Young county archers on target with medal haul at Nationals

Young archers from Spalding’s Silver Spoon Bowmen Club made their point at the Archery GB National Junior Outdoor Championships in Shropshire, bagging nine individual and three team medals.
POINTS MADE: Young archers from Silver Spoon Bowmen of Spalding Club shone at this year's Archery GB National Junior Outdoor Championships in Shropshire.  Photo supplied.POINTS MADE: Young archers from Silver Spoon Bowmen of Spalding Club shone at this year's Archery GB National Junior Outdoor Championships in Shropshire.  Photo supplied.
POINTS MADE: Young archers from Silver Spoon Bowmen of Spalding Club shone at this year's Archery GB National Junior Outdoor Championships in Shropshire. Photo supplied.

Amy Gott (15) of Fosdyke, Charlene Marsh (16) of Swineshead, Louis Perkins (14) of Spilsby, Abbie Spinks (17) of Spalding and Alex Taylor (16) of Sleaford led the medal charge, with Jacob Boden (13) of Leasingham twice improving his personal best (PB).

Club coach Barry Molsom said: “All the Lincolnshire archers did well at the Nationals, but Silver Spoon Bowmen did particularly well and I was really pleased with the way things went.

“For the archers, it was all about going out and getting experience on what turned out to be a great weekend.”

Silver Spoon Bowmen medal-winning archers (back) Louis Perkins, Alex Taylor, Amy Gott, (front) Abbie Spinks and Charlene Marsh.Silver Spoon Bowmen medal-winning archers (back) Louis Perkins, Alex Taylor, Amy Gott, (front) Abbie Spinks and Charlene Marsh.
Silver Spoon Bowmen medal-winning archers (back) Louis Perkins, Alex Taylor, Amy Gott, (front) Abbie Spinks and Charlene Marsh.

The competition took place over two days on the first weekend in July, with all of the young archers in action on both days.

Abbie shot a new personal best in taking silver and bronze in the Ladies Compound, an achievement made all the more impressive by the fact that she was competing above and outside her age group.

“It was a chance to see where I am in the country because everyone was shooting against each other,” Abbie said.

“For me, it was the biggest shoot of the year after the National Qualifiers and it was great to be part of a competition where our club did awesomely well.”

Alex won two silvers in the Junior Mens Under-18 Compund, while Charlene collected two bronzes in the Junior Womens Under-18 Compound.

“It went alright and I was quite happy with two third places,” Charlene said.

“In fact, I was quite surprised because anyone and everyone enters the Junior National Championships, so it’s more open.”

Louis and Jacob were both in the Junior Mens Under-14 recurve, with the Spilsby teenager taking bronze, before teaming up to win regional team bronze for East Midlands Archery Society.

Jacob said: “I was pretty chuffed to get PBs on both days because I thought I was going to score the same as before the Nationals.”

Louis added: “I got a PB to get bronze on the first day so I felt like it was a successful weekend.”

Amy picked up two bronzes in the Junior Womens Under-16 Recurve, less than a year after changing from being a right-handed to a left-handed archer.

“I was hoping to come away with something, but during both day, I felt like I was doing very well”, Amy said.

“I’m about six or more months ahead of where I should be, but there’s always a little thought nagging away in my head that I want to do better.”

Meanwhile, Barry has been given the Jack Flinton Helping Hand Trophy for Exemplary Services to coaching across Lincolnshire by Archery GB.

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