A FULL card of indoor and outdoor archery, plus a coaching session kept the Blue Lake Archers occupied over the weekend.
A gain in active members as new archers have graduated from beginner coaching into competition saw a good line-up at the indoor range Friday night, while Sunday’s field was the best seen at an outdoor competition since the annual tournament.
The indoor results were dominated by Matt Delaney, who gave the benchmark of 300 points the elbow in both rounds to grab the two wins on the night in the twin Australian indoor 18-metre rounds.
Paul Freeman was runner-up in the first round, as he completed the shoot exactly on his benchmark score of 300 points.
Seth Delany was on the shooting line next to dad Matt and proved the apple has not fallen far from the tree, the youngster nailing a new personal-best result in round one.
Backing up his first-round effort, Delaney senior also posted a new personal best in the follow-up round as Jeff Puckridge pushed into the runner-up position, the pair exceeding their benchmarks.
The weather Sunday afternoon was mild and reasonably calm – perfect for archery.
A single-distance Newcastle and a triple-distance short Canberra graced the score sheets.
With 20 metres for the Newcastle versus 50, 40 and 30 metres for the short Canberra, the off-the-bow results slightly favour those competing in the Newcastle, but the archers competing in the short Canberra were comfortable with the potential disparity.
The range was busy, with the initial coaching running well and the competition kicking off after a short break.
The bumper list of competitors was also boosted by a trio on the practice range.
The Newcastle round was going well for the two young archers, as both Nash Radford and Seth Delany achieved new personal bests.
Delaney also picked up his first all-gold end toward the end of the day, landing all six of his arrows in the gold coloured centre area.
To prove it was not a fluke Delaney gained two more before the end of the event.
The overall win was credited to Fiona Allison who blasted out a new personal best which left her benchmark in the rear-view mirror to the tune of 31 points.
Anthony Cox pounced on the runner-up position, almost duplicating Allison’s effort, as his new PB landed him 12 points beyond his benchmark.
Indoor archery continues at the Blue Lake Gymnastics Club, Malseed Park Friday at 7pm, followed by outdoor archery at Corriedale Park from 12.30pm Sunday.
Australian Indoor 18 metre, Round 1, handicap scored, benchmark 300 points: Matthew Delaney 304 (off the bow 269); Paul Freeman 300 (286); Jeff Puckridge 298 (290); Tamika Mullan 288 (271); Fiona Allison 274 (177); Seth Delaney 148 (off the bow only, PB).
Australian Indoor 18 metre, Round 2, handicap scored, benchmark 300 points: Matthew Delaney 306 (off the bow 271 PB); Jeff Puckridge 302 (294); Fiona Allison 296 (199); Paul Freeman 289 (275); Tamika Mullan 266 (249); Seth Delaney 131 (off the bow only).
Outdoor round, handicap scored, benchmark 900 points: Fiona Allison, Short Canberra, 931 (off the bow 635 PB); Anthony Cox, Short Canberra, 912 (789 PB); Paul Freeman, Short Canberra, 898 (851); Jeff Puckridge, Short Canberra, 891 (856); Ben Kilsby 890, Short Canberra, (882); Matthew Delaney, Short Canberra, 875 (789); Seth Delaney, Newcastle 794 (off the bow only PB); Tamika Mullan, Short Canberra, 788 (733); Nash Radford, Newcastle, 705 (off the bow only PB).
