Namoi Valley Archers was well represented at the first Northern NSW Branch tournament of the year with an 11 member team traveling to Kempsey for the 2 day 3D event. Competitors breathed a sigh of relief when the showers that had fallen on Friday night and Saturday morning cleared just as archers took to the ranges for start of competition with the remainder of the event held under fine conditions. The team turned in a dominant performance finishing with 7 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medals. Peter Stubbs recorded a hard fought win in the B grade recurve division downing club mate and arch rival Darrel Hudson in a very satisfying performance. Stubbs was pushed all the way by Hudson and withstood the pressure to start the new year in fine style. Karen Hudson was in sensational form turning in a top class performance to score an outstanding win in B grade Compound with Amy Stubbs adding to the medal haul by grabbing bronze. Ann Stubbs also shot well winning the C Grade compound event and after a string of good performances must be due for a promotion to B grade in the very near future. Husband and wife team, Mark and Denise Stevenson, had a golden weekend with Mark scoring a breakthrough win in Modern Longbow and Denise winning Freestyle Limited Flight 2. Greg Donovan was another archer in great form winning Freestyle Unlimited Flight 2 with a quality performance and after a series of recent good results promotion to the elite Flight 1 must be just around the corner. Jarrod Stubbs scored the silver medal in a very competitive Junior A grade Compound division with Sebastian Donovan underlining his potential by finishing second in Junior Bowhunter Unlimited. Sophie Donovan flew the flag for the club in the cub division scoring the gold medal in Freestyle Limited with a very determined performance over the 2 day event. The next Branch 2 day tournament will be held in Maitland on March 21 and 22.
