been lots of changes to archery since I started in 2013 and I can only begin to imagine the changes that some of our long-term members have seen over the years.  For me, it is much more inclusive regardless of age, sex or ability.  I am no longer the token lady!

“Do tell - what is next for you?”

So, what’s next for me?  I’ve finally got back to my Uukha limbs (yay!) and I’m working on improving my scores as well as my technique.  I’m looking forward to meeting our new beginners at the course in September and maybe, just maybe, might even enter a competition or two.

Hope to see you on the shooting line soon – happy shooting!

Jane Reed, L1 Club Coach and Welfare & Safeguarding Officer.

“Thank you for sharing your Archery journey Coach Jane! What great achievements and dedication to the sport. You accomplished a lot during a time when archery clubs were likely very male dominated, so are a wonderful example to ladies wishing to do the sport of archery, that you can do it... Archery is for all!”

Until next month!