The history of D.N.A.A.

Durham & Northumberland Archery Association History.

Initially the pursuit of Archery as a leisure and sport developed again after the restrictions of the 1939-45 war. An organisation, backed by the government, named the C.C.P.R. came into existence to encourage physical recreation and sport. Many local archery clubs started up at this time. Because of the growth in archery the county association of Durham came into existence in 1949 where Cleadon archery club was one of the driving forces behind the fledgling county organisation. Durham and Northumberland were independently operated at this time although little is known about the part Northumberland played prior to the amalgamation and it is unsure if Northumberland ever formally operated as a county. In 1949 the first ever formal ‘County Shoot’ was held at Haughall College in Durham. A repeat of this shoot, at the same venue and the same ‘round’ was held in 1999 for the 50th anniversary celebration of the County organisation. In it’s early years the county championships were comprised of a ‘Double York’ round.

Some clubs, which exist today, have done so throughout the 50 plus years of the existence of the county. New clubs are being ‘born’ or amalgamate with others, while others disband, but it is the vitality of the participants which allow the pursuit of Archery, in all it’s forms from longbow to ‘tournament recurve’ and modern compound, to be enjoyed at various levels within the geographic area covered by Durham and Northumberland Archery Association.

By 1952 the Durham Archery Association was in place which then converted to the Durham and Northumberland Archery Association. A Yorkshire man ‘Jack Flinton’ became the first Durham And Northumberland County President and in the intervening 50 years only 10 presidents have held this office. The current President, our 11th in all, is Mrs Edna McGowan, the 2nd lady President that the county has ever elected.