It has been a busy time at AoR but our archers continue to go from strength to strength.
Just this weekend, I spent a fair amount of time working with Lauren and Louis and together we managed to crack 60 yards and they both left the field on Sunday feeling a lot more confident in reaching their furthest competition distance. Furthermore, Louis braved the dreaded clicker and within just a couple of ends he was shooting like he’d been using one for months. There is still work for both archers to do, but I felt that both took a huge step forward in their shooting abilities this weekend. Well done to you both.
However, the personal successes don’t end there. At the end if the Sunday shoot, Ruby Paul told me that she had blitzed here personal best for the round she was shooting by over 100 points and I’ll await formal notification from our Records Officer before blogging that further.
Officially, Mick has just updated me on the achievements across the club from the 7th and 21st Aprol shoots, Sunday 14th April was just too windy to shoot.
So with the good conditions this weekend I am pleased to share the following successes with you all:
Juniors first:
- Ryan Abbott achieved two consecutive 1st class scores on 7th and 21st April for the Short Junior National and he set a new boys U12 club record for that round on 7th April with a score of 457.
- Ruby Paul achieved two consecutive 2nd class scores on 7th and 21st April for the Short Junior National and has set a new girls U12 club record for the round on 21st April with a score of 338. This is a great achievement considering she is still shooting with a club bow and my old Jazz arrows that are not correctly spined to the bow.
- Louis Paul continues to feature in these successs reports and he set a new gents U16 Club Record for a Junior National Round on 7th April with a score of 516. This was his first recorded 2nd class score for this outdoor season.
- Imogen Neville shot very well to set a new girls U16 Club Record for a Junior National Round on 7th April with a score of 470. This was her first recorded 1st class score for this outdoor season.
- Amber Wilkins achieved a 3rd class score for her first Junior National round on 7th April.
- Lauren Phillips set a new girls U18 Club Record for a National Round on 21st April with a score of 368. This was her first recorded 1st class score for this outdoor season and well deserved following her probelms at the recent EMAS shoot that saw her pull out. To aid her recovery she has only been shooting three arrows an end for the last couple of weeks and this was her first full shooting round since hurting her shoulder. With technique changes over the weekend, this was a real gutsy performance with a button failure spoiling just one of the ends.
Seniors:
It is great to see the seniors back in these blog postings and not just a couple of you. Over the last few weeks the following successes have been recorded:
- Christine Marshall has achieved two consecutive 1st class scores – on 7th April (National Round at AoR) and 21st April (Albion at WOAC). She also set a personal best on 7th April with a National score of 506 and she set a new AoR ladies record for the Albion with an impressive 594.
- John Marshall recorded his first 1st class score for this outdoor season with 601 for a St George shot at WOAC on 21st April.
- Simon Wright set a new AoR club record for a St George round with a brilliant score of 642 shot at WOAC on 2st1 April.
- Eddie Clarke and Martin Davis both achieved two consecutive 2nd class scores on 7th and 21st April for the National round.
Note:
In order to qualify for an Archery GB outdoor Classification badge an archer must achieve three scores during the season that meet the criteria for that Classification. So quite a few members are already well on their way to achieving this.
Shooting out of category (Senior Gents shooting a ‘Junior National’ round) am pleased to learn that Johnny Spicer set a new Gents Recurve Record on 7th April for the Junior National with a score of 479. Kevin Wood set a new Gents Barebow Club Record on 7th April for the Junior National with a score of 320 and Mike Williams set a new Gents Longbow Club Record on 21st April for the Junior National with a 248.
All I can say is WOW – what a difference a season makes and it is fabulous to see so many AoR archers pushing themselves, improving and helping to rewrite the club record books. Now all we need are a few more county records to join those set by Katie and Bradley.
I am sure when Louis and Ruby get home from school today and read the above they are both going to be thrilled. This is down to members of the club young and old (sorry!!) who have been not only supportive but who have always given advice and encouragement, especially this weekend so thank you very much Martyn.
If they enjoy this posting as much as I enjoyed being able to write it, they will be more than thrilled. Great achievement from everyone at AoR since the beginning of the outdoor season, and much of this in less than great weather.