A SOUTHERLY change over the weekend set yet another crosswind challenge for the Blue Lake Archers’ Sunday afternoon outdoor competition at Corriedale Park.
A three-distance World Archery 60/900 round was the event on the club’s calendar and seven archers present disregarded the gusty crosswinds, not opting to swap to the easier standby round of a single distance 50-metre Melbourne.
Kicking off at 60 metres the archers soon found with the wind in an unfavourable quarter, they were frequently having to let their bows down without firing the arrow and then redrawing for a second attempt.
Ben Kilsby did the best of the group at the first range, but from the 50-metre section Graham Lock equalled Kilsby’s efforts.
The conditions favoured the seasoned archers, a gap quickly opening over the newer members of the sport.
All-gold ends were more frequent on the score sheets than might have been expected in the conditions, Kilsby heading the list with a total of six, including one at 60 metres, while Lock carded three and Garry Jacques chimed in with one.
Phil Tremelling stormed home in the shorter two distances.
As the range shortens his recurve bow is at less of a disadvantage to the compound bows of his opponents, allowing him to make up ground lost at the longer ranges.
As would be expected on a breezy day, scores were below individual bests and no-one threatened the benchmark score.
Off-the-bow honours went to Kilsby, finishing a slim five points in front of Lock.
The handicap adjustments gave the day’s win to Lock, just edging out Tremelling by two points in a tight finish to the contest.
