Longer-range targets will have a traditional stake (
Thanks to everyone who shared feedback on this year’s King Arthur Archery Tournament. We dug into every comment to see what worked, what didn’t, and where we can make the next one even better. Here’s what stood out.
★ Overall Experience: You’re Loving It
A solid 83% of participants gave the tournament a 4 or 5 out of 5, and just as many said they’d definitely recommend it to a friend. That’s the kind of support that keeps this community growing—and we’re grateful.
★ Organization + Volunteer Team: All Thumbs Up
Across the board, folks praised how well things were run. “Good” to “Excellent” ratings were the norm. Two people even used the word “excellent” specifically when talking about our volunteer team. That’s especially rewarding, since every San Diego Archers tournament is fully volunteer-run and donation-funded. No paid staff. Just folks who care.
★ The Archery Itself: Smooth and Fun
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Range Setup: Everyone ranked it “Good” to “Excellent.” That tells us the course is in great shape.
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Rules: Most people found them clear. One new archer mentioned it wasn’t obvious you could start at any target—so we’ll highlight that better in the future.
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Atmosphere: People had a blast. Comments mentioned the iron target, and shooting with friends as highlights.
⚠ What Could Be Better
We also got constructive feedback—and we’re listening.
🎭 Costume Contest Confusion
One participant had strong concerns about fairness. The main points:
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Judging felt biased. They felt some well-made, period-accurate costumes were overlooked in favor of flashier or less authentic ones.
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Suggestion: Bring back participant voting, but only hand out name tags and ballots after the shoot. That way, votes aren’t based on early impressions or friendships.
Also surprising—33% of respondents didn’t know the grand prize was a traditional bow worth over $200. That’s on us. We’ll make sure everyone knows what’s up for grabs next time.
🥪 Food & Drink Timing
While most said food availability was “Good,” one shooter said they were hungry and dehydrated toward the end of their day—around target 30. That suggests we may need longer or staggered food service windows to better match everyone’s schedule.
📣 Event Communication
A few people asked for more detailed info upfront—like when shooting starts, when the raffle happens, etc. We’ll aim to tighten that up for 2026.
One note on scorecards: A participant suggested captains hold onto them throughout the event to avoid misplacement. Noted.
☀️ Summer Heat = A Hot Topic
The weather was no joke this year. At least one person said the heat really affected their experience and suggested holding the event earlier in the season. May or early June 2026 came up more than once.
🧡 We’re All Volunteers—And That Matters
A third of respondents didn’t know this tournament (and every SDA event) is 100% volunteer-powered and funded by donations. That’s something we’ll promote more clearly—it matters. When people know, they’re more likely to lend a hand or chip in.