When one thinks of archery they often think of Robin Hood.
That’s what Amanda Devitt thought too, when she first fell in love with the sport at summer camp as a child.
Now, years later, Devitt is a senior member of the archery club at Carleton.
The simple fact that Carleton has an archery program was a deciding factor for Devitt four years ago when she was choosing a university.
The archery team, which has been around for six years, practices every Tuesday in the combatives room and welcomes new members.
Devitt said archery is no longer about Robin Hood. She said she does archery because it is a very challenging and entertaining sport.
There is a focused silence in the room as Devitt and her teammates shoot, but when all the arrows are shot, the teammates laugh and talk among themselves.
“The archery club is a good chance to learn the sport and expand your knowledge. It’s fun way of expanding on extracurricular activities,” said Coach Tiniko Natsvlichvili. “If you join the club, you get the equipment and the coaching to learn.”
During the second practice of the semester the beginners worked in the corner of the room without arrows, focusing on technique.
“We had to work on aiming and getting the basics down,” said beginner Reid Meyers. “We’ll have to keep refining our skills.”
But with guidance from the coaches, Meyers shot an arrow that landed right on the mark on his second practice.
“There is a sense of accomplishment in order to perform a skill that requires something so precise,” he said.
The team does offer opportunities to compete, but Meyers said he joined the club for fun.
“But if I turn out to be extraordinarily talented, I’ll consider competing,” he added.
This year the team has set up competitions with other universities in Ontario. But competing is “strictly on voluntary basis,” according to Devitt.
Devitt said she worries people will not join the club if they feel there is pressure to compete in a sport that they know nothing about.
“We are part of the competitive clubs,” said Natsvlichvili, “but you can see with the atmosphere it’s really laid back; you can take it as far as you want.”
“Absolutely anyone can and should join,” Devitt said. “I want to put out the call to more girls.”
For the first three years Devitt was a member of the club, she was the only girl consistently coming to practice.
She said she thinks many people think it is a super masculine sport because it involves a weapon.
“But it’s tons of fun, and the bows can be changed to fit how much strength you have,” she said.
For Devitt, her favourite archery moment goes back to Robin Hood.
During her second year, Devitt “Robin-Hooded” an arrow.
“It’s when you shoot one arrow, shoot another right after. The second arrow hits and splits the first arrow.”
Can she do it again?
“No, it was entirely lucky and a fantastic moment that happened once.”