When my club (Clifton Hamden
Longbow Society -
www.cloutabout.com) was formed some 4 years ago they contacted Steve Ralphs (selected on a random basis from the internet I believe) and everyone involved says how much help and patience he showed in the process - and how faily he dealt with a bow apparently stolen from the shipment.
Everyone shot Ralphs' bows at the beginning (and several are still in use some 4 years later - including one of our members who ranked no 2 in the averages last year and no 1 the year before and has performed exceptionally well at the Fraternity of St George efficiency competition). I still have one of those bows, which I bought second-hand from one of the members when I first took up the sport, as a spare to lend to friends and visitors and despite a little 'string follow' I can't complain about it.
I, like many of our members, have migrated to more sophisticated (and expensive) bows - primarily from Pip
Bickerstaffe, who we rate very highly and has also given us lots of help and advice.
However, we didn't buy expensive bows from Steve and no-one is complaining.
Also to be fair, Steve's main occupation is within the film industry (and therefore the re-enactment field). If buying a bow from him for competition use it is important to separate the two and advise him accordingly.
At the 'top of competition range' it is probably fair to say that you would be better using a bowyer who specialises in that area.