This festival was the dream of Robert Morton (The owner of The Flying Hun – Archery and Leather), his partner Jennifer Larsen (Co-Leader of The Eastern Contingent) and the godfather of mounted archery here in the USA, Lukas Novotny (Owner of Saluki Bow). Novotny curated the truly unique mounted archery courses featured at the festival. The TXIAF was conceived as an homage to the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan (of which both Rob and Jennifer were competitors for the USA Team in 2018). Not only did it hold a world-class mounted archery competition, but also four ground archery courses from various countries, forty vendors, music and a slew of other exhibitions.
The hallmark of the event was “The Golden Age Classic” - a throwback to the challenging 17th century Turkish mounted archery events of a bygone era.
The courses differed from normal offerings for mounted archery here in the USA, due to the fact that they were based solely on historical models – focused not only on horsemanship, but also on accuracy. The largest course – The Turkish Serial Shot, challenged not only the riders, but the horses as well. The typical course found in America is only 90 meters, whereas the Turkish Serial came in at 165 meters. The course had four targets, which are also 30 cm smaller than
shoots and timing. This is the first time such a course has been run here in the USA at a competition.
Sherwood Forest, McDade Texas
the standard American models. The courses were less of a “how fast can you nock and shoot” contest, but more focused on the accuracy of shoots and timing. This is the first time such a course has been run here in the USA at a competition.
Along with the Turkish Serial course, there was a Turkish Three-Shot – a challenging course with small 60cm targets, set at various distances from the track. There was a Turkish-Style Qabaq course – which also included 30cm “Kicak” targets for back and off-side shots, and a smaller cymbal at the top of the qabaq pole (shot with blunted flu-flu arrows). To make matters more challenging, you could only earn target points if you hit the qabaq successfully!
Ground archery offerings the TXIAF were also diverse, including the 35 meter Kyrgyz – shooting a life-size Ibex target at three positions (standing, kneeling and the back shot known as “the Parthian). The Turkish – shot at 75 meters using the traditional target known as a “puta”. It has a distinctive pear-shape, which mimics the front of a man on a horse. And finally, the most challenging distance– The Korean, which is shot at an impressive 145 meters. A literal door-sized target, any shots landing on its surface count for one point. And finally for a bit of a Texas flair, The Austin Archery Club hosted a “Texas 3D” shoot, set back in the woods – with 20 unique animal targets to challenge even the most seasoned archer.
Ashley Safa of the Valhalla Mounted Archers, Mounted Archery Competitor
Photo by Vincent McLean
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Photo by Vincent McLean
Erika Baird of Alpine Mounted Archery Club,
Utah
© Azulox Photography
Vincent McLean of Eclectic Spirits Productions