Overton Black Arrows | Archery Club in Hampshire

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Overton Black Arrows traces its roots to 1962 when Overton Archers was founded. A second club, Black Arrows, emerged in 1970, and by 1975 the two merged to form Overton Black Arrows—recognizing that their memberships were nearly identical. The club was shaped by Peter Turner, who founded Overton Archers at just 17 and served as Lifelong President from 2010 until his passing in November 2025.

OvBA members access three distinct shooting environments:

•Laverstoke Range - Open 365 days a year for target archery. Outdoor spring/summer, indoor at Testbourne (near Whitchurch) September through March.
•The Warren - Three-area field course totaling 30+ acres near Kingsclere. Steep slopes, uphill/downhill/cross-slope shots. Hosted the 2025 English Field Championships (95 archers) and 2025 UK 3D Championships (100 competitors).
•Indoor Range - Testbourne School Sports Hall, winter season typically September-March.

Members shoot American Flatbow, Barebow, Compound, Horsebow (Asiatic), Longbow, and Recurve across four disciplines:

Discipline	Description
Target	Olympic-style archery at marked distances
Field	Unmarked and marked distances over natural terrain
3D	Life-size animal targets
Clout	Occasional events shooting at distance

AGB-recognized coaches run beginner courses 2-3 times yearly (approximately 15-18 participants per course, occasionally up to 24). All courses award AGB certificates upon completion, allowing you to join OvBA or any other AGB club.

Recent courses: - Spring 2025: April-May (graduates received free membership through year-end) - Autumn 2025: October-November (graduates received free membership through June 2026) - Winter 2026: January-February (booking required—typically fills fast)

Up to 30 people usually wait-list for courses. Sign up via the CONTACT page using 'Beginners' or 'Coaching' to get on the list for the next available dates.

Since 2021, OvBA has run a Winter Field League (November-March) with five shoots designed for archers trying field/3D for the first time. Scoring is optional—focus is on fun and informal competition.

League structure: - Shoots 1 & 3 (Nov, Jan): WA12 Field courses, half marked/half unmarked distances - Shoots 2 & 4 (Dec, Feb): WA12 3D courses, all unmarked distances - Shoot 5 (March): Combined WA12 Field + 3D in one session

"Great way to keep up practice hours and pick up tips from other archers in an informal setting." - Club philosophy

Regular Club Night (Laverstoke): - Spring/Summer: Wednesday ~6:00pm to dusk (outdoors) - Autumn/Winter: Wednesday 7:00pm-9:30pm (indoors at Testbourne, early September-late March)

Member Access: - Full OvBA members: Shoot Laverstoke year-round, book events at The Warren and Testbourne - Warren-Only members: Book tickets to Warren events only - Non-members: Can purchase tickets to Warren events; limited guest visits to other venues (max 6/year with member invitation)

•Archery GB (AGB) - National governing body
•Southern Counties Archery Society (SCAS)
•Hampshire Archery Association (HAA)

While self-teaching is possible, consider these questions first:

•Where will you legally and safely shoot? Official ranges require minimum 100m length with sizeable safety areas on all sides.
•Are you insured against liability?
•Are your neighbors and local authorities happy with target archery in your area?
•Is your equipment fit for purpose and maintained properly?
•Most importantly: If you miss or equipment fails, where will the arrow go? If it reaches someone else's property, you need a proper range.

Joining OvBA solves these problems—established ranges, insurance through the club, and expert guidance on equipment selection from coaches and experienced members.