World IFAA & Weekend Shoot Wrap Up

Namoi Valley Archers have been performing extremely well on the international and regional scene over the last few weeks posting some outstanding results. Gunnedah’s 3 representatives at the World IFAA Championships held in Dahn, Germany faced some of the toughest ranges ever used for a World event. The ranges featured extreme uphill shots through dense forest which really challenged archers technique. On some ranges competitors were required to use rope ladders to aid them climb to the shooting points with some archers forced to pull out due to the extreme physical requirements of the course. A big talking point was the shots from high in castle ruins which are a feature of the Dahn area. Competitors were treated wonderfully well by the local population with an opening parade of competitors assembled in National groups a real highlight. Each day of competition saw the 700 plus competitors assemble in the town centre before moving out onto the ranges. Due to the large number of competitors and the distance between targets competitors were required to walk many kilometres per day with rounds taking over 8 hours each day to complete. The 2010 World Championships were a watershed for Australian archery with the selected 7 member Australian team winning the prestigious Team of Nations crown for the first time with host nations, Germany in second and England taking third.

Matt Wittman put together a superb performance over the 5 rounds to finish a very creditable 28^th out of a field of 83 in the premier division in field archery, Freestyle Unlimited. This was a top class result for Wittman who at just 18 gave away years of experience to most of the field and underlines his ranking as one of the country’s best young archers. Ken Thompson finished 27^th in a field of 43 in the Recurve Freestyle Limited divison shooting very well in extremely difficult conditions. This style of archery in extremely popular in Europe and Thompson acquitted himself well against a high calibre field. Shane Thompson finished a very creditable 4^thin Junior Recurve Freestyle Limited. Thompson shot right up to his ability but could not quite bridge the difference to his fellow competitors with the gold going to a German archer, the silver to an English archer and the bronze to a competitor from Portugal.

Namoi Valley Archers had 6 representatives at the Northern NSW Branch ABA Invitation tournament held in Taree recently with the Hudson family scoring triple gold. Wade Hudson was in top form winning the Masters division after another fine display. Karen Hudson turned in her best ever score winning A grade Compound, becoming the first female barebow archer from Namoi Valley Archers to break the magical 700 point barrier in official competition. Darrell Hudson celebrated his promotion to Recurve A grade scoring a dominant win returning 3 top class rounds. David Buckingham scored the silver in Bowhunter Unlimited with Denise Stevenson also finishing second in Bowhunter Limited.

5 archers made the long trip to Wagga Wagga on the weekend to compete in the NSW 3D championships returning with an impressive 4 gold and 1 bronze medals. Ann Stubbs scored gold in Compound B grade shooting with great consistency over the 2 day tournament. Denise Stevenson added to her recent good performances by winning Bowhunter Limited with Mark Stevenson also winning gold in Freestyle Unlimited to make it a family double. Peter Stubbs shot well over the weekend to finish 3^rd in B grade Recurve while outstanding junior, Jarrod Stubbs rounded out the medal haul with a superb gold medal in A grade compound.

Namoi Valley Archers held a 3 arrow club shoot on Sunday with a good field taking to the ranges. Greg Donovan was in top form on the day winning the Sighted division after turning in a fine round. Bernie Hayne also shot well to take second with Peter Bush in third. Karen Hudson continued her recent hot streak scoring a superb win in the Compound divison with Neville White finishing second. Nathan Murrell did just enough to grab third place and family bragging rights, from a fast finishing Wendi Murrell. Haylee Murrell finished the day as the top Cub compound archer with Stacey Scott in second with Kaytlyn Murrell in third. The next club shoot will be a change from the normal shoot day with the event to be held on Saturday 4^th September with a 1pm start to avoid clashing with Fathers day.

Scores

Greg Donovan 1110, Bernie Hayne 990, Peter Bush 960, Josh Purcell 890, Brian Whittaker 765, Andrew Springall 600, Andrew Stubbs 374, Patrick Cameron 360, Michael Urquhart 344, Kim Stubbs 298, Brook Gaynor 264.

Compound – Karen Hudson 875, Neville White 745, Nathan Murrell 730, Wendi Murrell 730.

Traditional – Darrell Hudson 845, Greg Scott 630.

Bowhunter - Matt Wittman 1125.

Junior Sighted – Sebastian Donovan 1075, Lachlan Scott 990.

Junior Compound – Rannon Fuller 525.

Cub Sighted – Lachlan Boyd 630, Josh Riley 415.

Cub Compound – Haylee Murrell 520, Stacey Scott 410, Kaytlyn Murrell 295, Emylie Murrell 290.