This past weekend, 29th and 30th June 2024 270 archers travelled to Archery GB headquarters, at the National Sports Centre, Lillieshall, near Telford, Shropshire.
On the Saturday all archers shot a double 720 ranking round, ranking them for the individual Head to Head matches on the Sunday.
The Sunday introduced a new concept to the H2H matches, something known as Repechage. This format meant that if you lost your match you got a new score sheet and carried on shooting until you lost again when you repeated the process. There were a few teething issues but the format has great promise, in the view of the author, for keeping archers involved all day. This format also means that you end up with a full set of individual rankings from 1 to 64.
At the end of the day 2, two Kent archers found themselves in the Gold medal matches.
Cliff Gadd (Longbow) faced Brian Rosenberg in the mens longbow final. Cliff was victorious taking the match 6 – 2. Congratulation Cliff on yet another UK Masters win.
Ajay Scott faced Kia Thomas-Prause in the mens compound match with Kia taking the match 146 – 147. Ajay continues to go from strength to strength having recently taken part in the last World Cup stage in Antalya. Ajay is one to watch. Well done Ajay.
ArcheryGB may be publishing some highlights of the matches on YouTube. If these appear I will update the post.
A number of Kent archers landed national titles at this weekends national indoor champions along with other success in both the senior and junior events. All results can be found at Senior Event and Junior Nationals Event.
Senior Longbow Men
Adam Nason-Smith of 1066 Archers in Tenterden qualified 2nd, with a score of 379 behind Noak Hills Harry Cossey with 432. This took Adam in to the last 16 head to head matches, where Adam started by beating 15th seed Cameron MacNaughton 7 – 3. Next up Ben Ledwick who Adam beat 6 – 0. In the semi-finals Adam faced Richard Hudson and in a closely though match he triumphed 6 – 4. In the Final Adam meet first seed Harry Cossey with Adam taking the match 6 – 2.
Congratulations Adam on your first place and national title.
Senior Compound Men
Two Kent archers competed in this category, Steve Griffiths of Medway archers finished 67th with a score of 550 and Ajay Scott of University of Kent archery. Ajay Scott qualified 7th with a score 587 ahead of some notable names in UK compound archery with many more years of experience.
Up first in the head to head matches Ajay faced Liam Peake, the 26th Qualifier, Ajay took the close match with a score of 146 – 145. Next match Ajay was matched against Luke Frearson with Ajay taking a more comfortable 147 – 138 win. Next opponent for Ajay was No 2 seed Adam Carpenter, in a very close match Ajay pipped Adam with a score of 147 – 145. In the semi-finals Ajay faced 3rd seed James Mason, this match went to the wire with both archers finishing the 15 arrow match on 147. On to the shoot off, which seems to be becoming an Ajay speciality. James could only shoot 9 with Ajay shooting a 10.
In the final Ajay faced no 1 qualifier, and current world no 2, Jozef Bosansky. Jozef took the match 147 – 148 leaving Ajay with 2nd place and the silver medal.
BUT….
With Jozef not being a UK resident the title of senior national compound indoor champion went to Ajay Scott. Very good shooting and congratulations on your title.
Senior Compound Women
Three Kent archers competed in the senior women’s compound. Hannah Brown of Medway archers qualified 15th with a score of 567. Erin Barkway of Fox archers scored 542 and finished 51st. Competing as a senior, Sittingbourne Community College Archers, Mia McGuane, qualified a superb 3rd, behind the current world number 1 Ella Gibson, with a score of 583.
In the head to head matches Hannah’s first opponent was Phoebe Paterson Pine. Hannah took the match 142 – 137. Next up 2nd seed and world no 32, Izzy Carpenter, sadly Izzy took the win a very tight match 145 – 144. Hannah finished with a joint 9th place over all.
Having qualified 3rd Mia faced 30th seed Lulia Petre, with Mia taking a tight match 140 – 139. Next for Mia was 11th seed Patience Wood, which Mia won 145 – 144. In the semi finals Mia faced the archer that sadly bought Hannah’s run to an end. Once again only a single point separated the archers after 15 arrows with Izzy taking the match 146-145. This put Mia in the bronze medal match against world number 13 Sarah Prieels, with ends of 30-29, 28-30, 28-28, 29-27 and 29-28 Mia took the bronze medal and 3rd place with a score or 144-142. Congratulations Mia
Junior Nationals medals
With no head to head matches to report on and with your reporter working on packing away the event I am sorry to say at this time I have no pictures of the medal winners. If I receive them I will gladly update this story.
U21 Women’s Longbow
Congratulations to Lara Green of SCCA who finished 2nd and a silver medal with a score of 250
U18 Women’s Longbow
Congratulation to Niamh Kelly-Halabi who took 1st place and the gold medal with a score of 258
U16 Men’s Compound
Congratulations to Evan Clarke of SCCA on his 3rd place and bronze medal with a score of 549
U16 Women’s Barebow
Congratulations to Simona Mockeviciute from EJA on her 3rd place and bronze medal with a score of 302.
U15 Men’s Compound
Congratulations to Baliey Yates of SCCA on his 1st and bronze medal with a score of 442
U15 Women’s Barebow
Congratulations to Imogen Burns from SCCA Archers on her 2nd place and silver medal with a score of 220
U14 Women’s Compound
Congratulations to Maetha Edwards from EJA on her 2nd place and silver medal with a score of 529.
This weekend, Exmouth Archers hosted the English Field Archery championship as part of their annual shoot near Exmouth, Devon.
The shoot consisted of a World Archery, 2 day mixed round, that is 24 targets, 12 with marked distances and 12 with un-marked distances, using the standard black and yellow field faces. Shooting 3 arrows per target, with scoring from 1 to 6. That means 72 arrows per round.
At the end of day 1, Chris, gents compound, lay 2nd with a score of 374, 1 point ahead of Hampshire’s John Foley.
At the end of day 2, Chris had stretched his lead over John to 16 points, cementing his 2nd place.
Congratulation Chris
All pictures courtesy of Chris Horan
Keep an eye on this website for have ago field archery sessions next year as well as information about the Kent Field Archery days that are held at Gore Wood, near Sittingbourne during the outdoor season. Kent are actively trying to arrange inter county team field matches. To be in with a chance to compete in these submit your scores via Golden Record. If you don’t have a Golden Records account contact the Kent Records officer at records@archerykent.org.uk.
After a field have a go, run by Hannah Brown at Medway archers at the start of the year Isabella Bruguier first field tournament was only in March this year, at Pentref Bowmen in Wales. That Isabella took to field archery, she was already an accomplished compound target archer, under the guidance of a great mentor and accomplished field archer from Kent, like a duck to water is an understatement.
This week Isabella has been competing as part of the GB squad, in the under 21 women’s compound division of the European Field Archery Championship, in Cesana – San Sicario, Italy. What a weeks its been too.
Qualifying 2nd in the division she went into multiple team and individual finals.
Medals
Bronze – Women Under 21 Team Demo Event. Along with Kathryn Moreton and Louisa Piper
Bronze – Compound Under 21 Mixed Team. Along with Ioan Rees.
And the best for last the individual final
Silver – Compound Under 21 Women
Contratulation Isabella
Keep an eye on the this website for more have ago field archery sessions next year as well as information about the Kent Field Archery days that are held at Gore Wood, near Sittingbourne during the outdoor season. Kent are actively trying to arrange inter county team field matches. To be in with a chance to compete in these submit your scores via Golden Record. If you don’t have a Golden Records account contact the Kent Records officer at records@archerykent.org.uk.