Silver at Worlds for archers

The World Field Championships were shot high up in the French Alps at Val D’Isere.

The views from the three courses were magnificent but the shooting was difficult given the high temperatures, the steep slopes - especially uphill - and the thin air at altitude all provided a challenge for the GB team of 25 and especially the Ballyvally archers.

The GB Junior Boys’ team of three archers contained two Ballyvally archers got to the final only to be beaten by a mere two points on the last target by Germany.

The club would like to congratulate Mark Nesbitt and Robert Mallon who both came home with a silver medal to add to the medals they have already won.

The third Ballyvally member was a relative beginner, lady barebow Ruth Gilmour.

Ruth came in 20th in her first International competition...a considerable feat considering she has only been shooting at this level for just over a year.

Next year the European Championships will take place possibly in Italy or Slovenia and Ballyvally have started to organise two new courses to give their budding International standard archers new challenges.

- Ballyvally Archery club will be moving indoors at Banbridge Leisure Centre in the first week in September and, given the interest in archery during the Olympic Games, the club would like to invite anyone interested in finding out about this ancient sport to drop in to any of the club’s eight regular sessions on Wednesday 5th and/or Thursday 6th September at any of the following times: Wednesday - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 6pm; Thursday - 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 7pm or 9pm.

All equipment and coaching will be provided free. The club’s youngest archer is a four year old girl and the oldest member is 88.

Ballyvally is very much a family club with, in some cases, the whole family shooting.

For further details phone club chairman Frank Mulligan on 028 406 23748 or email at frank_mulligan@hotmail .com

- Archery will be represented at the Para-Olympics by Sharon Vennard from City of Belfast Archery Club. Sharon shoots freestyle and Ballyvally would like to wish her all the best when she starts to shoot probably next Wednesday.