Archery championships to be staged

The event, which is set to commence at 9am, will take place in the Soccer Shed.

This is the inaugural indoor championships for the newly formed Archery NI body which oversees archery in Northern Ireland in association with their parent body, Archery GB.

The championships will consist of a UK Record Status 18m qualification shoot and a knockout head-to-head for senior archers.

Junior archers will shoot a UK Record Status Portsmouth round at 20yds. Various types of archery styles will be present at the competition including:- Recurve (this is the bow style which is recognised at the Olympic Games), Compound, Barebow, Longbow, Traditional and Amercian Flatbow.

The first shooting session will begin at 9am and spectators are welcome, however, it will consist of standing room only – the organisers reserve the right to turn spectators away if there is not enough room.

Prizes will be presented by Angela Oakley (nee Goodall). Angela was a great all-round archer, who shot both field and target archery for GB.

She has held numerous records in Northern Ireland in Ladies Recurve and represented GB at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles USA and Northern Ireland in the 1982 Commonwealth Games In Australia.

She won two silver medals at the 1982 World and the European Field Championships held in England UK.

She won gold at the 1984 European Field Championships in Finland and silver at the 1984 World Field Championships also held in Finland. Angela represented GB at International level from 1982 until 1990.

Archery is a growing sport buoyed by Northern Ireland Olympian Patrick Huston and depictions in movies such as Brave, The Hunger Games and The Avengers.

Within Newtownabbey Muckamore Company of Archers, located in Burnside, offer the opportunity to participate in ‘Have a Go’ sessions and Beginner’s Courses. Details of these events can be located on the club’s website (www.mcoa.co.uk), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Muckamore- Company-of- Archers) or by contacting the club’s secretary Mrs Denise McAuley ([email protected]).