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21 Juniors representing 5 Derbyshire Clubs with experiences ranging from the new archer right up to competing for GB. And ages from 9 up to 18 arrived at DAC’s ground on Easter Saturday
They started the day shooting a warwick ( 2 dozen at 2 distances depending on their age and ability) Giving them the chance to get to know each other more.
Lunch was taken inside Nealies function room giving Cliff Croft – Derbyshires Junior Selection Officer the chance to talk to all the young archers and their parents about the County Squad, Regional Squad and of course GB.
Sam Croft then spoke to us all about how he had progressed from a club archer to being a member of the GB squad for the World Junior Championships at Lilleshall in 2004. ‘Anyone can do it’ he said leaving us all feeling both impressed and inspired.
Back out on the field the target faces had been replaced with novelty ones. Everyone was paired with another archer who they probably had never shot with before and was either more or less experienced than they were.
We did pair Sam with little Amber Short (9) from DAC and what a picture that made on the shooting line !
As well as shooting very different target faces they had balloons to hit…hit a balloon and you got a chocolate ! The balloons disappeared very rapidly and boy did their accuracy improve! 100 mini choc bars disappeared very very quickly much to the amusement of the adults watching.
Once they had shot each of the six targets twice we hung a box of chocolate on a string on the centre boss. The aim to cut the string with one arrow to win the chocs
But………..
They had to shoot their one arrow on their own whilst everyone else watched – tense moments accompanied by lots of oooos and aaaaaaaaas as their arrows hit the face.
Craig Buxton was the winner but admirably shared the box of chocs out with everyone else.
The final challenge of the afternoon was ‘distraction shooting practice’ a technique that has practised by the 5 juniors attending Emas Regional Junior Squad Sessions over the winter months.
As one detail of archers stood on the line shooting, the others and all the adults stood near them talking loudly, using mobile phone ringtones, in fact anything safe that could hinder their concentration! The idea being to get them to be able to shoot no matter what was going off around them!
Lots of fun and after a few ends it did become increasingly more difficult to put them off…
Good lessons learned there in the midst of some fun activities.
Everyone agreed the day had been a success with another day/evening being planned for June. Both Juniors & parents enjoyed themselves.
Thanks must go to all the adults who turned up to help and support the juniors during the day. Long may it continue
Louise Buxton
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