Papingo Shoot 2023
After a triumphant return in 2022, this Saturday the 19th August sees the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers bring their annual Papingo Shoot back to Drummond Castle.
This extraordinary archery competition has been held by the Society at Drummond Castle since 2016 however the custom dates back to the foundation of the Society in 1483. From 2.00pm on Saturday 19th August members of the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers attempt to dislodge the Papingo, a decorated wooden bird which is mounted on a pole on the top of the Drummond Castle Keep, to win the Drummond Silver Arrow.
Each archer shoots in turn, facing the 90 foot high Keep and stands directly below the Papingo shooting vertically upwards with blunted arrows. The idea is to dislodge the Papingo from its perch on the pole. The order of shooting is determined by lot and the number of strikes is recorded for each archer. The winner is the archer who has recorded the most hits in the time allowed and, in the event of a tie, the one who was first to achieve the score. The shoot commences at 2.00pm and finishes at 4.00pm and if nobody has succeeded in “dinging doon the doo,” we say that “The bird has flown” and the Drummond Silver Arrow remains unclaimed for the year.