Chicago may be known as the Windy City but the IOM Archery Club found Ronaldsway making a bid for the title on Sunday. Only two archers found the target with all of their allotted arrows as they competed in the Olympic Challenge.
The Men’s Recurve Fita 70 saw a three way shootout between Rhys Moore, Rob Lott and Matt Smith. Smith led from the beginning and, apart from a dip in ninth end, was remarkably consistent posting a personal best score of 397 to take the top spot.
The fight for second was much closer. The ever improving Rob Lott took an early lead and it was not until the sixth end that Rhys Moore managed to draw level. From this point Moore drew ahead to take second place. Rob Lott should not be too disappointed though as he added 29 points to his personal best to record a score of 348.
The Women’s Recurve event proved difficult for both the women involved as arrows coming from their lighter weight bows were more affected by the adverse conditions. Both Karen Lott and Barbara Harris had multiple misses and neither scored a 10. Harris ran out the eventual winner.
The Compound event was shot over the favoured 50m distance. Peter Mumford, Colin Moore and Dave Moore all had misses thanks to the gusting wind. Dave Moore posted a personal best score of 521 but the fight for first place was between Pete Mumford and Colin Moore. Moore took the lead at the end of the first dozen arrows and had increased it by the end of the second dozen. Mumford responded by taking the lead at the end of the third only to relinquish it again at the end of the fourth. Moore then had a couple of misses which meant the lead switched yet again. It was all down to the last dozen arrows. Mumford recorded a score of 89 for his last dozen, with Moore scoring 99 for his. This brought the overall total for both men to 560! Mumford was awarded the win by virtue of having the higher number of golds on count back.
The Women’s Compound event had a field of four: Joy Gough, Sarah Rigby and sisters Aalin and Kirsten George. Joy and Aalin were the only archers to make everyone of their arrows count and both women posted personal best scores. Aalin adding a point to her p.b and Joy 10 points to hers. Aalin George stamped her authority on the event from the beginning and the result was never in doubt. Younger sister Kirsten took second place, leaving Rigby and Gough to fight it out for third. The lead changed from one to the other, with Sarah eventually taking the last step on the podium.
Also shooting was junior Bradley Layton who shot a Short National round.
Olympic 70/50 Challenge Results: Men’s Recurve 1: Mat Smith 68 397 2 (pb), 2: R. Moore 60 361 2 1, 3: R. Lott 63 348 2 (pb). Women’s Recurve 1: B. Harris 63 334 0, 2: K. Lott 61 314 0. Men’s Compound 1: P.Mumford 69 560 12 2, C.Moore 68 560 10 2, 3: D. Moore 66 521 8 2 (pb). Women’s Compound 1: A. George 72 664 35 10 (pb), 2: K.George 71 612 17 8, 3: S.Rigby 71 594 9 2, 4: J.Gough 72 590 14 6(pb). Short National Bradley Layton 71 467 14.
This Sunday’s event will be a York round shot a part of the Handicap League. Field set up a 9:30 for a 10am start.
