King Arthur Tournament 2025: What You Told Us

By Jim Walker, San Diego Archers

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

  • Range Setup: Everyone ranked it “Good” to “Excellent.” That tells us the course is in great shape.

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • Judging felt biased. They felt some well-made, period-accurate costumes were overlooked in favor of flashier or less authentic ones.

  • 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.

🔧 Read Me in 2026!

  • Costume Contest:

    • Return to participant voting, but hand out ballots after the shoot to reduce bias.

    • Clarify prize value (e.g., traditional bow worth over $200) to encourage more participation.

  • Food & Beverage:

    • Extend or stagger food service hours to match archers’ shooting schedules.

    • Consider offering light snacks or hydration stations around the course.

  • Event Communication:

    • Provide a clear, posted schedule (start time, raffle drawing, etc.).

    • Remind participants they can start at any target to ease confusion for newcomers.

    • Assign scorecard responsibility to team captains for better tracking.

  • Timing & Climate:

    • Consider moving the event to May or early June to avoid excessive heat.

  • Volunteer Awareness:

    • Promote that the tournament is 100% volunteer-run and donation-funded.

    • Add signage or brief announcements

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Targeting Change: Ellie Howe’s Mission to Bring Archery to East County

By Jim Walker, San Diego Archers

A New Landmark for East County Archers: The Kumeyaay Valley Range Opens

Opening Ceremony and Key Supporters

On May 14, 2025, I stood among friends, fellow archers, county leaders, and neighbors, all gathered under a clear Lakeside sky to watch a ribbon get cut—but this wasn’t just any ribbon. As a member of the San Diego Archers, I can say this day was a long time coming. The East County Archery Range at Kumeyaay Valley County Park is now open, and it’s more than just another target range. It’s a win for every East County archer who’s ever wished for a decent spot to shoot without trekking to Balboa Park.

Mariko Nakawatase, representing Supervisor Joel Anderson‘s office was there, along with Parks and Rec Director Jason Hemmens, and even a Navy SEAL turned adaptive archery advocate, Nicholas North. But one person really stole the show: Ellie Howe. She’s a powerhouse young archer, already on the US Under-18 Women’s Barebow Team, and she played a huge role in turning this dream into reality. The fact that she helped cut the ribbon felt like the perfect full-circle moment.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the East County Archery Range at Kumeyaay Valley County Park

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the East County Archery Range. Image credit: Jim Walker

Why This Range Matters to East County Archers

To be honest, we’ve needed this range for a while. Until now, East County archers had nowhere public to practice. Most folks I shoot with either make the long drive to Morley Field or cobble together practice time in their backyards. Not ideal. Now, with the range just off Ashwood Street in Lakeside, it’s finally easy to walk out and get some real ends in without burning a gallon of gas. It’s open daily, it’s free to use, and yes—it’s ADA-compliant, which means everyone gets a shot. That’s how it should be.


East County Archery Range

View of the East County archery range. Image credit: Jim Walker

Meet Ellie Howe: Archer and Advocate

I’ve watched a lot of young archers rise up through the ranks, but Ellie’s different. She’s driven, sharp, and ridiculously talented. She picked up archery again in her early teens, and by the time most kids are still figuring out their anchor point, she was breaking records across California. In fact, she holds every California state record for U18 women’s barebow—and if that wasn’t enough, she’s gunning for a spot in the 2028 LA Olympics. And honestly? I’d put money on her making it.


Elizabeth 'Ellie' Howe, record-holding archer

Elizabeth ‘Ellie’ Howe, record-holding archer. Image credit: @ellie_archery AZ Cup 2025

Making Archery Accessible for Everyone

Here’s the thing about Ellie—she’s not just out to win medals. She gives back. She teaches at LionHeart Academy in El Cajon and puts just as much heart into mentoring as she does into training. When she noticed East County didn’t have a public range, she didn’t shrug it off. She started a petition, pulled in nearly 1,000 signatures, and teamed up with county officials. That’s leadership, plain and simple.

This range? It’s here because Ellie cared enough to do something. She wanted a place where anyone—from a curious kid to a seasoned bowhunter—could step onto a range and just shoot. No big fees. No long drives. No red tape. Just a clean shot at trying something new, or getting better at something you already love.

Community Impact and What’s Next

As someone who’s been part of San Diego Archers for a while, I can say this facility adds real value to our community. It brings people together, lowers the barrier to entry for new shooters, and gives us a place to gather and grow the sport. Whether you’re chasing podium finishes or just want to shoot straight and enjoy the day, this range delivers.

The

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Exciting News for East County Archers: New Range Opens in Lakeside!

By Jim Walker, San Diego Archers

Folks, we’ve got some absolutely fantastic news for everyone who loves hitting the target in East County!

The wait is finally over – the first dedicated outdoor archery range in East County is officially open! Located in Lakeside at Kumeyaay Valley Park (10964 Ashwood Street), this is a game-changer for our community.

For years, many of us in San Diego Archers, and archers across the eastern part of the county, have wished for a convenient, local spot to practice. Having to drive further west for range time was just part of the deal. But now, that’s changed!

This new facility is great. It features 10 shooting lanes designed to accommodate different skill levels, which is perfect whether you’re a beginner just getting started or a seasoned pro honing your skills. They’ve also made sure it’s accessible with good footpaths, plus there’s convenient parking and restroom facilities right there.

It’s wonderful to see this kind of investment in our sport. Supervisor Joel Anderson, whose district this is in, is really excited about it too, noting how it enhances the region and provides this great new outdoor space for everyone. We couldn’t agree more – making archery more accessible by cutting down on travel time is a huge win!

So, spread the word! The range is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to sunset. Grab your bow and arrows and head over to Lakeside. We look forward to seeing you out on the range!

This is a huge step forward for archery in East County, and we at San Diego Archers are thrilled to see it happen.

Happy Shooting!