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Throughout history, men (and women) have pointed a finger at South Wales as a centre of excellence for archery. At various times armies have been glad of the expertise that these marksmen had to offer, and in their turn, enemies feared and flinched at the fact that a number of Welsh bowmen had gathered together and were prepared to do battle. Famously, at Agincourt and Crecy– the French threatened to remove the two fingers of all Welsh archers who were captured. These talented toxopholists were a decisive factor in the defeat of the French army. This gave rise to the alternative “V” for victory sign which was signalled by those victorious archers to the French prisoners-of-war as they were paraded past at that time (this sign, still in common use, became colloquially known as “flagging”).

 

Prominent among these bands of warriors were the Llantrisant Bowmen who dwelt not 10 bowshots away from Glyncornel, (well, with quite a good bow, a little poetic licence and an active imagination!). Even to this day, descendants of these fighters are bestowed with the honour of “Freeman” in memory of the significance of their contribution. This is the bedrock that produces the stock that is “Pentref”!!

 

Snuggling serenely and sweetly in the Cwm called Rhondda is the open secret known to all Field Archers – Glyncornel Archery Centre – situated between the towns of Tonypandy and Treorchy. These two places alone have added much to the myth that all Welshmen wear miner’s helmets, play rugby, have a sheep on a rope (I’m not sure of the significance of this one!) and sing “Sospan Fach” every hour on the hour. This I can adamantly deny. I have never owned a miner’s helmet!!

 

On 22nd August 1952, eight people, including Glan Jeffreys, who was our founder, sat in the Welfare Rooms of the Ton Pentre Co-op Society and officially inaugurated the Pentref Bowmen Archery Club. Future meetings were held in a room at a local public house (history notes that some of these were quite sensible!), and the membership gradually grew. The first practice was held on the 4th Sept. 1952 on a field near Tonypandy Square, which was owned by one of the members, and so the club was born. As a point of interest, the Welfare Rooms, the public house and the first practice field now no longer exist.

 

Shooting practice continued at various venues in the locality until in May 1953 the club took over an old tennis club in Ton Pentre. This had the space of two tennis courts and a small club house. To get the longer distances involved, members used to shoot from the side of an adjacent coal tip across a mountain track and on to the club grounds, avoiding wandering sheep in the process.

 

At that time the Club was entirely devoted to Target Archery and had a demonstration team which visited the local pubs and clubs, giving exhibitions and competing in Archery Darts.

 

In September 1956, some of the members took an interest in Field Archery and the club formed two sections. Gradually over the next few years the club became devoted to field archery and affiliated to the British Field Archery Association.

 

The first major Field tournament was held on the mountain side above Ton Pentre. This and subsequent ones were so successful that some years later the Club organised the B.F.A.A. National Championships at Coedely Woods, near Llantrisant (see, I told you it wasn’t far away!!). This event attracted the largest entry for a Field Archery Tournament to that date, and was also notable for the fact that a Field course was also laid which enabled archers in wheelchairs to participate. This was the first, and as far as I am aware, the only time this has happened.  

 

In 1967, the Club acquired the lease of 55 acres of Nantgwyddon Woods, and this was the birth of Glyncornel Archery Centre.  Much hard work from the members was needed to convert the old buildings into a club house, as well as constructing the courses for the members to shoot over.

 

It was in 1968 that the First All British and Open Field Archery Championships was organised by the club on behalf of the Grand National Archery Society and have been held on the last weekend in May ever since.

It is the proud boast that Pentref, Llwynypia is the spiritual home of Field Archery in the UK. The Glyncornel Field Archery Centre became the home of Pentref Bowmen and the Club hosted the All British & Open Field Archery Championships on behalf of the Grand National Archery Society for the first 25 years from its inception. It now hosts the national championships on a rotational basis with other UK venues.

 

Crowning these achievements was difficult, but in 1970 when due to the late withdrawal of the appointed country, GNAS was persuaded by the club to stage the 2nd World and 1st European Field Championships here in the Rhondda.  During the preparation for this Tournament the club went through its greatest development, when with grant aid from various bodies, the car park and roadways, the main hall and log cabin were built.  History records that even though the weather was atrocious for the weeks before and during the first day of the event, it was very successful, with eleven countries competing. The clubhouse is still used for year-round indoor shooting.

 

 The World Championships returned 38 years later when Llwynypia held the qualification rounds of the 2008 World Field Archery Championships. Pentref and Wales hosted the 21st World Field Archery Championships. This was a daunting challenge, not least because it was an honour thrust on some rather than requested! Nevertheless, the gauntlet was picked up and the challenge accepted. A gruelling experience it became: from funding; venues; arrangements; petty bureaucracy and even to the weather. Despite all these, the difficulties were overcome and with a lot of help from friends and volunteers, Jean Howells at the helm and Gerald Farrell in the engine room, we sailed the seas of adversity. The Good-Ship Pentref made it home! Many have praised and thanked us for our efforts and we pass those on to those who did their bit in some harsh conditions.  

 

Not willing to rest on our laurels, notably, we hosted the All British Field Archery Championships in 2010, 2013 and 2017. The latter of these ventures was the 50th Anniversary of the All British. The flooring, attic structure and heating were replaced which was an undertaking mainly by Chris Farr. Later, the internal lighting was upgraded to LED and external lighting added to allow evening shooting, on what has become known as the ‘Mal-Practice’ range as a salute to the overseer and electrician Mal Whitter. A 60m range was completed in 2016 by Alun Thomas and in 2019, a permanent practice field course in close proximity of the club. In August 2017 Pentref introduced and hosted the first World Archery3D in the UK. A phenomenal achievement for a totally voluntary workforce (well, I’m really impressed anyway!)

 

A number of club members have carried the name of Pentref Bowmen to other countries throughout the World, both as archers representing Great Britain and also as officials in major championships.  Names that spring to mind are: Chris Farr who started as a slip of a girl in 1966 and more than 40 years later became a qualified judge but now attends the Archery Club in the sky ; Cliff Bluck who has retired as national and top international judge but still attends to give advice and occasional short shrift (may we thank you for your years of incorrect decisions Cliff); The Howells family – at the last count in this club, there were more of them than bison that crossed the American Plains in the 18th Century.  Their individual records are remarkable but their joint achievements are a phenomenon; Jean and Jan Howells returned from the Commonwealth Games in India. British Squad members galore – Jan Howells; MaryAnn Richardson; Tony Nielson, Jeff Williams and Alex Bridgeman (ex-Junior World Champion); Sue Davies (ex-World Champion). Not forgetting Gerald Farrell whose expertise has produced some of the most challenging courses in Britain and now the world!

    

Recently, Amelia Thomas aged 12years was entered as a senior, to compete in the World 3D Championships in Robion, Southern France; the youngest GB member ever to represent us as a senior. The next year, Amelia’s dad, Mathew, joined her on the GB squad and went to the European 3D Championships in Sweden to gain family caps. Amelia was ranked 5th. Then Amelia continued her tour de force and competed in the European Field Archery Championships in 2019. As further proof, if it were needed, of the dedication of our members to archery and the club, Phil Bowen started in field archery shooting barebow as a very young boy; he claimed many medals and as a young man was as close to being World Champion as makes little difference.  He continued throughout his life shooting traditional and barebow style and always helped setting up or designing courses. His ‘Parting Shot’ to his life and his club, which he proudly proclaimed, was to build a rustic platform with steps to create a shot down towards the club. This has now been proudly dedicated with a plaque by Pentref as ‘Phil Bowen’s Last Stand’.

 

Our precious environment is not forgotten either. In fact, we are careful and concerned about the area that we use. It is not only a nature reserve but classed as a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ or SSSI. We are directed in understanding our flora and fauna by our eminent naturalist, Jeff Williams, who cuts and creates paths without disturbing the orchids (he’ll show you, if you ask nicely) or bird nests etc. You will see his photographic masterpieces of birds and insects in flight on the walls in the club. Jeff will answer any question about bats, birds, fungi or beetles.

 

 Oh! Did I mention the kitchen? No! How remiss. The Pentref Kitchen is a boon to our competitions, a task offered with a smile and a flourish by Bron Tucker and Kim Williams (that’s Jeff’s wife); these amazing people, with their helpers, provide superb comestibles at a very reasonable price; a full breakfast, pies and cakes; a veritable feast, to keep you shooting throughout the event.

Behind the scenes are course designers, course builders, administrators and, of course, the cleaners, a host of people prepared to make your visit a dream.

 

So, if you have never been to this club in the hillsides of South Wales I extend the greatest of welcomes since it is the ‘Venice’ of the archery world

– ‘You must do it before you die’ (Please don’t take me literally as we’d hate the problems of clearing the corpses as well as the butts after a shoot.).  Despite all our problems of vandalism, the elements, finances, bad plumbing, etc., the thing you will find is that the members of the Pentref have the pleasure and competition of archery at heart.  You will enjoy the atmosphere this creates and the warmth that is produced from these hard working people even in the wettest and coldest of weekends.  We have the ability not to take ourselves too seriously but to insist that those who are in a competitive frame of mind that they must. As we stand on the edge of a new millennium, we know that Pentref inaugurated ‘The British’’ of this there is no doubt and a fact of which we are justifiably proud. For many years we have struggled to improve and that will continue for many years to come.

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PENTREF – The Legend Lives On!!