Bill Carne catches up with Marek Pawlik, who shoots for Fort Archers and is the only Master Longbow archer in Wales and possibly further afield, as well as being a winner at Bisley in the long barrelled revolver section of target pistol shooting . . .

Marek Pawlik took up archery over ten years ago by joining Fort Archers in Fishguard and in the intervening years has adapted so well to his chosen discipline of longbow that he has broken four Welsh records, a number of Dyfed records and can now lay claim to being the only Master Bowman in Pembrokeshire and possibly in Wales.

It is huge recognition for Marek’s archery skills and follows neatly on from his achieving the title of Bowman last year. To achieve Master Bowman status he had to achieve three very high scores with his longbow, have official certification to back up the results, which are authenticated by the Grand National Archery Society, who then present the coveted medal.

Marek, who is of Polish descent, clearly has a very good hand/eye co-ordination because prior to taking up archery he was a member of Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club, still enjoys target shooting and is a British champion at Bisley, using a long-barrelled revolver – but more of that later.

He had enjoyed firing arrows from a makeshift bow as a youngster and in 2002 decided to take up archery with Fort Archers, where he was taken under the wing of Margaret Buckingham and Pamela Howells.

He soon discovered that there are four types of bow, starting with the most complex as the ‘Compound’, which uses pulleys and can be as deadly accurate as a rifle. Then there’s the ‘Recurve’ bow used in the Olympics, utilising sights and stabilisers, the ‘Barebow’ (which has no sights or stabilisers) and the ‘Longbow’, made of laminated wood or occasionally yew.

Marek started out on Recurve and then used a barebow for four years, coming fourth and fifth in the British Championships. But then he seriously tried his hand at Longbow less than three years ago and was delighted with the way it suited him so well.

“It was a refreshing change,” Marek told us, “such a natural bow where only wooden arrows are allowed and has been used throughout history. I use longbows made by Gary Evans and Littlejohn arrows - both allowing me to use my competitive spirit to the full!”

Since then he has showed real consistency and flair and two of his Welsh records came with a score of 362 in a York Round shot over 100 yards, and an even better score of 567 in a Fita Round over the same distance. Like the other Fort Archers, Marek shoots indoors at this time of the season at Fishguard Leisure Centre, with distances of 18 metres and 25 metres but with 60 arrows at dramatically reduced targets that are roughly 15cms by 15cms in size. In the Welsh Championships he scored a massive tally of 422 to beat another Welsh record by 13 points, some 99 points ahead of his nearest rival!

His next competitive shoot is at his home venue on 16th February for the Dyfed Championships, where it is expected that over 100 archers will compete.

“I’ll also be entering competitions up the line,” Marek told us, “but I love the local events because there is terrific camaraderie amongst those taking part.

“My daughter Imogen (12) has been involved for two years and Sofia (6) is just starting – and been made very welcome by everyone at Fort Archers.”

It is a similar story at Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club, where Marek started out in 1996 but stopped shooting for a while after the awful happenings at Dunblane. When he returned he was immediately made welcome and he shoots a long barrelled revolver over 25 and 50 metres. Safety was emphasized from the outset and he had to undertake a check and have a mentor after he had obtained a Firearms Certificate Licence.

He has done really well, with his top achievement being his win at the British Championships at Bisley, where to have any chance you need to shoot a score of 285 out of 300, the equivalent of 15 bulls eyes and 15 scores of 9 from the 30 shots, where the bulls eye is the equivalent size of a golf ball!

“My preparation included some advice from Ron Hovell at the Modern Print Inclusive Target Shooting Club in Pembroke Dock,” said Marek, “and after a short break I have again started shooting and been made welcome at a great club which is hugely respected throughout the UK.

“I hope to attend the next competition at Bisley in March and we have the Welsh Championships in Haverfordwest in August as reward for the club’s reputation.”

So it is clear that Marek is really enjoying himself in both pistol shooting and archery.

“I am now training hard with my longbow and receive every encouragement from the real characters at Fort Archers like the Richardson clan and Jeremy Phillips, the chairman, alongside a number of others.”

What he doesn’t mention is the huge esteem in which he is held at both clubs but just chat to other members and they are quick to sing his praises as a very skilful but modest member who is flying the Pembrokeshire Flag with real distinction in national competitions!