European Archery Festival

With two stages of the Indoor World Cup down and two left to go, it was all to play for going into the competition at Telford. Jean-Charles Valladont extended his lead at the top of the men’s recurve rankings by medalling for the third stage in a row – after picking up bronze at Marrakesh and gold at Singapore. Erika Jones was the other archer to win two consecutive stages, and she also secures the top spot in the rankings. Kim Yu Mi won the women’s recurve event, with her podium place in Singapore and her win in Telford taking her above Tatiana Segina in the ranks, while Peter Elzinga took the men’s compound title to move into second place in the overall ranks behind silver medalist Mike Schloesser.

Photo: Dean Alberga

The first tournament of its kind held in the UK, it wasn’t just about the World Cup competition. An expo hall brought manufactures and retailers from all over the world to display their latest products, there was a second-chance tournament and a hit/miss pool shoot. Everyone Bow International spoke to was having a good time – shooting, attending seminars with the pros, talking to the people that design and make the bows they shoot – there was plenty to enjoy for archers of all ages and abilities. The finals were staged as a real show event: entry music, strobe lights, dry ice, and over 1,000 spectators combined to create a real atmosphere, and it was streamed live on Archery TV. A full shoot report and comment from the organisers will be featured in the next issue of Bow International – don’t miss it!