Under high voltage power lines, in sight of a youth detention centre and on rutted, uneven ground, itB次元官网网址檚 home sweet home for archers in Victoria.

On a wedge of land between Burnside Road, Watkiss Way and the Trans-Canada Highway, the Victoria Bowmen have found a new permanent range after a two years of being an archery club with out a home.

Now with three acres of land surrounded by berms and brush, the regionB次元官网网址檚 only outdoor archery range this side of the Malahat is up and running, albeit under less than ideal conditions.

B次元官网网址淭his was a dump pile from when they built the (Trans-Canada) highway. It was full of cement and plastic and all kinds of crap in here,B次元官网网址� laughed club vice-president Bruce Somers. B次元官网网址淏ut this is an ideal spot.B次元官网网址�

After nearly 45 continuous years of archery, the club was evicted from Department of National Defence land in Colwood in October 2009. The navy reclaimed the space for its own uses.

Somers and Bowmen president Al Wills B次元官网网址� both 40 year members of the 60 year club B次元官网网址� investigated leasing land at Luxton Fairgrounds, the old police gun range near Thetis Lake and the Boys and Girls Club in Metchosin, but all had discouraging logistical and bureaucratic hurdles.

Long-idle land owned by Provincial Capital Commission at Burnside and Watkiss proved to be as good as it gets. The parcel is isolated from neighbourhoods by berms and brush, but is near urban areas, and large enough to hold lower-level competitions.

B次元官网网址淭he PCC wants to see a wonderful archery range out here, theyB次元官网网址檙e excited for us to use it,B次元官网网址� Somers said.

The PCC gave its permission to use the land last year, and the Bowman rushed headlong into building a large berm, removing brush and prepping the ground for a field. Unfortunately they failed to get permits from View Royal, halting prep work in its tracks.

Wills admitted they know a lot about archery, but little about the rules of property development. Fortunately no damage was done to an existing creek and riparian area, and a surveys and environmental studies have been completed. View Royal is helping guide them through the process, Wills said.

B次元官网网址淓verything must be finished the way the (View Royal) planner wants and then itB次元官网网址檚 up to council,B次元官网网址� he said. We wonB次元官网网址檛 be building a target archery field until we get all our ducks in a row.B次元官网网址�

In the meantime during the summer, Bowmen archers skewer targets with calm precision on the rough field. Wills is happy any members remain after two years of renting indoor space and wandering in the proverbial wilderness.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got about 50 members now, we had 150 in the old days,B次元官网网址� Wills said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a tribute to the faith of the archers that weB次元官网网址檝e got 50. And it will be nice to not spend a ton of money on renting schools and gyms.B次元官网网址�

If and when the archery field is built B次元官网网址� it would look akin to a soccer field B次元官网网址� Somers said heB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to reviving Bowman youth archery programs.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of young families around here,B次元官网网址� said Somers, a retired teacher. B次元官网网址淭o build up the sport, youB次元官网网址檝e got to start with the kids.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e brought kids through all the way to the Olympic level.B次元官网网址�

George Trattner, a 16-year member, said itB次元官网网址檚 tough to start from scratch B次元官网网址� the DND property had a club house and plenty of space for target and field archery. The new range is expected to have up to 90 metre targets, but there isnB次元官网网址檛 a lot of room to maneuver.

B次元官网网址�(The DND land) was probably the best facility of its kind in Canada, it was a phenomenal place,B次元官网网址� Trattner said. B次元官网网址淏ut this place has potential.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com