TARGET archery club, Nova Bowmen, have signed an agreement with East Bierley Community Sports Association (EBCSA) to use the sports fields at East Bierley as their club base from January 2019.

Nova Bowmen was formed in 2008 to provide friendly target archery shooting for the community around the Cleckheaton area.

As interest has grown over the last decade, the club decided to find a suitable base that would support their long-term growth, provide more targets and potentially more open club sessions.

They approached EBCSA, a UK registered charity which manages the sports facilities at the East Bierley Playing Fields, and a partnership has been formed.

EBCSA are a group of volunteers who decided that the playing fields and changing facilities at East Bierley, which are used for football and rugby league, needed to be improved.

In 2012, Birkenshaw ARLFC and Hunsworth FC formed a new community charity, which raised funds to redevelop the changing rooms and improve the site just off Hunsworth Lane.

Simon Armitage, secretary of EBCSA said: “Our vision was to build new changing rooms, create a safer sporting arena, and develop the grounds to make easier and safer access to the site.

"But we wanted to go beyond that and keep our community active, getting more people involved in sport, more often.

"So when Nova Bowmen approached us, we saw it as a great opportunity to provide an additional sport and to support Nova in their growth plans. It really is a great fit for EBCSA.”

The archery club will use the existing football field, which is surrounded by barriers. It is in line with Archery GB’s range policy.

They will have a field captain in charge during sessions to maintain safety, making sure other visitors are aware that shooting is taking place.

During summer, sessions will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings and most Saturday mornings. Sessions may be scheduled all year round on a weekend, weather permitting and with agreement from EBCSA.

Simon Slater, chairman of Nova Bowmen, commented: “EBCSA have been really helpful in getting us established up here. As a club we are really looking forward to starting outdoor shooting again in the New Year.

"Nova Bowmen has an open membership and caters for archers of all abilities, so with our new base here at East Bierley we expect our membership to grow again in 2019.”

Armitage added: “We’ve got lots of ideas in the pipeline to be able to give the wider community the ability to get active, not just in football, rugby and archery, so look out for our future plans and feel free to visit us at the playing fields most weekends.”

Any questions or general enquiries should be directed to enquiries@ebcsa.co.uk