ONE OF the most successful archery clubs in the country fears for its future after its home was sold.
Whitehill Archers has been running since 1980 and caters for all standards.
Recently it held its March Madness shoot which attracted top-quality archers from all over the country – and several world records were broken.
But archery needs space – and its home at Whitehill Sports Club has been sold to the Whitehill & Bordon Town Partnership.
The partnership lost no time informing the community of its plans for the site – saying its long-term aim was to bring the site “back into community use, with much-needed sports and leisure facilities”.
One of its principal plans is to build a large children’s play area on the site.
It also said it was planning to set up a meeting of interested groups and businesses which may wish to use the site, to see what facilities could be built.
A spokesman for Whitehill Archers said it was hoped the site would continue to host club activities.
But the Herald understands some members are worrying about the club’s future.
Archery has, in the past, lost out when community facilities are built as it is a sport which requires a large area of land – and archery is not generally an enthralling spectator sport.
“It is very difficult to find a large enough area of land that we can shoot on, as well as accommodate our containers and toilets – at a price the club could afford,” one club member told the Herald.
The club would like to remain on the site, as it is given 24/7 access to run its affairs.
But that is unlikely to continue if other sports facilities are provided – and especially if a children’s play area is constructed.
The club – which has had a nomadic past – started off as Standford Archers in May 1980 and members shot in the grounds of Standford Grange.
When the Grange was sold in 1987, the club moved to Lindford Cricket Club.
In 1990 it moved again, this time to the Mill Chase Community School.
Ten years later it moved to the Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club (BOSC) and in November 2011 to the grounds of Whitehill Sports Club.
Soon after that move, members decided to change the club’s name to more accurately portray the area it was in.
While the club is desperate to remain at its present home, as it fulfils many of its requirements, anyone who knows of a potential new site for the Archers can contact the Herald at [email protected] and we shall pass on details to the club.
To register an interest in attending the partnership’s meeting about the future of the site, email details to [email protected]
The Herald contacted the partnership for comment.