Weather conditions on the island having deteriorated in recent weeks, the decision was made to move inside, so Sunday marked the official start of the Onchan Indoor season. As is traditional, the Club opened with a Portsmouth round, which uses the largest of the target faces to allow the archers to transition to their indoor set up. Without the buffeting effects of the wind many opted (mainly Compound archers) to change their arrows for wider, slower ones known as ‘line-cutters’ to maximise their scoring. The Portsmouth consists of 60 arrows, shot in threes, at a distance of 20 yards, giving a maximum score of 600.
The was a decent turnout, with two guest archers Paul Creig and Julie Derbyshire, holiday makers to the island and Archery GB members, joining the regulars.
Rhys Moore started his Indoor season as he finished the last one, with a win. Dropping just twenty points on his way to victory, he showed every sign of being as invincible this year as he was last year. The real fight was for the minor places, with Andrew Westmorland, Pete Mumford and Dave Moore going toe-to-toe to be ‘first loser’ or second, as it is sometimes known. Dave and Westy were tied after the first dozen but Dave was just that little bit better from then on and claimed second place by 7 points, with Westy just edging out Pete to take third. No fireworks but some solid shooting from all concerned. Marie Hainge was the only Lady Compound in evidence on Sunday but rumour has it that Joy Gough, long absent due to a hand injury will soon make her return to shooting.
Johnathan Gordon switched back to Recurve from his usual outdoor Barebow routine. Unbeaten during last year’s Indoor season, he was probably expecting the same easy run he had experienced before. This time however, he found himself up against Richard Hainge, whose form Outdoors had followed him inside. Richard had the advantage over the first two dozen, but Johnathan managed to ease ahead of him in the third. Richard came back at him in the fourth dozen and held his nerve to claim victory in the fifth with a personal best score for the round. A new rivalry was born. Peter Howland picked up third spot, with newbie Les Corran in fourth.
Bill Callow (Tradbow) and Stan Gorry(Barebow) took the wins in their respective disciplines, being the only ones shooting in their divisions.
The big drama of the day centre on junior archer Erin Hainge. Erin opted to shoot in her favourite corner alongside Stan Gorry. Erin came out of the blocks running and looked all set for a thumping score but in the next half dozen her bow unstrung itself at full draw and delimbed. Shocked but mercifully uninjured, Erin was able to continue after Rhys Moore came to her rescue and re-assembled the bow. Her score for that dozen dipped slightly, but she remained composed, and her confidence soon re-asserted itself, to the extent that she not only finished the round but posted a personal best score into the bargain! She then tackled a Portsmouth 3-spot in the afternoon session and recorded a personal best score for that round too. The only other junior in action on Sunday Ethan Corran, took the family honours posting a score some 30 points higher than his father, Les.
Results: Gents Compound- 1.R.Moore 60/580/40, 2.D.Moore 60/561/21, 3.A.Westmorland 60/557/18, 4.P.Mumford 60/553/17. Ladies Compound-M.Hainge 60/507/4. Gents Recurve- 1.R.Hainge 60/554/27pb, 2.J.Gordon 60/548/24, 3.P.Howland 60/488/6, 4.L.Corran 60/449/10. Juniior Ladies Recurve-E.Hainge 60/546/22pb. Junior Gents Recurve-E.Corran 60/482/10.
Isle of Man Archery Club 