Horace A. Ford (1822–1880) is known as one of the greatest target archers of all time.
Biography
Horace Alfred Ford first picked up the bow in 1845, and a mere four years later won the Grand National Archery Meeting held in the United Kingdom. He proceeded to win an unmatched, eleven consecutive championships, and a twelfth "comeback" win. His high score - that of 1271 in the Double York Round in 1857 - remained archery's high mark for over 70 years.[1]
![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Plaque_to_Horace_Ford_of_Cheltenham_Archers.jpg/220px-Plaque_to_Horace_Ford_of_Cheltenham_Archers.jpg)
Ford founded the Cheltenham Archers[2] in 1857, which is still running up to the current day. He is also the author of Archery: Its Theory and Practice, one of the all-time classics of archery.[3]
Several members of his family were good cricketers, including Francis Ford. His father was solicitor and bill discounter George Samuel Ford.
Ford owned, in partnership with his father and brother, the Bryndu Colliery from 1842[4] and was a director of the Bristol and South Wales Railway Waggon Company (Limited).[5]
Ford died in Bath, England on the 24 June 1880.[6]
Victories
Grand Archery Meeting Birmingham 1858, 1868
Grand Archery Meeting Hastings 1867
Grand Crystal Palace Archery Meeting 1859, 1861, 1863, 1867
Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1867, 1868, 1869
Grand National Archery Meeting 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1867
Grand Western Archery Meeting 1863, 1868
Bibliography
Archery - Its theory and practice (1856)
Archery - Its theory and practice 2nd Edition (1859)
Archery during my years of championship (1864)
Archery - Its theory and practice American Edition (1880)
References
- ^ "Horace Ford and the birth of Cheltenham Archers". Cheltenham Archers. Cheltenham Archers. 18 August 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Cheltenham Archers". Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "The Theory and Practice of Archery". Internet Archive. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
- ^ "Partnerships Dissolved". The Times. 3 July 1858.
- ^ "Bristol and South Wales Railway Waggon Company Limited". Western Daily Press - page 3. 31 July 1866.
- ^ "Deaths". London Standard - page 1. 29 June 1880.
- Ford, Horace; Butt, W. (1887), The theory and practice of Archery
- Longman, C.J.; Walrond, H. (1894), The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastime - Archery
- Sharp, J. (1865), Archers Register 1864
- Sharp, J. (1866), Archers Register 1865
- Sharp, J. (1867), Archers Register 1866
- Sharp, J. (1881), Archers Register 1880
External links
- Modern crossbow archery at The Archer's Register.com
- Archery: its theory and practice by Horace A. Ford.
- Works by Horace Ford at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about Horace A. Ford at the Internet Archive
- Horace Alfred Ford Career Summary at The Archer's Register.com