Manly Sports – Archery

The Mongolian bow can do damage at a much greater distance than the English long bow. It is manufactured from a composite of horn and wood. At the time of the Mongol empire’s expansion, Mongolians could out shoot anybody else …….from a charging horse. Even today you can see riders standing in the stirrups of a charging horse, the riders head maintaining position relative to the ground. A favoured strategy was to never engage in set piece European style battle. If such a situation seemed to be developing the Mongolian cavalry feigned a retreat, only to turn in the saddle and shoot the pursuing enemy, wheeling round when the pursuers were hopelessly strung out. Gotcha!!!!! Shades of the battle of Hastings, me thinks.

This manly sport is the only one of the three that accommodates women. The target is the row of cylinders on the ground. A ground running arrow that hits the target does not count. The blue and red sashes act as makers.