NAC Archer selected to represent UK in Invictus Games

Kerys Knight

NAC compound archer, Kerys Knight has been selected to represent the United Kingdom in the Invictus Games. The UK team announcement was made today – 30th May, and represents another great bit of news for both her and NAC. We must be proud of her. Kerys served in the Army and was discharged in 1991. She has nerve damage in her lower left leg and has to use crutches to help her walk, which has resulted in spinal and neck issues. Kerys has been selected in archery and powerlifting, and sees the Invictus Games as a way for her to progress in life. “I was devastated when my Army career was cut short due to injury during training. Since I was forced to give up my dream, I have always returned to the despair of never having fulfilled my passion to serve my country. Being a part of Invictus 2017 will give me a real purpose, which will help my self-esteem and self-worth, thereby improving my mental health; specifically my anxiety and depression. Representing my country is a goal I can focus and build on to pull forward other aspects of my life.” Visit the “Help for Heroes” Support Page. Photo and write up from “Help for Heroes”.

NAC Archer Susan Corless third in Veronica World Cup Ranking Event

Northampton Archery Club compound shooter, Susan Corless and representing Great Britain – was ranked third in the World Cup ranking event in Slovenia held from 5th to 7th May.  The event followed the usual international format of 50m qualifying and then head 2 head matchplay. Susan has been shooting for just five years and began her shooting career with NAC. Needless to say Susan is just slightly pleased by the result  for which she received a great gong. Well done Susan. The results:

NAC Winners at County Championships

By normal standards NAC sported fewer than its usual number of entrants at the County Indoor Championships held at Rothwell on 12th March. That doesn’t mean to say the club faired badly – quite to the contrary. Of the five club entrants, four came away with trophies or medals. Both George Bond (junior gent  compound) and Susan Corless (senior lady compound) are County Champions for their respective categories. Kerys Knight (senior lady compound) came away with silver and Dean Edwards (senior gent recurve) won a bronze. Mick Lovell (senior gent recurve) narrowly missed a medal – being just six points away from Jeremy Beasley’s (Banbury Cross) championship score of 571. A closely fought battle. Well done –  all of you. The full results are here.

NAC shooter crowned National Indoor Champion for Ladies Compound

susan-national-champ-2016NAC  shooter, Susan Corless has been crowned  National Indoor Champion for Ladies Compound 2016 with a 142 win over Layla Annison’s 139 at the NEAC at Stoneleigh Park held on 4th December. Absolutely fantastic. Also shooting compound at the championships was Kerys Knight of Northampton who narrowly missed the cut of the top 32 (the top 32 go through to the head 2 head matches). Well done ladies.

On the same day NAC archers also did brilliantly at the Targetcraft 10th Annual Record Status Portsmouth Tournament at Rothwell. George Bond came first in the Junior Gents Compound, whilst Senior Recurve shooter, Dean Edwards took second place in his class. NAC was also represented by Dave Docker (recurve), Mark Dalley (longbow) and Hazel Dalley (junior barebow). NAC came second in the team awards. A fantastic day all round.

 

NAC Archers are top National Shooters

national-series-2016
NAC shooter James Mason on right

NAC compound bow archers, James Mason and Susan Corless (our Vice-Chair) shot fantastically at the final round of the National Series of shoots held at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham on the 24th September. The Gents Compound bronze medal was decided by a shoot-off. Simon Frogatt and James, who had seen off quarter final challenges from Carl Richards and Matthew Arnold respectively, ended their match at 140-140. James (on right of picture) edged it with a 10 and took the medal.

In the quarter-finals for ladies, second seed Lucy Mason beat last year’s silver medallist Andrea Gales by four points and then went up against  Susan in the semi’s, who had seen off a Pauline Burfitt’s challenge. Lucy beat Susan 139-128 and went on to take gold. Susan unfortunately missed out on a medal in the battle for bronze against Hope Greenwood.

James and Susan ended up ranked 3rd and 4th respectively nationally. Brilliant.

Inter Club Challenge – A brilliant success

Inter Club Trophy presentation 2016
David Quemby of NAC presents John Bosworth with the very nice pink shield on behalf of the series winners, Kettering Archers

The last of the four rounds of the inter-club challenge between Kettering Archers, WOAC, Long Buckby AC and NAC took place at Sywell shooting grounds on Saturday 30th July. The final round was a Pope Young that turned out to be both fun and frustrating – with a few lost arrows in the process. Friendly banter kept the afternoon moving along, and at the end of the shoot, held on a fantastic sunny day that was none too hot, everyone feasted themselves on a grand barbecue.  A tombola was held  for the Vaughan Tucker fund in aid of a defibrillator for NAC and over £60 was raised. The series of four shoots in the challenge started off on 21st May with a Target Shoot hosted by WOAC, and Long Buckby and Kettering Clubs subsequently hosted Field and Clout Rounds respectively. Results will be posted very shortly, but suffice it to say that Kettering took the trophy for the whole series, and John Bosworth was the proud recipient on behalf of Kettering Archers of the oddly coloured PINK shield.

The seeds of the idea for the challenge had been sown by David Quemby of NAC, who subsequently took care of the admin/organisation work. It is planned to hold a similar series of shoots next year.

Thanks on the day to everyone who took part and helped NAC host the final round – including those who helped set up the targets and run the shoot, those who contributed to and ran the tombola, not least of all to those who laid on the fantastic barbecue, and those that helped tidy away afterwards. A great day for all four clubs; and a grand finale to a brilliant idea that brought the four clubs together.