The big story of the weekend was the Northern Counties Indoor Championships in Chester. Seven of the Club’s archers made the trip across, and it was well worth the effort.
The Championships consisted of a single Portsmouth round shot in one of three sessions. Erin Hainge lifted the Overall Junior Ladies Trophy with a score of 60/570/34 as well taking gold for the u16’s division. Emily O’Hara, shooting in her first off-island competition, rose to the occasion by posting a personal best score of 60/492/9 to win the u21’s division.
Richard Hainge opened his campaign with a perfect 30 before a few iffy arrows in the second half-dozen put a dent in his score. He recovered well thereafter to take Gents 50+ title with a score of 60/566/31. Peter Howland, switching back to his Recurve bow after concentrating on the Longbow, found the transition difficult but he was pleased with his effort of 58/440/9.
Marie Hainge was fairly happy with her shoot, but the score was a little down on what she would have liked. Marie finished third in the Ladies 50+ Compound with a total of 60/525/6.
Andrew Westmorland won his personal battle with Les Corran, pipping Les by a single point. Les handicapped himself a little by taking the rather unorthodox approach of using a bow in the competition which he had only purchased the day before! He was however pleased with the result and expects to do great things with it in the future. Les finished in seventh place in the Gents Compound with a score of 60/563/24, while Westy’s score of 60/564/25 earned him fifth place in the Gents 50+ Compound division. Westy was not happy with his score, but is anyone from Birmingham ever capable of being truly happy?
On home soil, the rest of the club regulars amused themselves with a Vegas. This challenging round had been set by the Records Officer in the expectation of her being elsewhere, but the cancelation of Saturday’s Steam Packet sailing found her at a loose end, and she had to suffer along with everyone else. The only score of note was produced by Rhys Moore in the Gents Compound, who set a new Club Record of 60/585/45.
Johnathan Gordon eclipsed the opposition in the Gents Recurve leaving James Hill a dim second and Danny Cowin a distant third.
Chris Crompton annihilated Ralf Mitchell in the Gents Barebow round finishing 151 points ahead of the hapless Scotsman. Colin Moore took the win unopposed in the Gents Tradbow, while Stan Gorry triumphed over Peter Howland by a margin of 121 points in the Gents Longbow. The above-mentioned rounds were all shot on a Portsmouth face.
Isle of Man Archery Club 