The biggest news of the week was provided by Erin Hainge who, miraculously, managed to make it off the island ahead of the storm to go to the National Indoor Championships at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. Competing in the u15 Girls Category, which due to a high turn out was split into three separate sessions, Erin was leading with one session left to go. It was then just a matter of waiting for two agonising hours while the last seven archers in her category shot their 60 arrows. When the scores were finally verified Erin took the bronze medal, her score of 535 being just 2 points off silver medal position. It was a great result for the youngster and a fitting reward for all the hours of practice she has devoted to her chosen sport. A big thank you goes to Clive Jeacock, a long-standing friend of the Isle of Man Archery Club, who gave Erin some one-to-one coaching during the Championships.
Back on home soil, the aftereffects of Storm Darragh meant that shooting was curtailed to a single afternoon session. They, like Erin, shot a Portsmouth round. The turnout was a little low with only eight archers putting in an appearance. The Records Officer was one of those missing, having popped a rib wrestling her bedroom window shut in the early hours of Saturday as the storm tried to rip it off its hinges.
The largest field of the day came in the Gents Recurve where once again, Johnathan Gordon claimed victory. He finished 60 points ahead of his nearest rival, John Loach, with David Craine coming in third.
David did at least keep all his arrows on target, which was not something Pete Mumford could claim as the veteran Compound shooter had a miss, which prompted him to trade his trigger release for his trusty back tension Evo. Being the only Compound shooting on the day, Pete did at least take the win.
Colin Moore had the Gents Barebow division all to himself. Colin put in an impressive display to break the 500 barrier. Bill Callow put his longbow to good use in the Tradbow category to take the win unopposed as usual. It is time Colin Moore broke out his Tradbow to give Bill someone to shoot against.
With Charlotte George delayed in her return from Las Vegas due to the weather and Barbara Harris injured, Caroline Hirst had no competition and so notched up a win. The only junior in evidence was Ethan Corrin, who put in a solid round in the u18’s Recurve.
Results Portsmouth: Gents Recurve- 1.J.Gordon 60/561/26, 2.J.Loach 60/501/11, 3.D.Craine 60/440/5. Gents Compound- P.Mumford 59/540/15. Gents Barebow- C.Moore 60/507/12. Gents Tradbow- B.Callow- 60/475/8. Ladies Recurve- C.Hirst 60/428/4. Junior Gents Recurve- E.Corran 60/465/4.
Isle of Man Archery Club 