TEAM GB archers including Olympian Patrick Huston will be in action at the Battle of Basing, which is being held at Hampshire Court this weekend.

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural indoor national archery tournament, Old Basing Archers has expanded this year’s event to include a top spectator event as well as incorporate a major championship shoot.

The weekend of archery starts on the Saturday afternoon at 2pm when archers will emulate a popular international event being held in Las Vegas at the same time.

This is an informal shoot followed by a buffet supper, after which there will be the highly acclaimed Nerves of Steel tournament.

Starting at 7.30pm, 80 archers will shoot a single arrow at a target 18 metres away but – and here’s the difference – in front of each target will be a steel plate with an aperture decreasing in size after each archer has shot.

Hit the steel plate, the arrow is lost and the archer is eliminated and the arrow is also probably ruined. It’s tense but spectacular.

On the Sunday, from 9am to about 5pm, they have the World Record Status Combined Round, followed by the Southern Counties Archery Society Championships.

In total 160 archers from across the UK, including members of Team GB and a GB Olympian Patrick Huston from the Rio games, are due to compete, ensuring this year’s Battle of Basing is a truly top level tournament so cementing Old Basing Archers’ growing reputation as organisers of major archery competitions.

Spectators are welcome to attend and there is no charge.

In September, Old Basing Archers is also running its usual Siege Shoot at The Recreation Ground.

Old Basing Archers was formed in 1967. Membership currently stands at about 100 who regularly shoot at the Old Basing Rec, the Village Hall and Hampshire Court Hotel.

The original Battle of Basing was fought on 22 January 871, one of a series following an invasion of the then kingdom of Wessex by the Danes who had established camp at Reading. The Saxon army was led by King Ethelred. In April Ethelred died, and was succeeded by Alfred the Great