Astounding! That’s the word that came to mind when I heard what Richard Baufeldt was up to. I have seen archers in wheelchairs shoot. I have seen archers with their arms in plaster shoot. I have even seen the USA team win a world championship with a wheelchair bound archer.

But I have never seen a blind archer shoot.

I have heard about it, and know that there are rules and regulations and I am aware that there are a large number of visually impaired archers around the world. But seeing a blind archer shoot was not on my list of experiences.

So when Richard dropped me an email saying that he was going to introduce archery to the blind, I had to see this for myself. I arrived at the range early, because I had wanted to speak to the club chairman, himself a paraplegic and archer.

After being brought up to speed about the status of disabled archery and opening this opportunity to the blind, Richard arrived with the placement mechanism he had built for the occasion, set it up, put on a blindfold; and with the help of Vernon Appleton of the Golden Oldies archers and JP le Pogam, he started to fine tune the “sights” in preparation for the arrival of Jeremy Opperman who is visually impaired.

Richards’s mechanism for the blind was placed at 10m from the butt, the normal beginner starting distance.  It consists of a brace base, where the archer’s feet are “blocked” and locked into position; attached to a tripod with a modified sight.  The sight is used to place the knuckles in a constant position and is used as the “aiming” point.  From the photo on the left you can see how Richard’s feet are positioned within the guides. The sights can be moved up or down, and left or right.  This gives the archer a repetitive position in which to stand and an aiming point.

Jeremy has always wanted to shoot a bow and arrow, and despite him arriving on the field with his white cane, one could feel the excitement in the way he spoke and his body language.

His enthusiasm was unrivalled as was evident in every verbal response he made. It was quite something to be part of this experience. As sighted archers we tend to take much for granted. We know what a bow looks like. We know where the target face is placed, and we know what the arrow is all about. But to see someone having to “feel” a bow, almost like caressing a lover, from limb to limb, letting the fingers stroke the string, discovering the nocking point and kisser button; makes one realise how much we take for granted. When we see a finger tab for the first time, we know what to do with it.

The visually impaired archer “aims” by placing his knuckles against a modified sight which can move in all directions.  In this photograph you see JP Le Pogam (blindfolded) setting the sight in preparation for the training session.  The sight is anchored on a wooden brace ensuring consistency and a constant “sighting” position.

But imagine not being able to see a finger tab or arm guard! And then there is the attention to detail. Richards’s ability to explain a concept to someone who is visually impaired was astounding. Believe me, it was not an easy task for a sighted person has to explain “archery” to a visually impaired person, but Richard excelled. It was indeed remarkable.

It took just a few minutes to set up the equipment.  Here you see (L-R) Vernon Appleton, JP le Pogam and Richard Baufeldt preparing to set up the “sights”.  Note the brace, built by Richard which allows the visually impaired archer to place his feet in a constant position.

And then it was time for Jeremy to shoot his first arrow. Putting his cane aside, he took the position in the foot guides, placed the knuckles of his bow arm against the sight, knocked the arrow and released.

As sighted archers we take much for granted.  Here we see Jeremy Opperman familiarising himself with the bow through touch.  It is far more difficult than one would imagine having to explain the principals of shooting a bow to the visually impaired.  Questions about “this springy button” and comments about the shape of the riser make one realise that we take much for granted.

The look on his face was reward enough, and the sheer excitement of seeing a visually impaired archer shoot his first arrow will remain with me for a long time. But it was Richard’s face that said it all. All the effort he went to set up the training session and bring the delight of archery to another was more rewarding than my ability to describe.

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