A YEAR full of achievements and memories - that was 2011 for Dunbrody Archers.

What a year it turned out to be, with lots of events culminating in the long-awaited UKIFAC in August. Several of our archers competed in the U.K. We had many successes domestically and across the pond.

2011, however, also saw some lows in the club structure which have since been addressed. New clubs were set up by ex-dunbrody members in the region. Club competitions took place at the hall and out at our woods, and our course was partially redesigned following Coillte tree-felling. All in all it was a year packed with successes for Dunbrody Archers.

JANUARY: After a December of snow, 2011 commenced with our focus towards the big UKIFAC event in August as we realised we had a lot of prep work ahead. It was new baby time for J.P. and Noelle. We held the first SBG shoot of 2011 which was free as a thank you for all the support of the club to date, and our winners were John, Helen, Dylan, Heather, Arron and Shaun.

Our club A.G.M. took place on January 20 where a lot was sorted and a new committee introduced, with Martin as new club Chairperson. Mark featured on South East Radio speaking about the club and UKIFAC. The international mail match commenced. We held our first UKIFAC (United Kingdom and Ireland Field Archery Championship) meeting of 2011 with monthly/bi-monthly meetings to follow. Loughcrew held an SBG shoot with John, Mark, Therese and Shaun winning.

FEBRUARY: Na Laoch Dall held a table quiz which some of us attended. Therese and Eric got engaged. The club held a committee meeting which was very productive. Lynn set a new AFBHR Irish record at the IAC SBG where it was also wins for John, Pat, Dylan and Shaun. Andrew entered club details to the FBD awards 2011. Therese introduced a club suggestion box system. Micheál was crowned IAAA Junior champion.

MARCH: A busy month saw us compete at Carrowmore and Na Laoch Dall. John won in Sligo while Andrew, John, Cian, Hannah, Lynn, Olivia, Jim and Shaun won in Waterford. We marched in the New Ross St. Patrick's Day parade. Our Facebook page had 141 fans. Our club newsletter reached issue 260. We received news that we were shortlisted for the FBD award finals. Chris was in Estonia as IFAF international rep.

APRIL: The FBD awards took place at the Brandon and were attended by Andrew and Sonja where we were deemed finalists and received a lovely framed cert. David celebrated his 40th. We held our fundraising table quiz at Corcoran's. Stephen and Eileen had a bouncing baby boy. The Blue Arrows shoot was cancelled. Club members held 30 Irish records. John competed in Mayo and won. We held our first archery demo of 2011 at the town park where we donated to the charity of the day. We held a successful charity open 3D shoot at our woods where we made €900 for Crumlin Children's Hospital, organised by David. John, Paul, Colin and Martin won the day's competition. Jim made clever animal targets for our woods. Lynn, Jack and John were international mail match champions. Other club members also did very well, finishing in the top three of their categories, namely Mark (O'donoghue), Micheál, Andrew, Shaun, Cian and Clodagh. Na Laoch Dall held an informal shoot which we attended. Black Dog held a classification shoot. Dunbrody did very well at the IFAF national mail match competition. Lynn won at the Scottish championships as Helen, John and Keith did well also.

MAY: We held work parties out in our woods as we improved our course. Ulster Bank agreed to sponsor UKIFAC 2011. We held our Hybrid SBG this month and Andrew, Pat, Paul, Helen, Colin, Shannon, Jim, Shaun and Micheál were victorious. IAC also held an SBG and this time Dunbrody victors were John, Pat and Nikki. John and Keith competed at the UK 3D championships. Black Dog held its second classification shoot.

JUNE: The Duncannon Military Festival took place in early June and it was a successful weekend for the club, with lots of exposure and new members. Some of our members held an archery demo for the No Name Club at C.B.S. park. Our target butts for UKIFAC arrived safely. Loughcrew hosted an archery fair weekend which was thoroughly enjoyable with a clout shoot, hunting trail and unmarked animal round. Ulster Bank confirmed a sponsorship deal for UKIFAC. Littlewood hosted an SBG with Keith, Nikki and Jim tasting victory. Thanks to David and others, we installed a bigger, better storage unit in the hall. Na Laoch Dall held a unmarked animal round (UAR) shoot with wins for John, Mark, Lynn, Sarah C, Shannon, Jim, Shaun and Martin. Two of our club members formed Castle Archers archery demo company.

JULY: Our UKIFAC sponsor list increased. It was membership renewal time again. Limerick held an SBG, and John, Hannah, Paul, Clodagh, Jim and Shaun won there. A total of 130 archers had committed themselves for UKIFAC. Our woods were partially felled by Coillte. Carrowmore held a shoot with no-one for Dunbrody in action on this occasion. Work parties took place at Tintern Abbey. Unfortunately, Nationwide were unable to film our UKIFAC preparations as arranged due to their other topical commitments at the time. Maureen, Shaun and Brendan Snr. won at the Donegal SBG. The countdown was really on for UKIFAC 2011.

AUGUST: A huge month. Littlewood held a variety shoot with a victory for Therese. Na Laoch Dall held an SBG and fundraiser for Carrowmore following recent theft of their equipment. Don, Mark, Maureen, Dylan, Sam, Rebecca, Shaun and Brendan Snr. won here. Mayo held a triathlon shoot. Lynn won well at the UK South West challenge with Keiththe gents' runner-up. UKIFAC finally came round after final weeks of frantic efforts. It was a terrific experience and a rewarding one with great reviews and superb feedback. The weather and surroundings were glorious. With 150 archers taking part from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, Lynn, Pat, Shannon, Hannah, Evan and Colin won their classes with other members doing well in their B and C classifications. The Tintern experience left us all full of fond memories (and scores of great photographs). All our efforts had paid off!

SEPTEMBER: Good newspaper coverage locally this month. Some of our members chose to shoot as independents this month too. Mayo held a pick 'n mix shoot. Clodagh set up the Dunbrody Buy 'n Sell page. The annual community celebration day which we were to take part in was cancelled due to the poor weather. Tesco kindly donated a first aid kit to the club which we gratefully received. The national championships took place at IAC and proved a great success all round. Eric and his team again pulled out all the stops. Well done to our club winners, John, Hannah, Cian, Mark, Lynn, Adam, Rebecca, Shaun and Martin. The IFAF A.G.M. took place in Portlaoise this month too and had record numbers attend. Micheál was now IAAA outdoor champion after further success. Jim set up new Kilkenny-based club 'Warbow'.

OCTOBER: Limerick held a hybrid SBG where Martin, Sonja, Andrew, Lynn, Shannon and Sam won. Willow Hill held its inaugural shoot which unfortunately, due to a combination of reasons, was not well attended which was a pity, and it had to be called off midway due to the inclement weather. Blackdog held a fun-filled two-day event comprising a clout and an unmarked animal round shoot. Dunbrody Archers dominated the clout as the winners were Andrew (150-metre distance) and Sonja (100-metre distance). Keith, Lynn and Brendan Jnr. won the UAE shoot. Under Mark's lead, we set up one side of our course again following recent official tree-felling. Mark improved the steps at the door of our hut. We then commenced a successful club league competition in our woods on Sunday mornings aimed at our newer and novice archers. We held a surprise 50th birthday party for Helen in Corcoran's. The new club website went live at last. We held a fun Halloween night in the hall at the end of October which was enjoyable.

NOVEMBER: We held our SBG in early November as Loughcrew also held an SBG this month. Winners at Dunbrody were Andrew, Sonja, James, Cian, Mark, Lynn, Shannon, Kevin, Martin and Brendan Jnr. At Loughcrew the club winners were James, Mark, Clodagh, Liam (Nolan), Shannon, Shaun and Martin.

A group from Ulster Bank came for a prearranged demo at our woods. New club 'Aos Dana' recently set up using Ballykelly Hall. We held our final UKIFAC wrap-up meeting. Our club Facebook now had 204 fans. The successful club wood league competition came to an end. Clodagh took over as acting Secretary in Lynn's unfortunate absence. Tony made a lovely club members' bow stand for the hall. Our newer members were improving well.

DECEMBER: Just one shoot took place this month and it was Warbow's inaugural SBG, and an enjoyable shoot it was too. Martin and Sandra had a beautiful baby girl. We ran a Christmas competition in the hall based on a league basis. The Christmas night out took place at Corcoran's on December 3 and was attended by many and was a fun night. The club wrapped up for the year after the final club night on December 22. With a good number of talented under-age members in our midst, the future looks very bright for archery in this county.

With sincere sympathy, we remember family members of some of our club archers who passed away during 2011. We also welcome some new archers' babies into the world.

With a full calendar and the prospects of an exciting 2012, we look forward to the first competition of the new year.