Namoi Valley Archers wound up a very successful 2005 with their AGM and presentation of trophies at a function at the PCYC. Strong attendances at club events, the hosting of the Branch ABA and IFAA Championships and outstanding participation at National, State and Branch tournaments has reinforced the club’s reputation as among the best in NSW. The highlight for the year was the performance of club members at the Australian Championships with Ben Ireland (Freestyle Unlimited) finishing as the overall ABA Sighted Champion, Steve Jaeger (Freestyle Limited) and Sam Bates (Junior Freestyle Unlimited) finishing as Australian champions in both the ABA and 3D events. In 2005 the club continued its long association with PCYC Indoor Archery program providing two qualified coaches and a safety officer for the Thursday night activities and the club will be continuing this association again in 2006.
2006 is shaping as very big year for archery with the club hosting the NSW State IFAA Championships in May and the Northern Branch ABA Championships in August. The World Field Archery Championships are to be held in Australia for the first time since 1989 and a strong contingent from the club will be making the trip to Hervey Bay in June to compete with archers from all over the world.
The prestigious Club Person of the Year was awarded to Steve Jaeger for his fantastic efforts as club range captain and PCYC safety officer. Namoi Valley Archers has an unequalled reputation for the imagination and quality of the ABA, IFAA and 3D ranges it offers and much of the credit for this goes to Jaeger who has put in countless hours of behind the scenes effort. Despite this effort Jaeger still finds time to be a top class competitor retaining his Australian ABA title for the third consecutive year and adding the Australian 3D crown to his trophy cabinet. In a night to remember Jaeger also finished the year as the club’s overall highest point scorer and winner of the ultra competitive Open Division relegating last year’s winner Ben Ireland, to second place with John Clark finishing third.
In the Mens Compound division Ken Thompson finished the year with the number one ranking after a titanic struggle with Phillip Porter who had held the top spot since 1999. In a season where fortunes fluctuated all year both archers accumulated over 13,000 points for the season ultimately being separated by just 30 points. The consistent Steve Woodward held off a raft of challengers to grab third place in a keenly contested division.
The club has been nurturing some outstanding junior talent including Wade Hudson who had a stellar 2005 season emerging as one the best barebow archers in NSW and Josh Dolbel was another to shine as he developed into a major force during the year at both National, State and Branch level. The Dave Dickson Shield was awarded to Sebastian Donovan as the most improved archer in the club and this outstanding young archer had a wonderful season and looks set to be a major threat at any event he contests in 2006.
Results for 2005
Mens Open – Steve Jaeger 1, Ben Ireland 2, John Clark 3.
Womens Open – Cassie Neuendorf 1, Jodi Dolbel 2.
Mens Compound – Ken Thompson 1, Phillip Porter 2, Steve Woodward 3.
Womens Compound – Karen Hudson 1, Helen Woodward 2.
Mens Bowhunter Limited – Stuart Dolbel 1, Greg Donovan 2, Scott Porter 3.
Womens Bowhunter Limited – Norma Culley 1, Lisa Buckingham 2.
Traditional – Darrell Hudson 1, Michael Patrick 2, Peter Stubbs 3.
Junior Open – Josh Dolbel 1, Robbie Porter 2, Cameron Hill 3.
Junior Boys Compound – Wade Hudson 1, Keegan Patrick 2, Damian Woodward 3.
Junior Girls Compound – Stacey Woodward 1, Jodi Buckingham 2.
Junior Olympic – Sam Bates 1.
Cub Boys Open – Sebastian Donovan 1, Matthew Jauja 2.
Cub Girls Open – Emelia Dolbel 1.
Cub Olympic – Shane Thompson 1.
Cub Traditional – Jackelyn Patrick 1, Meg Jaeger 2, Georgia Buckingham 3.
Cub Compound – Michael Romer 1, Shaun Boyd-McCaw 2, Christopher Patrick 3.
Little Archers – Sophie Donovan, Krystal Juaja.
Bowhunter of the Year – Phillip Porter
Junior Bowhunter of the Year – Josh Dolbel
Goat – Ben Ireland
Pig – Greg Donovan
Fox – Phillip Porter
Hare - Ken Thompson
Rabbit - Matt Krug
