Namoi Valley Archers turned in a powerful performance at the Tamworth Invitational ABA tournament returning with 11 gold, 9 silver and 4 bronze medals. The tournament drew 115 competitors from as far afield as the Central Coast, Newcastle, Taree and Gloucester. The competition was held in perfect weather conditions with the program featuring a two round ABA event on the Saturday concluding with a two arrow round on Sunday.
Wade Hudson was in a class of his own winning the Masters compound division and leading the local charge in the barebow ranks returning the highest barebow score of the weekend. Phillip Porter powered home to take the A grade compound division with a brilliant final round. Karen Hudson was the leading female compound competitor at the tournament after scoring a very hard fought win in C grade with Shelley Porter taking the silver in D grade. Ken Hill and Ann Stubbs adding to the medal haul with bronze medals in their respective divisions. Darrell Hudson was in unstoppable form in A grade Recurve turning in a superb final round to score a decisive win. Peter Stubbs celebrated his promotion to B grade finishing with the silver medal after a tense battle with Tamworth’s Bruce Sherwood.
The club’s sighted shooters also dominated the competition with Ben Ireland, John Clark and Steve Jaeger taking a clean sweep in Freestyle Unlimited. Greg Donovan shook off an indifferent first round to power away for a big win in Mens Bowhunter Limited (flight 1) with Scott Porter taking the Mens Bowhunter Limited (flight 2) division after making a miraculous recovery from a major bow failure during the second round. Porter turned in a sensational final round with a borrowed bow to score a most remarkable win with Jillian Porter finishing with gold in Women’s Bowhunter Limited. Tamworth’s Robert Jones was in untouchable form in Mens Bowhuner Unlimited with Gunnedah’s Stuart Dolbel and Lloyd Jauja going toe to toe in a tense battle for the minor placings with Dolbel calling on all his experience to finish ahead of the rapidly improving Jauja. Cassie Ireland finished with silver medal in the Women’s Bowhunter Unlimited contest.
The club’s junior archers were also well represented in the medal count with Matthew Wittman scoring an impressive win in his first ever tournament in Junior Freestyle Unlimited with Matthew Jauja taking second place with an encouraging performance in the Junior ranks. Siblings, Amy (B grade) and Jarrod Stubbs (A grade) finished with the silver medals in their respective Junior Compound divisions to add to the medal haul. Sebastian Donovan turned in another high class performance to score a runaway win in Cub Boys Freestyle Limited with Meg Jaeger and Sophie Donovan scoring a 1-2 win Cub Girls Freestyle Limited to round off a great performance by the club’s younger archers.
The next club shoot will be a 3D event to be held on March 9th with registration closing at 8.40 for a 9.00 start on the range.
