As some of you might know, I live in The Netherlands. I wrote some reviews on Tradgang and suddenly there was that e-mail from Hubert from Germany. I never met this guy or knew who he was. However, he explained he had read my reviews on Tradgang and had some questions about my Peregrine. This is how our correspondence started.
We mailed a lot and spoke about visiting each other. We picked a date: the 23rd of July. Hubert would visit me, which meant a four hours drive for him. He could stay with us during the night and leave again on Sunday.
He brought three beautiful bows with him: a Centaur Carbon Elite 60" 50@28", an A&H ACS CX 62"55@28 takedown longbow and an Eaglewing Talon 11 60" 50@28. Add to that my Cari-bow Peregrine (62"45@29)and one could say we had some fine representatives of the best of the best from the US...
I added also a Grozer Hungarian Horse bow from 50lbs@28inches and for nostalgic reasons my first Longbow I ever owned, a Bearpaw Raven (German brand) from 38 lbs @28 inches.
Here we are sitting in our garden, admiring our collection:
(http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4563/dscf1299large.jpg)
And then it was time for a shoot. We grabbed our bows and arrows, took four 3D animals with us, managed to get it all in Hubert's car, and off we went.
We went to my training dome, the old factory, only a five minutes drive. For those who "haven't been there", take a look at my review of the Peregrine in the review dept. I am testing it there. In this factory it is always dry and you can shoot till 67 meter (73 yards).
We shot from 13.00 till 18.00 hours :eek: . Afterwards we tried to recalculate how many arrows we must have shot and we think 500 pro person is a safe assumption :archer2: . It was shear madness! I started with the ACS, curious if I, with my 30 inch draw, could handle the poundage which would go up to 60lbs. No problem at all, to my astonishment I could draw it to 30 inch with ease. It shoots like a dream. Moved over to the Centaur. I am sorry to say this, but this isn't my bow. To less mass, too sensible and absolutely not forgiving anything. Moved over to the Eaglewing. This bow shoots like a machine; I was shooting very small groups with it from the beginning as if this was my own bow I had for years already. I switched a few times, but I kept coming back to this Eaglewing which probably was delivering a respectable 55 lbs at my drawlenght. I never imagined I could draw that weight with so much ease.
Hubert shot my Peregrine like a trusted friend and every shot amazed him. He was shooting it very good, very tight groups also and I could see he was falling in love. We started at 15 meter, went to 22, to 30, to 37, to 45, to 52, , to 60, to 68.
We kept hitting our targets! Alas I forgot to take my camara with me, so we have no pics from this. We shot in a high tempo, 7 arrows after each other within a minute. We started a little game: beginning at 15 meter and when you shot a kill, go further to the next distance, working our way up to the 73 yards. I can tell you Hubert is hard to beat; after all he is one of Germany finest Archers, who won a LOT of tournaments. Well, let's just say he thought the same thing about me and we did equally well. .
After five hours and 500 arrows each, we were dead-tired. None of us had ever shot that much or that long. :nono:
(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6471/dscf1301large.jpg)
:campfire:
Now that's what it's all about!!
That is just a cool story! The 'Brotherhood of the Bow' knows no borders.
That's an awesome line-up of bows there. Thanks for sharing with us! :clapper: :archer2:
Great story! Thanks for sharing it.......
I like too
Thanks
Good stuff right there! Thanks for posting!
:thumbsup:
way cool, we're all 'brothers of the bow'! thanx for sharing :thumbsup:
:clapper: Love it. Thanks for sharing.
The mystical flight of the arrow has the power to transcend both border and tongue. Thank you for reminding us. :archer2:
Very cool!
That is great, thank you for sharing.
Sounds like you two had a great time!
Archie
:thumbsup: :clapper: :archer2:
;) :campfire: :goldtooth:
Hi Ad,
At first I want to say thank you so much :thumbsup: ! Ad and his wife are very warm and beautiful people!
It was a magical weekend. And you all are right brotherhood of bows knows no borders.
It was exhausting but I still benefit from the energy it has given me. :campfire:
Thank you again for this weekend Brother.
Hubert
And thanks to you too Hubert! Without you the magic wouldn't have been there! You are a great guy too! And always ready to help, no matter what!
I hope to see you often, my house is yours Bro!
There's nothing like a new friend with a shared interest,thats what trad gang is about making friends and memories.
Thank you all for your reactions!
I married a 1/2 Dutch girl who's mother grew up in Holland. When we finally get there to visit I hope I too am invited to shoot in your personal archery range. Only thing is that I'm really good to 15 yards and that's it. One day!
Thanks for the post...Ryan
Flying Dutchman, It's great to hear a story of a traditional archery friendship from the other side of the Atlantic. Thanks for sharing. I see that you like my favorite image.
:clapper: :archer2:
QuoteOriginally posted by Manitoba Stickflinger:
I married a 1/2 Dutch girl who's mother grew up in Holland. When we finally get there to visit I hope I too am invited to shoot in your personal archery range. Only thing is that I'm really good to 15 yards and that's it. One day!
Thanks for the post...Ryan
Ryan, you are always welcome ofcourse.... now, what bow did you shoot again? :rolleyes:
Ad, I knew you'd have open arms!
Bows??....I have a small collection of Tall Tines bows (longbow, and recurve....soon to be recurves) I will likely also have another Cari-bow some time this year as I miss my Wolverine. Looking into an Slynx, Peregrine, or Silver Fox...love all of them...Ryan
Ryan, I thought you were shooting a Silver-Fox already. I am saving money for that one... Maybe I should let out my gorgeous body for hire to some beautiful generous women..... :rolleyes:
Ad...I think you should try that!LOL
One of my best buddies has a Silver Fox that I often shoot....and am always trying to buy off him. Good memory....Ryan
What's your draw Ryan? Iam between 29 and 30 and am wondering if a Silver Fox stacks at that lenght. I think I will have to take a 64"lenght then.
Did you ever compare a Silver-Fox with a Peregrine?
Sounds like a great time, hope you get to visit again
I guess it's true what they say about it being a small world. These times are fantastic.
:thumbsup:
Well that's just cool :clapper: :archer2:
Brad
Hi Ad,
What part of the Netherlands are you from? My wife to be is from Ede and we will be visiting her/your homeland in August. We have an invite to shoot at an archery club there but I don't recall the name. I'm looking forward to seeing the Netherlands.
Howard
I am from the south, about an half hours drive from Antwerpen/Belgium.
Hi Ad,
Am I invited too next time? :campfire:
I got some nice bows to show and shoot. You know I live in the eastern part of the Netherlands.
You are always welcome Arnold! Let me know when you're around...
Great people+great bows=great time!!!
:thumbsup:
That's great. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now this is a perfect mix of the traditional and the digital! Thanks very much for sharing.
Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed that very much
Awesome story!
What an awsome story!!!! I am so jealous about not being there but the story you wrote is so complete and descriptive that I felt like I was.
However to shoot with two really great shooters like you guys. Well,. I just might have been embarressed if I was there. I think therefore that I will stick to building bows for you to shoot while watching from the sidelines as youyou shoot all those great bows.
I feel really blessed to hear my bow being even mentioned in the same compoany as CAribow and ACH and Centaur Ect.
I did Reccomend those bows and bowyers to Hubert because I do not build a bow that was legal in the class he wanted to compete in. I am designing a bow this year for that so that it will meet the specifications for the longbow. All the ones I build now have too much D and r. Of course that Aand H does too but it is one great bow design.
God bless you all, Steve
It would of been great to just be there and watch and talk.
Looks like you have a great looking collection there!
Glenn
Sounds awesome guys.....just goes to show you tradgangers speak a universal language! It actually requires no audible language. Hopefully you two can come over here sometime for a Denton Hill, Compton, Cloverdale or some other large Trad gathering. We will make your arms fall off!!!Nice story.....John
:archer:
Happy Easter and
God'[s blessings to you all!!!
Hubert and Ad I have a thread with the new EagleWing Double carbon recurve and Paradox Walnut riser I was telling you about.
God bless you all, Steve
Thanks for that. Pretty amazing that friends can meet on line like this.
ChuckC