Farewell letter from Bob (2023)

This will be Conejo Valley Archers 32 Annual Traditional Archery shoot. We put on a great shoot, fun for the family, and a fantastic comradely get together with friends.

I have been Chairman of this shoot for over 20 years, and I take pride in what we have accomplished. Being involved with the CVA club for about 30 years, a board member, and serving as the President of the club for a 5-year period, I have been honored with a lifetime membership, and now, by a vote of the club, this event being named "The Bombardier Traditional Challenge”.

This shoot takes several months of preparation, and you will see the work that goes into:

• range maintenance,

• preparing the trails,

• cutting the mountain steps,

• Setting -up the 3D animals and Novelty shots,

• along with very nice handmade awards.

As a traditional archer, I enjoy hand-making all of the placing tournament awards. The first-place awards are wood shaft turkey fletched arrows, with knapped arrowheads, inlaid detail, and an ornamental wall hanging leather. Second and third place awards are wood burned shafts with turkey fletched arrows and buffalo bone arrowheads.

This will be the last year that I Chair this shoot and I am looking forward to a new traditional chairman or group of Trad shooters in the club taking over to continue the legacy of the Challenge. Maybe this means I may get to shoot it in the years to come.

See you out on the Range.

Bob Bombardier