The club has 14 ArcheryGB qualified coaches plus a number of experience archers that regularly help on Beginner courses and Taster Sessions. (click an arrow to find out more about any of the individuals).
Mark Swallow – Development Coach (Level 2)
| About Me | Joined the club in 2013 and shot for 4 year before ill health stopped the shooting but have continued with coaching and achieved Level 2 about 6 years ago |
| Bow Styles | Use to like shooting all bow styles (except compound) |
| Why Archery | I love the sport and more importantly the people that partake in the sport, they make me laugh, cry bang my head are a constant source of both amusement and things to aspire to. |
| How to contact me | I am not at the field much at the moment due to ongoing health issues (which is a shame – I very much miss it) I can be contacted through Facebook or the Whatsapp group |
Mick Robshaw – Development Coach (Level 2)
| About Me | I completed my beginners course in 2015, but didn’t actually start archery until 2017, when I joined the club. Then around 2020, I started helping out on the beginner courses as a volunteer, I enjoyed the satisfaction it gave me, helping others to start their journey into the sport of archery. This prompted me to go on and train to become a level 1 session coach with ArcheryGB. In 2023 I have now gone on to attained my Level 2 Development Coach qualifiecation. |
| Bow Styles | I have only ever shot Barebow, although sometimes I do think of pursuing a different bow style which I’m sure would be good, but I find myself with a challenge, that of which I must first try and tame the Barebow. |
| Why Archery? | I tried to take up golf alongside Archery, but found although the two sports were very similar in there frustrating way, golf involved far too much walking up and down, most of the time looking for balls that didn’t go in the right direction. So I decided to concentrate all my efforts on Archery, I still get to walk up and down quite a lot collecting the arrows, and still get to look for arrows that didn’t go where they were suppose to, now just not as often. Although I really enjoy the shooting, including having a go at the odd club competltion where you get to meet lots of the other members, I do enjoy trying to learn about the technicalities and science behind the shooting techniques, I just seem to find the whole archery experience so mentally satisfying. |
| How to contact me | I am usually at the field 2 or 3 times a week normally in the afternoons, otherwise I can be contacted either through the club or by emailing : mickr828@gmail.com |
John Sinfield – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I started shooting 5 years ago, and did my beginners course at the club. Since then I have qualified as a Session Coach with Archery Great Britain, to allow me to both improve my skills and to help others start their own archery journey |
| Bow Styles | I shoot recurve most of the time, but also have a longbow that comes out occasionally! |
| Why Archery? | I used to pass the club regularly in the car – and was intrigued enough to sign up for a course. My son & I joined after the course, and we both shoot (me more regularly than him!) I find archery to be a great benefit for my mental health – it helps me relax after a week at work, and improves my concentration at the same time. |
| How to contact me | I am at the field most Saturday mornings, or you can contact me via the club WhatsApp group or on johnsinfield@gmail.com |
Alan Hoddinott – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | Although I tried archery in my teens it wasn’t until 2009 that I took it up as a sport. In 2014 I gained my Level 1 coaching certificate and get great satisfaction from promoting the sport and coaching beginners and novice archers. Both my son and daughter have shot with the club hence my involvement with the Junior section of the club. |
| Bow Styles | Although I primarily shoot recurve, I also shoot longbow at least one a week |
| Why Archery? | Over the years I’ve tried many sports and activities but never settled on one until I tried archery. It is now my all-consuming passion. I not only love shooting but also enjoy learning about archery technique and even find maintaining equipment a fletching arrows very therapeutic |
| How to contact me | I am at the field most days and contactable via whatApp, alan@hoddinott.co.uk or 07836235346 |
Paul McGuire – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | Having given up my main sport of amateur football at the age of 58 I wanted to take up a sport which didn’t require as much energy. Crown green bowling didn’t appeal and I remembered, one year, as a young boy receiving a simple bow and arrows as a Christmas present, hence the sport of archery popped into my head. My wife and I took a beginner course 14 years ago in Morley as the VBoH didn’t run courses during the winter months at that time. We joined the club in November 2008 and in 2013 I gained my level 1 coaching certificate and became the first qualified coach at the club, if not in its history, then certainly since joining the club. |
| Bow Styles | I normally shoot a recurve bow although once a year at the Traditional Shoot competition I try my hand at Barebow using wooden arrows as a bit of fun. |
| Why Archery? | In my sporting past I’ve played football, cricket and squash to a reasonable standard but of course my body these days doesn’t allow me to be as active as I once was. Archery, therefore, being a more sedentary sport but requiring some degree of skill appealed to me. |
| How to contact me | You can contact me : Email info@pmcg-archtech.co.uk Mobile 07960303343 |
Tony Barrett – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | In 1965 I bought my first bow – a ‘Stuart’ 120lb crossbow. I shot for about 3 years before giving up, more through lack of facilities than of lack of interest. |
| Bow Styles | I presently have 4 bows – Recurve, Flat bow, Horse bow and modern traditional Longbow. I can shoot all 4 but much prefer my Longbow. |
| Why Archery? | I retired in 2009, looking for a pastime/hobby I re-engaged with archery in 2012 and in 2015, I gained my Archery GB Level 1 Coaching Licence. I enjoy the primitiveness of a ‘stick and piece of string’; the uncertainty of hitting the target let alone the gold. It is a sport which keeps you fit, mentally and physically without being over energetic. |
| How to contact me | I don’t have a set calendar for being at the field. Wednesday evenings with the ‘Longbow Crew’. Other than that, when the weather suits. With reasonable notice I can make myself available – tony.1@ntlworld.com. |
Clive Morley – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I attended an archery `Have a go session` for a friend’s birthday in 2016 and I found it very enjoyable, and it seemed that I had an aptitude for Archery as I won a medal in the competition. I immediately signed up for the first beginners’ course I could get on and in 2017 I completed a course and became a member of the Valley Bowmen of Huddersfield. A couple of years of skills building and I was looking for further ways to develop. Having been a college teacher for over 20 years, I enjoy working with others and wanted to give something back to the sport that I am now so involved with, so I looked for a way to combining teaching and Archery. I signed up for a Level 1 Coaching Award in 2019 and I’ve been coaching since then. |
| Bow Styles | I shoot recurve most of the time, but I also own a longbow. |
| Why Archery? | The discipline, concentration and technical nature of Recurve archery appeals to me, as physical as the sport can be it can be very therapeutic to be on the shooting line and mentally `in the zone`. Archery can be quite a Zen sport. When I want to connect with the raw nature of archery, I pick up my longbow `White Splinter`, the best longbows always have names. |
| How to contact me | info@valleybowmen.co.uk or morleyclive@outlook.com Mobile 07412521552. |
Helen McKerracher – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I’ve been shooting for 7 years. Enjoyed being a member so much I think my enthusiasm was “spotted” and was asked to volunteer to assist on the beginners’ courses the club runs. There is a real joy and reward in sharing something you are passionate about with others. I qualified as a session coach in early 2022 |
| Bow Styles | I shoot a Flat bow now, its quick and easy to set up – I started shooting recurve and did so for 4 years but it took me so long to set up and down, much to the amusement of my fellow archers, it wasn’t the equipment’s fault – just my propensity to chat with my friends during the process… I do now favour a more traditional style but will come back to recurve now and again. |
| Why Archery | My partner and I were looking at an activity we could enjoy together. We came to Archery after Tai Chi – the two have very similar health and wellbeing benefits. We both shoot regularly, together and separately. It is a wonderful pastime/skill/sport the whole family can do at the same time regardless of age and ability – The inclusivity aspect really appealed to me. |
| How to contact me | I try to shoot on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings regularly. I can be contacted on 07776 174689 or emailed via peachybodkin@gmail.com |
Duncan Pritchard – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I started shooting in my twenties in American summer camps, but never had the time when back in the UK. After a twenty odd year break, came back to Archery and started an Archery club at the school I taught at in 2013, qualifying as an Archery GB Leader. Had to take a sabbatical in 2018 after a shoulder injury, but after a few years I am slowly getting back to it. Up-graded my qualification to a Level 1 session coach in 2022. |
| Bow Styles | Used to shoot compound, but still recovering, so shooting recurve at present. |
| Why Archery | Archery has always been an on/off love affair for me, great for the tough times, an escape and a perfect well-being activity when time allows. I don’t enter many competitions at present, as family life and a full time job get in the way, (but will always remember my first one, coming second from last, but don’t tell anyone). |
| How to contact me | You’ll find me at the field in school holidays, some Fridays/weekends or when coaching. Contact me through the club at info@valleybowmen.co.uk |
Gareth Stott – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I’m a Chemistry teacher, climber and archer. I first took up archery at University in the early 90s after my fiancé (now wife!) did her beginners course and I thought it looked fun. After being a member of Birmingham University archery club for three years, I ran archery sessions for all ages at an outdoor activity centre before becoming a teacher. I didn’t pick up a bow again for over ten years. I started shooting again when my eldest daughter decided to take up the sport approximately 7 years ago. I’ve spent a lot of time supporting her, attending both regional and national competitions and working with her coaches as a parent. I’ve learned a lot from this experience and having recently passed my session coaching qualification look forward to introducing others to the sport and helping them to improve. |
| Bow Styles | Recurve |
| Why Archery | I love it. It’s great that I can shoot with my family and our field and facilities are great. I’m also a bit of a gear freak so archery satisfies that need in abundance. |
| How to contact me | I tend to shoot on Monday/Tuesday evenings and Sunday afternoons most weeks. My email is gsstott@hotmail.com |
Mollie Bower – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I started shooting in 2015, after my dad introduced me to the sport after being a member for a few years himself. I haven’t got a coaching qualification, but gain great satisfaction from sharing my love for the sport with others and helping to introduce others to the sport through often assisting on the beginner courses, taster sessions and Archery GB’s Start Archery Week Event run at the club. |
| Bow Styles | I shoot recurve and have done since I started the sport. |
| Why Archery? | From the sports and activities that I have tried in the past, archery is the only one that I have stuck with! I have never been the most athletic, which is one reason why archery appealed to me. I shoot for the challenge, the enjoyment, the social aspect and most of all the desire to improve. For me, attempting to beat and set club records, beating personal bests, improving personal handicaps and classifications, competing in and winning competitions is what keeps me motivated in the sport. In my eyes, this will never get boring – there is always room for improvement and more challenges somewhere! I enter both club and, since 2019, regional and national competitions. Shooting in competitions is a great experience – you get to show what you are capable of whilst meeting other like minded archers who are always really friendly, all during a days shoot! I compete because I like to challenge myself and shoot against the best archers in my division. |
| How to contact me | I am at the field multiple times a week, and can be contacted via email at mlbower4@gmail.com |
Alice Knox – Session Coach (Level 1)
Jonathan Powell – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I’m a software developer by day, but spend most of my time while not doing archery, thinking about archery. I did my beginner’s course in London in September 2021, when my wife suggested I join her on the course. I don’t recall my initial enthusiasm being high, but after the first session I fell in love with the sport. When we moved to Meltham, we joined Valley Bowmen within 2 days, before we’d even unpacked half our stuff. |
| Bow Styles | Recurve & Longbow |
| Why Archery | I spent 12 years doing martial arts, and archery (also a martial art!) fills that same niche. It’s a discipline, both physical, and mental. You compete primarily against yourself, striving to be better than you were the day before. It’s also a deeply technical art, while the basic movements can be taught within a few hours, the intricacies can take many more years to master. But it’s also a highly social activity; from casual club shoots, to club competitions, to external competitions, there are always interesting people to meet and shoot with. |
| How to contact me | Email: jpowell@jpowell.co.uk Phone/Whatsapp: 07941655090 |
Jacob Livingstone – Session Coach (Level 1)
| About Me | I have been shooting since 2018, starting at the University of Bradford before going over to the University of Huddersfield. I have been a qualified Session Coach since 2021 and I am currently working on my Development Coach modules. |
| Bow Styles | I primarily shoot recurve although I have been known to shoot barebow every now and then. |
| Why Archery? | Archery to me is a fantastically inclusive sport, one where anyone can take part regardless of disability, gender, age etc. I enjoy shooting and developing my coaching abilities through conversing with people who shoot different bowstyles. |
| How to contact me | My email is jacob.livingstone98@gmail.com or I can be contacted on WhatsApp via +447747527929. |
John Pawson – Volunteer Coach
| About Me | I shot 30lb recurve for one outdoor season in 2018, which was lots of fun, before someone handed me a stick and string early 2019, after that I never looked back. |
| Bow Styles | Currently shooting – Longbow 59lb draw at 29″ Trained in – Recurve |
| Why Archery? | A friend of mine, still at the club, suggested that we do some hobby or sport that keeps us out of the pub in the evening. So we went to the pub to discuss what to do and found the beginner course at the club. We were hooked after the first lesson, it turned out we weren’t too shabby at it either. I regularly take part in club competitions using my longbow. I’ve also entered a handful of regional competitions too. Well, someone has to prop up the table. but the only way is up! I do it to learn, I don’t have an expectation of ever winning a regional competition. I am at the club nearly every wednesday evening and for me it’s the perfect way to de-stress mid-week. Being able to get up to the club at any hour of the day to shoot is fantastic, I’m not limited. Given a choice I’d be up most days at the club but I think I’d come home to an empty house one day. |
| How to contact me | entertainment@valleybowmen.co.uk |
Ian Huntingdon – Volunteer Coach
| About Me | I took up archery in 1984 after being accused of ‘having no hobbies’ ( by my better half). I had long had a passing interest in the sport, which was awakened by a ‘have a go‘ session at a leisure park and which quickly developed after completing a beginner’s course, and has continued to the present day. I enjoy the personal challenge of improving my performance and also of passing on such knowledge and experience I have to those who choose to take up the sport. |
| Bow Styles | My main discipline is Recurve but have occasionally been known to dust off my longbow for a spot of light relief. |
| Why Archery? | Apart from the personal challenge of self improvement, archery provides me with a reasonably gentle form of exercise which helps keep the old joints and muscles in passable condition! |
| How to contact me | I can be contacted at the Club two or three times a week (especially Tuesday and Friday) , on WhatsApp or by email at ian.huntingdon@ntlworld.com |
Neil Eddie – Volunteer Coach
| About Me | After taking early retirement in 2012, I realised that I needed another hobby in addition to my interest in rebuilding classic cars to show standard. I used to pass the club site regularly so around that time I called in one Sunday afternoon and enquired about joining and immediately signed up for a course. Once completed I decided that archery was for me so I bought a basic recurve bow and started shooting regularly and over the years have invested in slightly better equipment. As the club was developing, I felt that I wanted to give something back so I volunteered to help out at the various Have-A-Go sessions and I really enjoyed showing the participants the basics of archery in a casual and fun setting. From there it was a natural progression to volunteer to help on beginner courses and have done so for a number of years now and although I have no formal coaching qualifications I do believe that I have much to offer in regard to basic training. |
| Bow Styles | I shoot recurve and have done since I started the sport.From day one I have shot with a recurve bow and have also ‘experimented’ with a one piece flat bow but we didn’t get on very well so in summer 2022 I had a go at barebow archery, using my existing recurve bow but without all the bells and whistles and decided that I enjoyed it, mainly because the expectation is lower as the occasional miss is to be expected. Currently I shoot recurve indoors and barebow outdoors at the longer distances. |
| Why Archery? | It’s good to get out in the fresh air with like-minded people and I find that the exercise works wonders, as does the ability to be able to switch off from routine for a couple of hours. I particularly enjoy shooting different archery rounds and attempting to improve my annual archery classifications and I try to attend most of the internal club competitions which are always well organised. |
| How to contact me | During the winter months I am usually around on Wednesday and Friday and in the summer months more regularly, particularly if the sun is shining. I can be contacted by email at: neil.eddie@ntlworld.com |
Graham Ivey – Volunteer Coach
| About Me | I started shooting in 1997, attending a beginners course at the club. In 2000 I became the Records Officer for the club. My son followed me into the sport for a few years and in 2023 two of my grand children will be attending a beginners course. |
| Bow Styles | I started shooting recurve and continued until 2007 when I had to stop due to a shoulder problem, after a break of about 7 months I turned to the dark side to shoot compound, which I still shot now. I shoot a longbow (very badly) 2 or 3 times a year. |
| Why Archery? | I have always been interested in archery, I remember making bows from bamboo canes when I was young. I got the chance to attend the beginners course and have never looked back (apart from a few months here and there recovering from shoulder problems). Archery is something I can do without it affecting my aging body too much, I still enjoy it and am improving again after my shoulder surgery. |
| How to contact me | I am usually at the field on Tuesday and Friday mornings. I can be contacted at graham.ivey@sky.com |
What does an Archery coach do?
An archery coach supports the development of archers.
With beginners that could be creating an effective learning and development system. Teaching safety, fundamental skills, equipment bow, and target set up, etiquette, correct technique, scoring etc. A coach takes the different aspects of archery and makes them simple to understand and fun to learn. Often working on beginners’ courses, taster sessions , and archery big weekends.
With established archers a coach supports, inspires and motivates them to achieve the true potential of the archer and progress within the sport.
How to become an archery coach?
Having a recognised coaching qualification provides assurance to the people you work with that you are competent and professional. By becoming a trained and qualified coach, you will learn about how and what to coach under the guidance of experienced coach educators. This will help you gain the skills and knowledge to motivate and progress archers, from beginners to high performance archers. Ask any of our coaches about becoming a coach yourself.
Level 1 Session Coach
The Session Coach (Level 1) course is a starting point for archers who want to deliver motivating training sessions for beginners in recurve. Using the resources provided on the course you will be able to deliver a pre-designed course for a group of beginners. The course trains individuals to be able to lead archery sessions independently using resources from the course and working with groups of up to 12 people.
Level 2 Development Coach
The Development Coach (Level 2) course is aimed at Level 1/Session Coaches who want to design club training programmes and start developing the technical, physical and psychological information a coach needs to work with beginners and improvers in recurve, and/or compound.