This year’s Sussex Junior shoot proved to be another success with a healthy entry list and fine weather throughout the day (at least until a short downpour shortly before the results were announced).

Congratulations to the Archers Supreme, Bryony Pitman of Worthing AC (Junior Ladies Recurve), Thomas Hooper of Bognor Regis AC (Junior Gents Recurve) and Jamie Cole of West Sussex Youth Archers (Junior Gents Compound).  The full results from the day can be downloaded using this link.

Thanks to the shoot’s founder and organiser, Doreen Cannon, Lady Paramount Hannah Temple and judge Roger McMullan.  Thanks also to the members of Ditchling AC, who hosted the tournament for the third consecutive year and provided a scrumptious selection of refreshments.

Next year’s shoot will be held one week later on Saturday 24th July 2010.  Doreen and her helpers look forward to seing everyone again then.

The morning heat was almost unbearable, then came the downpour that almost obscured the targets; wind on our backs would suddenly shift to the left and then to the right… This was Lilleshall, as unpredictable as ever.

Whilst this was not a county-team event Sussex was well represented at this year’s Junior National Outdoor Championships by no less than fifteen juniors from at least eight clubs and all were archers to be proud of.

Some came for the whole weekend, others for one day but all put their heart and soul into their archery. A few were on their first major event, and the national champs is definitely a major event, others are more seasoned with, for example, Thomas Hooper wearing an England shirt for the second time.

The day saw personal battles and real competition between archers… Sam Randall making a fantastic and exciting bid to win his Bristol IV category and making his dad, Andy, a nervous wreck in the process. The win was almost in the bag and Sam came a very, very close second place. Well done Sam!

Silverware went to Kyle Scudder for winning the Metric IV Junior gents compound on Saturday and the Bristol IV Junior gents compound, beating his nearest rival by 216 points.

Rebecca Davis and Vivienne Foord traded places over the weekend, each taking a first and second place and more shiney stuff back to Newhaven

Teams were compiled from top scorers in each county and Sussex came 5th out of 23 in the combined recurve category… well done!

And as if shooting a 12 dozen round under the pressure of tournament conditions was not enough many juniors joined in on The Macarena and YMCA during lunch… You tube links below:

JNOC 2009 Macarena on You Tube

JNOC 2009 video montage on You Tube

Finally, and we can’t close without this… Newhaven’s Dominic Bodle shone-out in the barebow category claiming not one, but two national records in the Metric III, fantastic and a great example of what making the step to large events can mean!

Steve Hooper
Junior Team Manager

Lunchtime photograph of the Sussex contingent at JNOC 2009, Lilleshall.

Three shoots organised by Guildford AC for your diary this Summer:

• Wednesday 10th June, Take A Break Shoot (St George and Albion rounds)
• Saturday 20th June, Little Acorn Shoot for Juniors (Western rounds)
• Monday 31st August, Acorn Shoot (record status, Hereford and Bristol rounds)

Entry forms can be downloaded by clicking this link.

Crowthorne Archers are holding their annual Nationals shoot on Sunday 26th July at Edgbarrow School, Crowthorne, Berkshire.

This is a record status shoot.  Single and double rounds are available.  More information and entry forms can be found on the Crowthorne Archers website.

SUNDAY 16TH AUGUST – York/ Hereford

Eclipse Archery have very kindly agreed to host an archery competition in order to raise money for “Help for Heroes”

Help For Heroes does wonderful work for soldiers and other servicemen and women both directly and through its support of other service charities

An entry fee will be charged, along with food being charged for.

There will be a raffle, depending on the donations for this, it may turn into an auction, we have many prizes already including Madame Tussands tickets, Carbofast Longrod, Beiter Accessories, Bow Magazine Subscripions, Glade Magazine Subscriptions plus much much more.

ALL MONEY RAISED WILL BE MATCHED BY BARCLAYS BANK.

Click here for an entry form and here for a sponsorship form or email enquiries@eclipsearchery.com.

Also available are bookmarks with an Archery theme (generally 3 targets in a vertical row) these are not for sale as such but all that is asked is that a donation is to be made to Help for Heroes, please contact gemunderwood@hotmail.com for more information.

Lintman Archery Club hosted the 3rd Alan Roberts Memorial Junior Shoot on 16th May.

Despite the severely windy conditions, Pip Tucknott of Ditchling AC took first place in the Western Round and second place overall with a score of 658.

Full results from the tournament can be found here.

Ditchling Archery Club are hosting a Windsor shoot at the Ditchling Recreation Ground on Sunday 14th June. Billed as a “family” tournament, Windsor, Junior Windsor and Short Junior Windsor rounds will be available.

Entries close on 1st June.  Entry forms can be downloaded in either pdf or Word format.