ASKARTS

   ©    Copyright J S A McCarthy

Last updated

4th April 2011

The Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers is the oldest archery organisation in the United Kingdom if not in the world. Its first recorded Papingo shoot was in 1483 and the Society has been in existence ever since. In the event of there being no shooting members the Town Clerk took the office of Secretary so that the Society could continue. The shooting at the Papingo was somewhat of a civic occasion as witness this account from old records:

The day started at Smithstone House, which is about a mile North of the town. The Archers formed behind a band and the burgh mace-bearer who hoisted the Papingo onto the head of his civic Lochaber Axe and led the procession to the butts. After a round had been shot there the procession reformed and marched round the town with a free drink being taken at each of the 25 or so inns ( a custom which has fallen into abeyance - possibly a good thing from the safety point of view)

Lunch was then taken at the Masonic Lodge (The Mother Lodge) followed by the Society’s Annual General Meeting. This having been completed the Archers proceeded to the Abbey Tower. The outgoing Captain faced away from the Tower and shot an arrow into the middle distance, thus discharging his duties.

The Papingo was then flown from the Tower and the Archers endeavoured to "ding doun the doo". They shot in order of merit decided on at the butts and had to keep one foot on the lower step of the Abbey entrance.

Each archer shot one arrow in his turn until the “doo” had been “Dinged doun”, The new Captain - the first to knock the Papingo off its perch - was invested with his “Benn of Crimson Taffety” and presented with the Kilwinning Silver Arrow.

Nowadays the Captaincy is awarded to the highest scorer at the Butt Round - six dozen arrows at 30 yards towards a nine inch target. A picnic lunch is taken between the end of the Butt Round and the foregathering at the Abbey Tower.The order of shooting at the Papingo is still decided by the result of the Butt Round. The person who knocks the Papingo off its perch is awarded the awarded the trophy shown left . When the "doo" has been "dinged doun" it is replaced on its horizontal pole at the top of the Tower, the wings are loosened and the hitting of each wing is rewarded with a rosette. If, after two hours shooting, the Papingo has not been knocked off its perch then the result is recorded as "The bird flew" and neither trophy nor rosettes are awarded. The honour of being the person who "dings doun the doo" does not necessarily go to the most experienced archer - the trophy has been won by a Junior Archer on more than one occasion in recent years.

An open Butt Round and Papingo shoot is held each year, usually in August. Numbers are limited, but if you are interested please e-mail the Secretary at contactus at kilwinningarchers.com