Beyond the bullseye: new ways to try archery

When it comes to sports, few can claim to be as old as archery, the concept of which dates back more than 10,000 years when it was used by ancient cultures for hunting

Even archery as a sport is believed to be more than 400 years old, and it was featured in the second modern Olympic Games of 1900. But it turns out you can teach an old sport new tricks, as an exciting variety of formats are infusing archery with freshness and innovation. With some help from Newark Castle Archers coach Mandie Elson, here’s our guide to the latest archery formats pushing the boundaries of this ancient sport…

What is it?
A hybrid sport that combines running with archery, Mandie Elson’s Newark Castle Archers held the UK’s first run archery event in 2022. The sport continues to grow at a rapid rate, offered by around half a dozen clubs in the UK. The European Run Archery Championships held at Sherwood Forest in 2024.

How do you play?
Mandie describes it as similar to the Winter Olympic biathlon. Distances vary and include sprint circuits and longer routes, but all competitors run a set course and stop at designated points to shoot targets with a bow, testing both their endurance and shooting accuracy. “You have six arrows, with which you need to hit each of the four targets once. If you miss one, you have a penalty loop. Then you do the main loop, come back, and then you kneel. That’s an interesting aspect, shooting from a lower level at the same target. Again, if you miss, you get another penalty loop. Then you run the circuit again.”

Who is it for?
“It’s had mixed opinions from the archery community, let’s put it that way,” says Mandie, noting that some said the reason they loved archery was because they don’t have to walk very far.

But for those who love running and archery and may wish to combine the two, it’s the perfect sport. “We have Tom Hall taking part, who was at the Olympics in 2024 as a recurve archer,” adds Mandie. “It’s absolutely fantastic that he’s taking part, and he’s a good runner as well. So it’s good for the sport that we’ve got an Olympian who’s now taking part in it.”

What is it?
Duck, dip, dodge, dive… shoot? If you can forgive the misquote from the 2004 Ben Stiller comedy Dodgeball, you’ll get a good idea of what archery tag is all about. Players use foam-tipped arrows to “tag” opponents in a safe, controlled, and fun environment.

How do you play?
Teams consist of four players per side, situated on opposing sides of the field. Points are awards for hits, while catching your opponent’s arrow will also score points.

Who is it for?
Archery Tag is suitable for those who might enjoy what’s sometimes termed “extreme archery”, summarised by action-packed team sports that provides a unique and non-traditional way to experience archery.

What is it?
3D Archery mimics hunting by shooting at life-sized, three-dimensional targets, typically birds or animals (or even dinosaurs!), from varying distances. 

How do you play?
Archers walk a course through woodlands or forest, stopping at marked distances to shoot at various 3D targets. The goal is to hit the scoring zones on each target, mimicking real hunting conditions. Archers are welcome to use a range of bows, including recurve bows, compound bows, longbows, barebows and traditional bows.

Who is it for?
Anyone who wants to experience something akin to hunting without causing harm to real animals. As Mandie admits, it won’t be for everyone, but it’s harmless and safe. “Some people will not like shooting at 3D animals and birds, but they’re not real. You go round and you get scored on where you’ve shot the 3D object. You’ll usually be out in the woods too, having to shoot between trees. So it makes it very interesting.” 

What is it?
Although it’s enjoying something of a modern revival, clout is actually a traditional form of archery where archers shoot their arrows from a distance towards a flag (aka the “clout”) that is placed flat on the ground. 

How do you play?
The distance from the flag is usually dependent on the archer’s category (age or gender) but is typically 140 yards or more from the flag. Scoring is based on how close the arrows land to the clout flag, with the closest earning more points. A standard round consists of three dozen arrows (36 arrows), shot in ends of six arrows. Tournaments may be longer.

Who is it for?
Clout is open to any and all archers, but Mandie believes it’s especially appealing to those who sometimes struggle with target archery. “It’s especially good for archers who might get something called “target panic”. In other words, they can never hit the target because they’re releasing before they mean to. Clout is a great option for them.”