Challenge hits target

THE annual Herm New Year Challenge took place on Sunday on a bright and breezy morning in Common Field.

This year the challenge was organised by the fire team and came in the form of an archery competition.

Islanders were placed into four categories – men, women, boys and girls. All were accompanied by designated safety instructors Simon George and Brett Moore.

The children went first and as always they were brilliant and put the adults to shame, many of them scoring much higher than most of the grown-ups went on to.

An activity like this is great for levelling the playing field, where brute strength doesn't factor into it much and a four-year-old can hit a target just as well as a 40-year-old, if not better.

It is always lovely to get all islanders together for this kind of event, especially during the winter months when the pub is shut and we don't see much of each other.

It was a very cold day, and windy in the field, so everyone was glad of the brazier to warm those arrow-chapped fingers. Volunteers kindly provided tea and coffee and the usual welcome abundance of Herm-made cakes and cookies kept everyone busy until their turn was up.

Winners in their respective categories were Andy Pender, Katell Murphy Nicholls, Charlie Knight, 13, and India Waterhouse, eight.

Outdoor Guernsey holds several archery days on the island over the summer months in this very field, which is accessed just off the Spine Road down near the Common. It is a fun pursuit for all ages and can probably get quite addictive once you really get the hang of it.

It is certainly one activity that most Hermites will be trying again in the future.