Category: Middle distance

Bulgarian traditional archery target

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Origin: Bulgaria
Width: 50 cm
Height: 70 cm
 
Adaptation for T.A.I.
Shooting Distance: 40 m
5 arrows are to shoot
 
Target Description:
The Bulgarian traditional archery target is a vertically placed rectangle measuring 50/70 cm, containing 6 concentric rectangular zones in 3 color zones (inside-out respectively white, yellow and red). In the red peripheral zone are hits for 1 and 2 points, in the yellow peripheral zone are hits for 3 and 4 points, and in the central white zone are hits for 5 and 7 points. The Shooting distance is 40 m. At the Bulgarian championships, 5 disciplines are shot with different combinations of 1, 2, 3 or 4 targets at various unknown distances between 15 and 40 meters. There are 5 arrows for each discipline. All targets in each discipline must be hit with these 5 arrows for them to count. 1, 2, 3 or 4 opponents compete against each other; if a target is missed, the opponent or opponents quickly gain an advantage. At the start of each round, an additional discipline is drawn by lot (balance shooting, shooting behind cover, kneeling on the ground, speed shooting with all arrows in the quiver). Each round begins with 15 arrows available to each shooter. If a target is missed without scoring points, this arrow is taken away until the end of the round and the archer then has one arrow less at his disposal.
 
Historical logic:
The center of the target resembles the diameter of a young tree (10 cm), since in the ancient and medieval past archers practiced shooting at young trees simulating the profile of a standing opponent. Regardless of whether the shot was slightly higher or lower, it was important for the shooter to hit the tree.
 
Visual and shooting logic:
The vertically positioned shape of the target motivates shooters to aim more accurately. At greater distances, a smooth visual fusion between the colors red, yellow and white begins, which provokes shooters to imagine the mental center of the target in order to achieve good hits.

 

Source: Nikolay Hristozov, BTAC Bulgarian Traditional Archery Club, Bulgaria

 
 

French Targets

Origin: France

Diameter: 60,69 cm (2ft)
91,44 cm (3ft)
121,92 cm (4ft)

Adaptation for T.A.I.
Shooting Distance: 40, 60, 80 m 
The bigger the diameter the longer the distance
5 arrows are to shoot

Historical background:
It is not know exactly, when the target face with the concentric rings were invented. Historically, archers shot at a mark on a butt and were scored in various ways, such as on whether you hit the butt, the mark or by seeing who’s arrows came closest to the mark. Targets with concentric rings may date back to 1400s. They existed in the mid 1700s, and by 1781 some archery contests were scored based on numeric values assigned to each ring, but were also judged on the number of hits to the target overall rather than the rings, a practice which continued through the 1800’s. Even today, many archery contests still record the total number of hits in addition to the ring-based numerical score. Also known is, by 1792, three sizes developed, 2, 3, and 4 feet in diameter. These were shot at distances of 60, 80 and 100 yards according to their sizes.

Papingo

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Origin: Scotland

Pole height: 20 – 27 m
Papingo Size: prox. 25 x 30  x 5 cm

Adaptation for T.A.I.
Shooting distance: prox. 18 - 25 m
Shooting position: 2 - 3 m away from the pole
max. 3 Arrows to shoot

The archery form of popinjay dates back to at least the fifteenth century. The annual papingo (popinjay) tournament of the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers, of Ayrshire in Scotland, takes place at Kilwinning Abbey, with the “Papingo target” on the end of a pole projecting from the top of the tower. The event is believed to have been running since 1488, though the earliest records are attested in a minute of the society dated September 1688.

There were different ways to shoot a Popinjay: One Bird on a mast/pole or there was a set of birds on perches. The object of popinjay is to knock artificial birds off their perches. The perches are cross-pieces on top of a 90-foot (27 m) mast. The “cock” (the largest bird) is set on the top cross piece. Four smaller “hens” are set on the next crosspiece down. Two dozen or so “chicks” (the smallest birds) are set on the lower cross pieces. (according to the Grand National Archery Society UK (GNAS)

The archer stands near the base of the mast and shoots arrows upwards at the birds. The arrows are tipped with rubber blunts rather than sharp points. The blunts are between 0.75 inches (19 mm) and 1-inch (25 mm) in diameter.

Taming

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Origin: Mindanao, South Philippines

Big – Diameter: 80 cm
Small – Diameter: 60 cm

Adaptation for T.A.I. 
Shooting Distance:
13 - 40 m on a 60cm face
40 - 65 m on a 80cm face
3 arrows standard round
6 arrows technical round

Historical Background

 “Taming” is a Filipino and Malay term for war shields that is prevalently used in the Visayan and Mindanao regions of the Philippines and nearby South East Asian countries. Most surviving pieces are now in Museums and private collectors, they are large wooden or rattan circular shields (60cm-80cm in diameter & painted in bright colors often depicting the sun), They can cover a warrior from just above the knee upto this shoulder, roughly similar in size to the ancient Greek aspis or hoplon. Because of its size, they are also effective in defending against arrows, poison darts, and thrown spears before engaging in melee combat.

Taming target face was introduced by Historical Archers Philippines as one of two official traditional archery target faces. The colors are in traditional earth colors with 3 concentric score areas and a dot bulls-eye depicting the center of the sun. There are two ways to set up the Taming as a target, one is the center should be at chest level (depicting a standing warrior) or low on the ground depicting a stalking warrior or defending from a rain of arrows.

 

Source: Heinrich Lezama, Philippines

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