Governing Bodies of Archery
The governing body for the sport of archery in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Society serves nine Regional Societies. Archery has over a hundred member nations throughout the world which are represented by the Fédération Internationale de Tir à l'Arc (F.I.T.A) which is the international governing body for the sport. The Society's motto reads "Union, Trueheart and Courtesie"
The international governing body of archery is the International Archery Federation (FITA). Founded on the 4th of September, 1931 in Lwow, Poland, by seven countries (France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, the United States, Hungary, and Italy), FITA serves to promote and regulate archery world-wide through its more than 140 Member Associations (National Federations or Associations) and in conformity with the Olympic principles. It aims at framing and interpreting the FITA Rules and arranging for the organization of World Championships and other international competitions.
A body set up by the five English Regions within The Grand National Archery Society (GNAS) to select and manage teams for International events where it is appropriate for England (as opposed to Great Britain) to participate.
SCAS is the Southern Counties Archery Society. Set up over a century ago to run the Southern Counties Archery Meeting (SCAM), SCAS is a Regional Society of the Grand National Archery Society, and acts to promote and encourage the sport of archery in the Sounthern Counties of England.
Hampshire Archery Association is the home of archery in Hampshire, UK. The Association is affiliated to SCAS (Southern Counties Archery Society) and GNAS (Grand National Archery Society) who are the governing body for the sport in the UK.
BLBS perpetuates the use of the traditional recreational Longbow for two-way Target and Clout shooting, by arranging Bow Meetings for its members throughout the British Isles. It endorses a Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers who are able to make equipment to the Society's criteria. It assists a number of clubs and organisations who use the recreational Longbow, and many who organise their own traditional Bow Meetings to the Society's Rules of Shooting. The Hon. Membership Secretary maintains a list of "Longbow friendly" clubs which can only be kept updated if members supply details of such clubs.
