New Year Underway

Namoi Valley Archers kicked off the 2012 season with a 2 arrow handicap event with competitors venturing out onto a completely redesigned Boundary Range. Range designers, Bernie Hayne and Nathan Murrrell spent many hours over the summer break on the range and their efforts were obvious as they presented a testing layout which made maximum use of the varying terrain. With a starting time for the event of 4.30pm the range was made even more difficult with the late afternoon sun making some targets extremely tricky to judge with the last group coming off the range at 7.30pm. Greg Donovan led the sighted shooters home with a very well compiled round with John Clark grabbing second place while Matt Sinclair and Gordon White finished tied for third. Wade Hudson scored a brilliant win in the Compound division scorching round the course in a superb display of archery with Karen Hudson just edging out Wendi Murrell in the battle for the minor placings. John Woolaston’s comeback to archery continues to gather momentum after he scored an excellent win in the Traditional contest with Darrell Hudson finishing second and Phil Greenwood third. The overall winner on the day after the handicaps were applied was youngster Katylyn Murrell, shooting a personal best score on the day. Murrell made a mockery of her handicap to finish 138 points in front of her nearest rival. The next club shoot will be held this Sunday with the traditional daylight saving time start with registrations at 8.30am with archers taking to the range at 9.00am.