Merry Men and Artemis Archers in Richer have amalgamated.

Club President Sarah Belisle says the club was not co-ed, as per tradition, but would often shoot together, and after hearing other clubs were becoming co-ed, they decided to follow suit and rename the club Mockingjay Archers. The club focuses on poly archery and was first established in 2012 by a woman in Richer who was a member of the St. Sebastianettes Pole Archery Club in Winnipeg. She notes Mockingjay Archers belongs to the Manitoba Pole Archery Association and participates in an annual tournament and banquet where all four teams in Manitoba compete against each other. Belisle adds their club also belongs to the Archers and Bowhunters Association of Manitoba which helps with fundraising opportunities.

Club President Sarah Belisle aiming for the king bird.Belisle says the meet on Thursday to shoot.

"We shoot at a horizontal target that is 60 feet away, a "fork" with artificial targets known as birds are mounted on the metal pins. The largest bird is known as the king or queen bird and is placed at the very tip of the fork. [During competition] points are scored for each bird that is knocked off by the archer, ranging from one point to four points."

Belisle notes pole archery has a long history, recently discovered to have dated back over 2,000 years. As for the Richer club, she says the club is open to members of all ages and she has enjoyed the sport for the fun and also for the challenge since launching her first arrow in 2013.

"You're shooting against other people, but you're shooting against yourself. You're challenging yourself to shoot better and trying to hit the targets," she explains. "You're shooting outside in the elements, so that's a big challenge. [When it's] a little cold you're hands get cold and you loose strength. Some days it can be windy or raining, and some days it's just really hot."

Members meet on Thursday, starting May 5, at 6:30 in the Richer Dawson Trail Park and Belisle says newcomers are always welcome.