Welcome to Valley Bowmen.
The club was founded in 1963 by Ricky and Karla Farrar. They were keen archers and started the club in a field opposite the Sands House pub in Crosland Moor, Huddersfield. The club moved in 1971 to its present location, a field on Knowle Lane between Honley and Meltham It was provided rent free by one of the members who lived nearby. In 1991 the field was put up for sale and the club bought it with a combination of many years subscriptions in advance from the membership and grants from the local authorities. The land is held in trust by the club and can only be used for archery, and if the club ends it will go to another archery club or the National Governing body.
The members erected a pavilion and planted trees around the field
Over the years the club has been active in competitions around the country and some members did qualify to shoot for the England team.
The pavilion was sadly replaced by a steel green container,but the trees around the field have matured and indeed has been designated a site of special scientific interest. The site in the shadow of the Pennines and National Park and is one of the most beautiful in Yorkshire and provides balm for the soul as well as a venue for the sport.
The club has in recent years increased the number of beginners courses both for the revenue for improvements and also to fund winter shooting at Royds Hall school.
The archers consist of recurve, compound, longbow with the odd enthusiasts (very odd in some cases) shooting Mongolian and American Indian bows. There is a social side with barbecues, competitions and trips away to competitions.
We also provide Have-a-go sessions for local groups and occasionally provide facilities for scout competitions
The club has seen an expansion in recent years and is looking to better its facilities by improving its toilet (very basic at the moment) and by having mains water and electricity installed.
Whatever the future brings the club will continue bringing exercise and comradeship to its members and a taste of the sport of archery in all its forms to visitors and the public
We shoot at our own field, which is by the road between Honley and Meltham. We are normally there Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons as club days. The club owns the field and members are entitled to shoot at any time. All types of archery styles are shot by members; recurve, longbow and compound.