Namoi Valley Archers sent a team of 16 archers to the Northern NSW Branch 3D Titles held on the Central Coast on the weekend turning in a dominant performance to return with 11 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals. The tournament was hosted by the Moonterra club who provided two superb but contrasting ranges with one range featuring thick rainforest complete with a creek running through the middle of the range. The second range offered a different challenge as it climbed up through more open terrain. Competitors shot in fine, hot and humid conditions on Saturday with Sunday offering a dramatically different day with heavily overcast skies and a few light showers. On Sunday competitors shooting in the rainforest sections of the range faced the unusual problem of very low light as they struggled to see some of the targets clearly.
Wade Hudson finished the weekend as the top compound archer turning in another brilliant display to win the Masters division.. Hudson forged a 20 point overnight lead over Newcastle’s Robin Huckett after the first 2 rounds then proceeded to destroy his opposition in the last round to finish the tournament 72 points clear of Huckett with Tuggerah archer, Brian Turner in third. Ben Stubbs grabbed the silver medal in Mens B grade compound while Karen Hudson was in scintillating form finishing with gold medal in Womens B grade compound after a top class final round with Ann Stubbs grabbing the bronze in compound C grade. The club’s recurve archers turned in a great display with Peter Stubbs finished the tournament as the highest scoring recurve archer. Stubbs grabbed the top spot in B grade after a titanic struggle with club mate Darrell Hudson. Hudson forged an impressive lead after the first round but Stubbs came roaring back into contention with a wonderful second round and hung on grimly over the closing stages to secure a great win with Hudson forced to settle for the silver. Michael Patrick showed his liking for the 3D format securing the gold medal in C grade with a very consistent display over the three rounds. John Clark scored a win in Freestyle Unlimited putting together his best ever performance in a 3D event finishing 18 points in front of the Central Coast’s Gary Nicholls. Gordon White competing in his first 3D tournament turned in a wonderful display to finish with the silver medal in Freestyle Unlimited – Fl 2 and will great confidence from this performance. Lloyd Jauja competing in Bowhunter Unlimited finished with the silver medal after a personal best performance. Jauja was right in the mix after the first 2 rounds just 6 points from the lead but Newcastle 3D specialist Barney Miller shut Jauja out after returning a perfect score in the final round.
The club’s junior archers dominated the tournament returning with 6 gold medals. Matthew Jauja shot brilliantly over the weekend to finish as the number one Freestyle Unlimited archer with a top class display of precision archery. Siblings, Amy and Jarrod Stubbs finished the weekend as the top competitors in their respective Junior Compound divisions with typically consistent performances. Christopher Patrick shot particularly well to take the Cub compound B grade title while Jackelyn Patrick won the Cub compound D grade gold medal. Samantha Patrick rounded out the medal haul after winning the Cub recurve event.
The focus returns to club activities this weekend with a club shoot set down for this Sunday.
