SOME of the country’s most talented archers travelled from across the country targeting the top honours at the popular annual Vectis Open Archery Competition — but it was practically a wasted trip for most after members of the Isle of Wight’s two clubs reined supreme.
Hosted by the Wight Bowmen Archery Club (WBAC), there were many Island successes — including themselves, by being crowned as tournament champions and demonstrating just why they are such a prominent club in England.
Among the highlights at the IW Table Tennis Centre in Smallbrook was the performance of one of the WBAC’s own products, Chris Packham, 12, who won gold in the Portsmouth round and was runner-up in the Worcester round — beaten by Evan Oatley, a junior from West Wight Archery Club (WWAC) on Saturday — and who won silver in the double Worcester round.
In winning gold, Chris, who has found archery to be his saviour from the effects of ADHD, scored a superb 497, which earned him a new personal best.
His mother, Julie Stewart-Caws, a top competitor herself, said her son was delighted.
“The club has done wonders for Chris. His self-esteem has risen since he started doing archery,” she explained.
“He suffers with ADHD and struggles to focus, but is a different boy when doing archery.”
Two WWAC members successfully targeted ‘archer supreme’ awards — Steve Bollen for recurve and Hilton Jacobs with the longbow.
Hilton’s performance was particularly memorable, having set a Hampshire county record — one of seven such feats set by archers over the course of the weekend.
Both Island-based archery clubs showed their pedigree in the sport against stiff competition from clubs nationwide — some of which had travelled 225 miles to be there.
In the Worcester round, WBAC men’s recurve archers had a clean sweep, with Nick Mount leading the way.
Not to be outdone, WBAC’s American flatbow specialist David Booth won on both days of competition, with Stephen List runner-up on Saturday and David Wastall third and second respectively.
Alex Smith, of WWAC, comfortably took gold in the Worcester barebow division, with wife Andrea taking second in the ladies’ event.
She was beaten by fellow club member Naomi Wright, who repeated her win in the Portsmouth round on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the compound division, it was Island ladies, Julie Stewart-Caws (WBAC), first, followed by Ann Frankum (WWAC) and junior, Eden Grundy (WBAC), who earned the medal places, with the same placings achieved in the Portsmouth round on Sunday.
In the Portsmouth round, Alan Byford pipped Nick Mount to the post to win in the men’s recurve, while Laura Faulkner came third in the discipline.
Erik Burton won the barebow event, beating his dad, Ian, who came third.
Tournament organiser Lee Grace said: “It was the biggest and best Vectis competition we’ve ever had, with outstanding performances by Island archers.”
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.