Let's remember a little history.

The 2023 traditional archery tournament in the Historical Park gathered a record number of participants and became the most spectacular competition of this type in Bulgaria, with the most significant international participation. The ideal conditions for archery and the beautiful weather attracted many archers and spectators. The power of inspiration, sportsmanship and friendship brought together over 140 competitors from 10 countries. Archers from different parts of the globe tested their eye and skill in 17 individual disciplines and a team competition on a traditional Mongolian target.

The pursuit of the perfect shot is what drives us to improve ourselves. The essence of its achievement depends both on the combination in perfect synchronisation of posture, movement, technique, as well as on spiritual purity and the right attitude of consciousness, inner concentration, the ability to overcome one's own self.

The flight of the arrow is felt by the heart, the soul soars with it and the sound of the accurate hit is a delight to the senses of the archer.

Shooters from traditional shooting clubs, as well as individual participants from Bulgaria and the whole world, will take part in the fifth edition of this large and already traditional tournament. The participants will measure their strength in shooting with different variants of traditional bows.

As official guests of the tournament, some of the most prominent competitors in the country and the world, researchers of traditional and intuitive shooting, as well as skilled craftsmen in the making of traditional bows will be invited.

For the unbiased reporting of the results and awarding of prize places, an authoritative panel of judges will be appointed, sent by the Bulgarian Archery Federation.

In the morning of the 20th of September, the competition for the youngest archers up to 10 years of age will begin. For the second time this year, the main tournament will be preceded by a specific and separate "flight shooting" competition "Thracian Archer 2024", which will be held on the 20th September after noon in the festival area next to the Park .

The main tournament will be held on two competition days: 21st and 22nd of September. The archers will test their strength in various disciplines, such as: traditional Ottoman Puta target shooting, 90m long shooting discipline, rotating target, fixed 3D target shooting, boat shooting, rampart shooting from the fortress walls, as well as shooting at various targets at different distances from 10 to 60 m.

The tournament is open and any fan of the art of archery who has previously declared his intent to participe will be able to take part. The candidate must use a traditional bow without an arrow rest, only one "nock point" on the string, all grips are allowed, have at least 12 wooden arrows with a natural tip (or "self nock") and traditional historical clothing. Triggers, dials, sights, balancing and measuring devices and any markings on the bow that can be used as a sight are prohibited.

The participation fee in the main tournament is 80 levas for adults and 40 levas for youth, including two lunches on the days of the competition. Children up to and including 10 years old do not pay a fee to participate in the children's tournament on the 20th of September.

Fee for participation in unlimited shooting /''flight shooting''/ is 40 levas and there are categories only for men and women.

The archers will compete in four groups: children up to and including 10 years old, youth up to and including 16 years old, women and men.

The tournament for children up to 10 years old will be held on the 20th of September before noon. Children up to 10 years of age shoot from closer distances and are the only participants allowed to use arrows with plastic tips.

On the 21st of September, after the event of the main disciplines, a team competition will be held in the festival area next to the Park. Team members can be from different clubs.

Registration for the tournament is done online by requesting participation from the "Apply to participate" button below.

Applications for participation are accepted until 10/09/2024. Participants who have not declared their participation online, if possible and with express confirmation from the organisers, may register for the tournament on the day of its holding, paying the full participation fee without meals included.

The prize fund of the tournament are provided by the host and organiser of the event: the Historical Park. The park will aim at rewarding the work and skills of the best archers and reenactors of this ancient and beautiful art. The winners in the different groups will receive prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, with cash prizes for men and women, and physical prizes for children and youth.

During the three competition days, the Historical Park awaits thousands of guests, lovers of the history and culture of their ancestors, from Bulgaria and the whole world. All visitors will enjoy the ancient art and skills of bow virtuosos.

LET'S EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, during the Fifth International Traditional Archery Tournament "Historical Park 2024", on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of September, 2024., in the Historical Park, Neofit Rilski village.

For questions about the competition, disciplines and equipment:

Emil Neshkinski

+359898651210

For accommodation:

Tsanko Kolev

+359896612175

For organisational and other general questions:

Boyan Petkov

+359899990532

The accommodation of the participants will be organised in two categories:

1. Accommodation in the Yurt settlement "Naedno", village of Neofit Rilski

2. Accommodation in guest houses in the village of Neofit Rilski

Useful information:

The yurt village has:

20 yurts that can accommodate up to 140 people in total

12 large yurts, each of which can accommodate up to 8 people (up to 90 people in total), and each such yurt has 4 bunk beds

6 small yurts, each of which can accommodate up to 6 people. The small yurts have one bedroom and two separate bunk beds

1 small yurt for 5 people, which has one bedroom, one bunk and one single bed

1 small yurt for 4 people, which has one bedroom and two separate single beds