Hunk of Heaven: On Target at Secret Creek Ranch

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Hunk of Heaven: On Target at Secret Creek Ranch Contributed by Administrator Wednesday, 27 June 2007 Last Updated Wednesday, 27 June 2007 On Target at Secret Creek Ranch Over the past 10 years archery has grown in popularity with exposure as a result of popular movies such as Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth and The Tow Towers reaching epic viewer proportions. And this past Saturday and Sunday numerous active groups of archers from all age ranges gathered to compete in this age old sport of discipline at the 5th annual Mad Trapper Archery Shoot held at Jay Mykeiten’s Secret Creek Ranch located above Waneta Plaza on Bear Creek Road in Trail BC. Hosts Jay and Joy and family saw many returning local archers for the competition and a number of new faces from outside the area attending, honing their skills on the course, or at the practice targets behind the dog kennels, and kicking back and having a good time in the relaxing atmosphere at this not so secret anymore hunk of heaven ranch, dog kennel and archery course.

MThe event was a huge success and the award ceremonies saw many people smiling as the younger and older ... more. less.

competitors came up to accept their trophies and prizes. Aside for the trophies many of 33 or so beginners and seasoned archers also bought raffle tickets in the draws for the over $4,000 in prizes and trophies. The top raffle ticket draw was the final draw with an EXCALIBUR “EXOMAX” Crossbow being the drawing card, and much to everyone’s surprise the same person from last year won again this year. And it was an exceptional donation based raffle ticket list, and the quantity and quality of the donations grows every year. Jay and Joy are very thankful to all those businesses and individuals who made donations for this year’s event. I even bought some raffle tickets not so much for the archery related prizes but more in the hopes of winning the Aqua-Chi Detox foot spa, manicure donated by the Dandilion Wellness and Parafin Treatment Center in Rossland. I didn’t win, but I’m making an appointment this week anyways, as my feet need some pampering after hiking the trails during this fun filled two-day event. Click on any of the image thumbnails to view a photo or slideshow through all photos. {gallery}a_sports/secretcreek_01{/gallery}It was my second event as the event’s official photographer, and I very much enjoyed myself as the Secret Creek Ranch archery course can also serve as an excellent hiking trail. And even though I was asked to keep score during the 3 rounds on the beautiful course over the two days this weekend, I didn’t feel too comfortable, as I wasn’t familiar enough about the rules of archery competition. But just the same I gave it my best shot to be helpful, so Jay and Joy could make sure that everyone had everything they needed, and so the archers could focus on the competition and shooting. I met a number of very nice people and met some friends I hadn’t seen in a while during the shoot, and our conversations during and after each round of the shoot brought back some fond memories. One such archery related memory being when I turned 10 back in the late 1960’s. I can remember that I couldn’t wait to run home from the lower Sunningdale school after classes ended so I could grab my traditional bow and arrows that I got for my birthday to go shooting home made targets out in the upper Sunningdale park. My parents felt that I also needed an individual focused sport as well as playing hockey and soccer, and they always told me that archery was about improving oneself, rather than trying to beat or compete directly with other people. For this encouragement I am thankful today, as archery taught me many disciplines. And it was a real joy to see how many parents and families came with the children to this year’s event to make it a family outing. At the awards ceremonies on Sunday it was fun to see the younger archers come up to accept their awards, and for some of these youngsters, it was their very first competition. Early Sunday morning during the pancake and egg breakfast, I was able to speak with some of the parents about archery, and some of them explained to me why they encouraged their children to take up this sport instead of another. One mother told me that she got her children into archery because she felt it was an accessible and easy to learn sport for just about everyone, and that it is enjoyable for the whole family to get involved, no matter what age, gender or skill level. She also said that archery is helping to keep her kids focused on personal development, and she even mentioned they are getting better grades in school rather than spending too much idle time playing video games and getting into other distractions, especially during the summer when school is out. And this she says archery helps to keep them out of mischief and trouble by getting involved with the wrong crowd. Even though the initial costs of buying a bow and the necessary equipment can be expensive, especially if you get into competitions, it’s rather affordable when compared with the costs of other sports such a golf, hockey or skiing, as archery has many benefits that can help kids with their development over the long term. Like skiing, archery is not about winning or losing, as the ultimate goal of an archer is to enjoy shooting for what it is, to make personal improvements, and not be just for winning. Once realized archery becomes a lot more fun. And that’s why many parents are getting their kids involved. Archery is safer than any ball sport, according to the National Safety Council in the United States, and there are many avid archers in the area that most likely would be more than willing to spend time helping to educate area youth and teachers about this amazing and fun sport. The National Archery in Schools program is currently offered at 3,800 schools in 42 U.S. states and Australia and in now in Canadian schools in an early stage pilot program in Halifax. So far more than 2.3 million students having participated in the National Archery in Schools program since its inception five years ago. The National Archery in Schools not-for-profit organization is providing the archery equipment and training free to pilot schools, and perhaps having more archery events such as the Mad Trapper Archery Shoot and more exposure for the West Kootenay Archery Association is the bulls-eye focus needed to show that archery is one of safest school sports. Archery is a great sport that engages all students, regardless of gender or physical ability," said Roy Grimes, executive director and co-founder of National Archery in the West Kootenay Unplugged http://69.90.62.220/~randymac/Powered by Joomla!Generated: 24 August, 2010, 17:31 Schools Program. "It gives young people a wonderful opportunity to develop discipline, exercise their minds and bodies, and have fun learning a lifetime sport." Given some encouragement and involvement from parents, and with assistance of local area archery enthusiasts such as Jay Mykieten of Secret Creek Ranch, and perhaps getting the executive of West Kootenay Archers involved to encourage some of the seasoned members to demonstrate archery to beginners and parents, the Greater Trail/Rossland area and the West Kootenays could follow in the footsteps of Halifax Nova Scotia and what they have done this past few months to offer such an archery program in our area schools, if they haven’t already planned to do so. "I encourage parents to get their kids out to the West Kootenay Archery Association archery range near Casino in Trail, for a demonstration to give archery a shot. Or they can call me or come up to Secret Creek Ranch for some archery basics and lessons,” said Jay Mykietyn, Secret Creek Ranch. “I believe that parents will notice a difference in their children’s attitudes, improved grades and self-esteem after they encourage them to take up the fine sport of archery." Contact: Jay Mykietyn, Secret Creek Ranch E-mail: secretcreek@telus.net 1151 Bear Creek Road Trail, B.C. V1R- 4W2 Ph: (250) 368-5619 West Kootenay Unplugged http://69.90.62.220/~randymac/Powered by Joomla!Generated: 24 August, 2010, 17:31

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