Sway Bowmen hosted their first Red King shoot, inspired by the shooting of William II of England, which the Rufus Stone in the New Forest commemorates

Sway Bowmen hosted their first Red King shoot, which was meant for longbow archers, but a field of 48 participants came from across archery disciplines from five local clubs.

The shoot was a two-way, which means archers shot three arrows in one direction, collected and scored them, and then shot them back in the other direction.

After eight dozen arrows, some small sherries and some enormous burgers later, all agreed that it had been tremendous fun and should be an annual event.

The organiser, Jem Mason, said the idea came from the shooting of the Red King, or Red Rufus, properly known as William II of England, who in 1100 AD was killed by an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrell that deflected off a tree. The Rufus Stone in Minstead, Lyndhurst, commemorates the event.