A RARE Robin Hood arrow feat was noted for Blue Lake Archers during a recent event.
Indoor Archery rounds have dominated the calendar over the past few months and the recent rounds have all been Australian indoor 18-metre events.
Minimal numbers on the range have not diminished the competitive spirit and with the shackles off for Peter Donhardt with a freshly minted handicap rating to work with, the established archers have their work cut out for them.
From the first event Round 1 proved a cake walk as Donhardt took full advantage of his improving skill and a generous initial handicap rating.
Paul Freeman did his level best to put the brakes on his opposition but fell well short.
Donhardt finished 34 points over the benchmark, common for an archer at the beginning of his career, with the handicap system adjusting automatically to compensate for subsequent events.
However, along the way Donhardt destroyed one of his own arrows.
His final arrow of a set of three struck and embedded in an arrow already in the target, known in the sport as a Robin Hood arrow.
Round 2 had a complete reversal, with Len Bayley finding his rhythm and Donhardt tiring as the match went on.
Bayley completed the round one point off his benchmark to lead home the other pair of archers.
A count-back was needed to sort the runner-up, Freeman winning that tussle from Donhardt.
Returning to the indoor range for the next event the numbers were again light but followed the theme of the previous event.
Donhardt ran away with the first round but with less of a margin as the handicap system started to reel him in.
Freeman finished 13 points behind Donhardt, with Ian Harris rounding out the trio a little further back.
Round 2 had the reversal again.
This time Freeman was able to elevate himself out of the runner-up spot to claim the win by a comfortable seven points from Donhardt.
Indoor archery continues at the Blue Lake Gymnastics Club, Malseed Park Friday at 7.30pm followed by outdoor archery at Corriedale Park 12.30pm Sunday.
Australian Indoor 18 metre, Round 1, handicap scored, benchmark 300 points: Peter Donhardt 334 (off the bow 243); Paul Freeman 290 (277); Len Bayley 276 (222).
Australian Indoor 18 metre, Round 2, handicap scored, benchmark 300 points: Len Bayley 299 (off the bow 245); Paul Freeman 295 (282); Peter Donhardt 295 (223).
Australian Indoor 18-metre, Round 1, handicap scored, benchmark 300 points: Peter Donhardt 313 (off the bow 244); Paul Freeman 300 (287); Ian Harris 280 (264).
Australian Indoor 18 metre, Round 2, handicap scored, benchmark 300 points: Paul Freeman 295 (off the bow 282); Peter Donhardt 288 (223); Ian Harris 279 (263).
