Horace A. Ford

Lore & Background

Horace Alfred Ford began archery in 1845 and won the Grand National Archery Meeting four years later. He went on to win eleven consecutive championships and a twelfth after a hiatus. His score of 1271 in the Double York Round in 1857 remained archery's high mark for over 70 years.

Ford founded the Cheltenham Archers in 1857 and authored 'Archery: Its Theory and Practice'. He also owned, in partnership with his father and brother, the Bryndu Colliery from 1842 and was a director of the Bristol and South Wales Railway Waggon Company. Several members of his family were cricketers, including Francis Ford. His father was solicitor and bill discounter George Samuel Ford.

Ford died in Bath, England on 24 June 1880.

Reader's Guide

Ford's eleven consecutive Grand National Archery Meeting victories and his subsequent comeback win established a record unmatched in the sport. His 1857 score of 1271 in the Double York Round stood as the highest for over 70 years, a testament to his skill and consistency. He founded the Cheltenham Archers in 1857, contributing to the organization of archery in England. His book 'Archery: Its Theory and Practice' (first published 1856) became a standard reference, with multiple editions including an American edition in 1880. Ford's career spanned the mid-19th century, a period when archery was revived as a competitive sport in the United Kingdom. His victories at the Grand National Archery Meeting, Grand Crystal Palace Archery Meeting, Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting, Grand Western Archery Meeting, and Grand Archery Meeting at Birmingham and Hastings demonstrate his dominance across major events. Beyond archery, Ford was a businessman involved in coal mining and railway wagon manufacturing, reflecting the diverse pursuits of Victorian sportsmen.

Did You Know?

• He won eleven consecutive Grand National Archery Meeting championships and a twelfth comeback win.
• He authored 'Archery: Its Theory and Practice', which saw multiple editions.