SOME of the finest archers from across Britain and Europe descended on the Vale to compete in legs one and two of Archery GB’s National Series in front of a packed crowd.
Last weekend’s event brought more than 230 of the country’s top archers to Badsey Rec where they competed for ranking points to gain a place at the end of season finals.
Archers shot recurve bows, as seen at the Olympics, compound bows and longbows.
Some of the archers competing had represented Great Britain at the Olympics and some could yet compete at the Rio Games this summer.
Among in action was Midlands archer Naomi Folkard, a three-time Olympian of 2004, 2008, 2012 and multiple European and world medallist, and Amy Oliver, the 2010 Commonwealth Games and multiple European and world medallist.
They were be joined by Larry Godfrey, a three-time Olympian and multiple European and world medallist, and 2016 Rio Olympics hopefuls Patrick Huston, Brad Denny, Bryony Pitman, Ashe Morgan, Michael Judd, Becky Martin and Evesham’s own Sally Gilder.
Also on show across Saturday and Sunday on the Badsey Rec football pitches were some of Europe’s best compound archers in the shape of Chris Bell, Duncan Busby, Neil Bridgewater, Sarah Prieels, Lucy O’Sullivan, Adam Ravenscroft and Mark Rudd.
Archers shot six dozen arrows to achieve a ranking score which were used to calculate their positions for the head-to-head shoot-offs in the afternoon.
