History

Alton and Four Marks Archery Club is a thriving Target Archery club shooting throughout the year. The club was formed in 1976 as the result of a successful beginners' course run the previous year by Alton Sports Centre. The idea initially was to name the club Alton Archers, it being set up to promote Target Archery in Alton and the surrounding villages.

Unfortunately, despite considerable research, the founder members had no success in locating any ground locally that was suitable and could accommodate our sport; eventually they had to settle for a field in Four Marks, hence the inclusion of Four Marks in the name. In the meantime negotiations were in hand requesting permission to incorporate the Alton Crest in our club motif: this was duly granted with the proviso that Four Marks was omitted from our motif. This has caused a little confusion over the years in leading people to believe that there are two separate clubs.

In the early 1980's, and following two more moves, the Four Marks Parish Council agreed to the Club shooting on a rough section of their Recreation Ground. The area was subsequently levelled and grassed for the Archers and Cricketers to share. This proved successful and a pavilion was built for all the Clubs to use, finally being replaced with a more substantial one with greatly improved facilities for the autumn of 2000.

Our indoor winter season has seen us in many venues since Alton Sports Centre closed its projectile room in favour of 'more lucrative sports' in the early 90's. These included a barn at Worldham, the Caddy Shack at Kingsley, another barn at Upper Hay, Millchase School at Bordon and finally Eggars' School here in Alton where we have been since early 2000. Conditions have been good but cramped. This autumn however has seen the opening of their new Sports Hall enabling us to set up more bosses and shoot up to 25mts in altogether more comfortable conditions.

The Club has run an Open Shoot since 1980 and organised structured Beginners' Courses from 1989, this being increased to two a year from 1999. Membership has steadily increased from 10 to 75 of which 25 to 30 % have been junior members; a separate Junior Club was registered in 2004.