After a number of sessions were cancelled in the run up to Christmas, it was a subdued start to the new year. Turnout was low but there was a lot of quality on display. The round of the day was a Portsmouth – an easy start to the remainder of the season. The Compounds as usual shot on a triple face version, while the Recurves shot on the larger single face, though both Barbara Harris and Charlotte George elected to go for the triple face as well.
The break seemed to done those who showed up a favour. In the Gents Compound division Rhys Moore annihilated the opposition, dropping just 10 points on the way to victory. Pete Mumford picked up second place with decent display of form, while Chris Crompton was unlucky with some loose nocks that put a dent in his score and relegated him to third. Lone Lady Compound Joy Gough was even unluckier, she felt a twinge in her draw arm as she pulled up for the sighters, and only managed to get three away before she had to stop before the scoring began.
In the Ladies Recurve, Barbara Harris peaked early putting four out of her six sighters into the gold but once the scoring began it looked like normal service had resumed. She refocused and managed to put in a decent effort. It wasn’t good enough to beat Charlotte George however, who eclipsed Barbara by 23 points to take the win.
The Gents Recurve was graced by the surprise re-appearance of Danny Cowin, whose mother must have drawn him a map. Not seen in Onchan since early November, he turned up for the afternoon session bright eyed and bushy tailed. For someone who was out of practice he put in a consistent effort (a little lacking in 10’s) that earned him second place behind Johnathon Gordon who remains unbeaten this season. Relative newcomer Richard Hainge took third spot well ahead of an out of form Peter Howland. David Craine, a little fatigued from extensive Hogmanay activities in Scotland, had to settle for fifth.
Stan Gorry cut a lonely figure in the Gents Barebow without his usual companion Colin Moore to bounce off. Colin did not put in an appearance until the afternoon but when he did he was on good form, and out shot Stan’s morning score by 48 points to take the win.
Erin Hainge, expected to out of action for six months after breaking her arm, had been given the all clear by the Doctor to resume shooting. With as much physical weight taken off the bow as possible and her old limbs wound out to lower the draw weight, Erin managed to make it through the morning session. The score was less of a consideration than building up the muscle she had lost while her arm was in a sling. An attempt to use a new finger tab was not entirely successful. After she put six arrows into the ballistic curtains she switched back to her old tab until the halfway break when some alterations were to the new tab and she used that until the end with good effect.
Results Portsmouth: Gents Compound- 1.R.Moore 60/590/50, 2.P.Mumford 60/566/25, 3.C.Crompton 60/551/17. Ladies Recurve- 1.C.George 60/555/23, 2.B.Harris 59/632/20. Gents Recurve- 1.J.Gordon 60/566/32, 2.D.Cowin 60/525/9, 3.R.Hainge 59/485/11, 4.P.Howland 60/456/4, 5.D.Craine 59/366/5. Gents Barebow- 1.C.Moore 60/499/7, 2.S.Gorry 59/451/5. U14 Girls- E.Hainge 54/419/3.
Isle of Man Archery Club 