Information about the club

Cambridge University Bowmen has been the university’s Archery Club for well over 50 years. Over the years, the club has been very successful in local and national competitions, including at British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS, previously BUSA) competitions as well as the annual Cambridge vs Oxford Varsity Match.

We warmly welcome new beginners each and every year, and this is how many of the now senior archers first started. Our Have-a-go sessions at the beginning of Michaelmas Term each year are a popular and great way of trying archery and meeting the club. The Sunday Session is the main club practice each week and everyone is very welcome to come along! We can provide all equipment necessary, so feel free to just turn up and speak to a Committee member. There is a Beginners Course which offers a structured coaching program, but places are limited so contact a Novice Officer if interested. But feel free to ask any Senior archer for help or advice at any session, we’re happy to help!

We also have a Bowloan scheme where Novice’s can hire a bow for a year for a small fee. This is predominately for those interested in shooting for Cambridge in competitions and part of the Novice Squad but ask a Novice Officer for more information if interested.

Please note that the club is only open to members of the University of Cambridge and other university students (e.g., Anglia Ruskin students). For anyone else, we recommend Netherhall Archers or the City of Cambridge Bowmen which are both local clubs in Cambridge.

Practice times can be found on the practices page.

Annual Subscription

• For 2011/12: Students £35, Non-Students £50
• Range Fees (Experienced Archers shooting at Elizabeth Way Range too): £24.50

We charge £35 for membership to join the club for a year which we'll ask you to pay at your fourth shooting session. This basically covers the cost of insurance and hire of the sports hall - we need to make sure we're covered for shooting purposes and the costs of the club such as equipment. We'll ask for some of the costs of going to individual tournaments to cover entry and transport, these shouldn't break the bank though. One thing that beginners do ask about is the cost of buying your own equipment. Initially the club provides beginners with bows and arrows. Eventually, say after a year, you may decide to buy a bow for yourself. You can pick up a good wooden bow for around £100. Another option is to buy a second hand bow from someone in the club or from a shop. If you have more money to spare then you can buy a better bow - but you shouldn't need a state of the art riser with carbon limbs for a while. Several colleges have busaries available for the purchase of sports equipment - ask you financial tutors about the possibility of college support. The club also operates the bowloan scheme. We presently loan good quality bows to members of the club at a small cost for an entire year. For more details look at the links page for details of archery shops. Members of the club will be happy to give advice on any purchases you'd like to make.