Brought back from West Flanders in 2019, the perch called Henriette, in Watten, has finally been baptized. This happened on Sunday August 6th.
It is a tradition to bless the archery poles to which we give a first name. This is how on the field of the archers of Watten we find Myriam and Michelle. The third so-called “basket or hat” pole makes it possible in particular to adapt the shooting grid in height to, for example, shoot young archers. It also prevents arrows from falling several meters away, which can be dangerous in a restricted space.
Read also Ghyvelde – Les Moëres: who won the European Archery Championship?
An upset assembly
The pole called Henriette was given to the archers of Watten by the society of archers of Oostnieuwkerke in West Flanders and brought back to Watten in 2019 where she was refitted. The municipality has notably financed the work of laying a concrete base.
The archers, meanwhile, reassembled the pole. But their work was stopped by the Covid. Electrical problems on the engine then upset the assembly and it is only for a year that it can operate normally.
Read also Back in pictures of the colorful and lively medieval festival of Watten
A warlike practice
It was therefore time to baptize her, and an appointment was made several months ago for Ducasse Sunday August 6, with Father Thomas Vercoutre, parish priest-dean, for this ceremony in the presence of Flemish archers, Senator Jean-Pierre Decool, Mayor Daniel Deschodt, President of the Union of Archers Hubert Murray and of course the archers of the Guillaume Tell de Watten, around their president Daniel Delhaye.
“Originally, archery was warlike, today it’s a hobby to shoot arrows to the sky, you are practicing a noble art”, declared the priest before blessing Henriette and the participants.
2023-08-19 10:59:34
#Watten #pole #Henriette #blessed
