PETER RETURNS WITH SILVER.
The European Field Archery Championships were shot over the last week in the
mountains of Slovenia.The Great Britain team of Chris White [compound] Alan
Wills [freestyle] and Peter Mulligan [barebow] were strong contenders after
winning the World Championshipsin Croatia in 2004 and so it proved.In the
quarter finals the three man British team not only put in the highest score
of any team but broke the world record scoring 114 out of a possible 120!
In
the semi finls they again put up the highest score and everyone knew the
final was going to be very tightand so it proved. The opponentsin the final,
the Swedes are probably the most consistently excellent over a long period
of time.On target 1 both teams scored 14 out of 15 and on target 2 it was
the same. Both were on equal 28 going in to target 3. The Swedes scored 13
and GB 12 giving the Swedes a 1 point lead going into the last target. Both
team scored 13 thus leaving Sweden with the gold by 1 point! That now leaves
Peter Mulligan with the incredible record of 2 golds and one silver at top
international level in the last 7 years.
BALLYVALLY BUCKAROOS DO WELL AT BALLYMENA.
The top Ballyvally juniors or Buckaroos did very well at the indoor target
shoot at Ballymena.Places in the junior Northern Ireland team were up for
grabs and good scores were needed.Ballyvally's two top freestylers came up
with the goods . Richard McMullen [u18] shot 554 and 544 while Mark Nesbitt
[u14] shot 547 and 552.Both now stand an excellent chance of making the
team.In the girls section, Amy Lavery has shown a return to last year's form
with a 534! Two other archers in contention are Bronagh Campbell who shot
a
barebow personal best of 476 and Mairead Montgomery who is coming up fast
with a big increas in her score to 437 from the last competition in
Craigavon.In the compound section Ross McLaughlin has just edged ahead of
Garteh Nesbitt. Garteh's best has been 533 while Ross has scored 537
twice!Peter Lavery one of Ballyvally's best cubs had another brilliant
day.He shot another personal best of 475...how much longer can he put up his
scores in the under 12 category.Richard mCkEE IN HIS FIRST TIME OUT SHOT 268
IN THE LONGBOW CLASS AND senior Harry McMullen is starting to hit form witha
461 [ and a 98 dozen] while Ballyvally's number 2 barebow archer shot an
excellent 525.
OUTDOOR FIELD SHOOT AT CASTLEWELLAN FOREST PARK.
Ballyvally set out a very challenging field course of 15 targets at the
weekend and some very good scores were recorded.In the under 9 class, Robert
Wheatlet came inwith the highest score of 384. 2nd was Ronan Gribben [366]
3rd Morgan Russell-Cowan 363 and 4th Ewan Lynas [357]...all very close
scores.In the under 12 cubs scores were also very close.Shannon
Russell-Cowan [352],Adam Johnston [406] Andrew Sneddon [449]Katie McClean
[336] all coped well with the steep terrain.Under 15's Claire Hillen [463],
Kerry Sneddon [337]John Gribben [436]Mark Nesbitt [466] all had a good day.
The closest section was in mens' barebow with the competition going down to
the last arrow on the last target. Ballyvally's Robert Nesbitt just managed
to win gold on 470 over Gilbert McClelland 466, Robin Brown 460, Maurice Orr
[454] and John Reaney [464] Ballyvally's Wayne Carson had a magic day with
his longbow scoring a brilliant 373 !!!