When on a recent trip to Iran I was invited into the offices of the Iran Archery Federation. Upon walking in, across the top of the walls, were written “The Characteristics of a Good Archer”. These characteristics are attributed to Bahram Gur, a legendary figure in Iranian history also famed for his archery skills (as depicted in the picture above). I quickly scribbled the characteristics down on a scrap piece of paper but ended up losing it. However, it has now been found in a jacket pocket – so here they are!

1. Good tempered

2. Manly

3. Generous

4. Beneficent

5. Purified

6. Not Lazy

7. Not Greedy

8. Veracious

9. Well intentioned

10. Good characteristics

11. Just

12. Good natured

13. Grateful to the teacher

14. Obedient

15. Contented

16. Liberal & merciful

Details have now been released from Korea for this year’s The 5th International Horseback Archery Competition.

The dates will be August 14th – 17th 2009 in Sokcho, Korea.

For anyone interested in participating this year please email Neil Payne on info@bhaa.org.uk. At present there are only 2 representatives of the UK and the BHAA attending so there is plenty of room!

Websites:

> World Horseback Archery Federation (www.fwha.net)
> Korean Traditional Equestrian Martial Arts Association (www.chunghondang.com)

Both Neil Payne and Mike Ashington recently took part in the Fourth International Horseback Archery Competition held in Korea. Neil has provided a brief write up of the event along with some links to pictures and videos.

Read the full article >  Fourth International Horseback Archery Competition 2008, Korea

We received an email from our colleagues in Greece who have established the sport there. Below is a small introduction they sent us along with some pics from their very good website.

“Hellenic (Greek) Horseback Archery start since February 2005 in Kaposmero’s Valley, when a Greek horse-passionate, Aristotle, met a modern Centaur named Kassai Lajos. Aristotle was searching around world to obtain equestrian knowledge as in modern Greece, despite its ancient tradition, such a knowledge is non-existent! After many adventures around a lot of stables in central Europe, Aristotle, upon faced Kassai Lajos discovered that Centaurs never disappeared into the long-long river of the centuries, as in that small village of Hungary, Kaposmero, still exists one of them : a wise, powerful horseback archer, simple as well as brilliant, able to transmit the entire ancient Greek tradition of mount Pelion where was the camp of historic Centaurs.
Kassai Lajos is exactly what history confess about Centaur Cheiron, in a few words, the Leader! And Aristotle feels happy for himself discovering on his path, a real warrior to exchange life-experiences and to obtain knowledge from him. So, the Hellenic Horseback Archery Team was realized in Athens.
One and a half year later, when the Greek Archery Federation asked by Aristotle to organize the opening ceremony for the 17th European Archery Games held in Olympic Complex (Markopoulo-Athens) it was very simple: the pupil begged his Master to open those Games and Kassai Lajos did it in the Olympic Equestrian Arena of Athens before many attendants who were surprised when Kassai Lajos galloping and shooting in the middle of a target introduced Horseback Archery before champions of horse-riding and archery. Next day, a great seminar on Horseback Archery was held in Olympic Equestrian Center (Markopoulo-Athens) by Kassai Lajos and the Greek press wrote dithyrambs (http://www.horsebackarcherygr.com/press1.htm , http://www.horsebackarcherygr.com/press2.htm ) !
After that the Hellenic Horseback Archery Team “Centaurs Kassai” is active in a daily basis, working not simply on the track of Horseback Archery than to product Equestrian Culture . So, we ride according to the Natural Horsemanship rules (similar those Xenophon dictated) our novices try to ride without using bits, reins, spurs, stirrups and whips and, of course, we are shooting “Kassai” bows. Our basic training center is Kassai’s Valley which we are visiting at least three times every year. We are aiming to improve our equestrian skills so we are riding different horses in different countries, studying different equestrian cultures and methods. Until now we have ride in Hungary, in Poland, in Austria, in Germany, in Italy, in Slovenia and in Mongolia ( http://www.horsebackarcherygr.com/mongolia2007.htm ) where we have spent one complete month last year riding wild Mongolian horses and visiting primitive tribes in order to understand better their naturally relationship to the Equines and their riding style. Furthermore, our Team was last year in World Traditional Archery Festival ( http://www.horsebackarcherygr.com/2007wtafkorea.htm ) invited by the Korean Government among other national Teams and same we accept a new invitation for this year. We use to inform visitors of our website about all our experiences, and we are happy because through that many people from inboard as well as foreigners are contacting us about Horseback Archery.
Now, we examine two alternatives for our permanent installations: it seems that Horseback Archery in Greece has many enthusiasts! ”