Last Sunday the IoM Archery Club held the Indoor Championships. The Seniors shooting a Fita 18 and the Juniors a Portsmouth round. There were several notable absences; Pete Mumford and Joy Gough had family commitments, whilst Sarah Rigby was struck down with a kidney stone and therefore unable to shoot. However, in compensation for the loss of these compound archers, Sunday saw the return of Charlotte George to competitive recurve archery after a gap of two years.
The Senior competition took place during the morning session. The Gents Compound was a three way affair between Dave Moore, Billy Lightfoot and Colin Moore. Dave Moore took the lead at the end of the first dozen and never lost it. Billy Lightfoot was sadly off the pace, but Colin Moore shot very consistently and came in just 7 points behind Dave.
The Gents Recurve Championship saw the largest field of the day with six entrants. Last year’s Junior Gents Champion Rhys Moore was hoping to lift the Senior title this time round. However a bruising and very muddy rugby match the day before took its toll and Rhys was a long way from his best finishing in fourth. Rob Lott shot a personal best to secure third place but it was reigning champion Tony Hartley who cruised to victory 37 points clear of second place Mat Smith.
With Sarah Rigby and Joy Gough out of the picture, the Ladies Compound event was a family affair between sisters Aalin and Kirsten George. Kirsten shot just one point below her personal best but this was still not enough to beat Aalin who ran out the victor by 9 points.
The Ladies Recurve Championship was a three way tie between Charlotte George, Karen Lott and Barbara Harris. A chronic back complaint had forced Charlotte into retirement two years ago. She made her return to shooting during the current indoor season. Work commitments had prevented her from attending more than a couple of club nights, but encouraged by her family she turned up on Sunday to give it a go. By the end of the first dozen Charlotte was in the lead and continued to accelerate away from the competition. Karen Lott shot well, adding 23 points to her personal best and was unlucky not to break the 500 barrier; a miss out of nowhere costing her dear. Title holder Barbara Harris never got into her stride and finished in third.
The Junior Championships were made up entirely of recurve archers. Adam Wright and Bradley Layton faced off in the Junior Gents Competition. Newcomer Rachal Rutherford had shot her round during the morning session, which left reigning champion Charlotte Harris to shoot alone in the afternoon. Bradley Layton continued an impressive season by putting 18 points on his personal best to lift the trophy. Charlotte Harris shot tidily, if a little below her best, to retain her title.
IoM Championship Results:- Gents Compound 1: Dave Moore 60 548 16, 2: Colin Moore 60 541 11, 3: Billy Lightfoot 59 521 8. Gents Recurve 1: Tony Hartley 60 519 15, 2: Mat Smith 60 482 8, 3: Rob Lott 60 428 6 pb, 4: Rhys Moore 59 423 7, 5: Bod Boland 60 405 4, 6: Adrian Breed 60 380 5. Ladies Compound 1: Aalin George 60 564 29, 2: Kirsten George 60 555 16. Ladies Recurve 1: Charlotte George 60 536 22, 2: Karen Lott 59 499 17 pb, 3: Barbara Harris 60 492 11. Junior Gents Recurve 1: Bradley Layton 60 543 24 pb, 2: Adam Wright 60 511 8. Junior Ladies Recurve 1: Charlotte Harris 60 508 14, 2: Rachal Rutherford 60 425 2.
Also shooting a Portsmouth round Mark Rutherford 60 515 13 pb.
Congratulations to all the winners.
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