Lecturer in Biomedical Science Dr Richard Charlesworth has been working to improve the diagnosis of coeliac disease. He also "will never forget the first time I released an arrow" - his enduring passion today.
What is your private passion and how did it develop?
I was introduced to archery at a young age during an experience day. I will never forget the first time I released an arrow. I was so nervous I was going to remove my nose or a finger, I was shaking so much. However, after hearing the thud on the target and feeling the vibration of the bow through my hands I knew I had found my sport. I started in recurve target archery - the type of shooting you see at the Olympics - with a modern bow that has a sight and stabilising bars. You are trying to hit a zone on a target 60-70 metres away that is about the size of a CD with a limit of six arrows. I love the precision required. Every move matters and if you are millimetres off with your aim, if you draw is off, the arrow isn’t seated or your feet aren’t set, you will miss.
I recently joined a field archery club. In this style of shooting targets are scattered throughout bushland, requiring you to judge the distance and elevation for each shot. It challenged me to take the sight off my bow and re-learn how to shoot the old-fashioned way.
What does it involve and how much of your time does it consume?
You don’t need to be a body builder to draw a bow. The required strength comes from core muscles in your back – it's the same movement as starting a lawnmower.
Our club holds a shoot every second Sunday, and completing the course of around 20 targets takes 3-4 hours. I am also the club coach so I get to teach newcomers how to shoot safely. I sometimes also try to go out to the range after work.
Much of the time you invest in archery is learning to work with your equipment. Each bow is different and each arrow is different. I currently shoot three main bows - a target recurve, a longbow and a horsebow. Each is made differently, has a different personality and a slightly different style.
I also devote time to making my own arrows, either traditionally (from wood and feathers) or with modern materials (carbon fibre/aluminium and plastic vanes). It takes time and you can really personalise them by changing the colour and weight. It's great when you find just the right combination of materials, and then frustrating when you lose the arrow in the long grass!
How does this passion enrich your life?
Archery teaches you patience and concentration. I can be a bit impulsive, so it's good to have an activity where I have to stop, breathe and think. I find the sport very meditative and, with a good group of people, it is very social; there is a lot of time to talk while walking around. It is also fantastic for stress relief. I admit that I have pictured the faces of certain people on the centre of targets through the years, and it's interesting that these have been some of my best shots!
I also love the history of the sport. Bows and arrows have existed since the Stone Age and many of the techniques used back then still exist or have been adapted for modern times. Each culture also has a slightly different style of bow or style of shooting and it is fascinating to see how the same general technique has been adapted to different situations.
What (if anything) does this personal passion and your enjoyment of it bring to your working life?
Mostly, I like the fact that it provides an escape from work. It’s an activity that is completely different to everything I do on a daily basis.
Once I string my bow, put on my bracer and gloves and fill my quiver with arrows, I can step away from everything I have to do for a few hours and just concentrate on something different.
Do you have other personal passions you would like to share?
I am a firm believer in having a healthy work-life balance. Because of this, I have many personal passions away from work. I bake and cook, I read, I spend time with family, I play the flute and I also grow carnivorous plants. We aren’t defined by the jobs that we do and I think it's important to experience as much of life as possible.
