The Cariboo Archers Outdoor 3D Shoot is in the books — much to the delight of many eager archers who got their first taste of outdoor shooting this season.
“It feels great [to get outside and compete],” said Al Campsall, treasurer with the Cariboo Archers, who host the outdoor 3D shoot annually as a kick off point to the outdoor season in the region.
Campsall joined a total of 77 shooters who travelled from places such as Quesnel, Kamloops, Prince George and Vanderhoof for the two-day event, which ran Saturday and Sunday at the Williams Lake Rod and Gun Club on Bond Lake Road.
For those unfamiliar with the sport outdoor archery requires significant concentration, strategy and technique to be successful. Archers at the event shot both an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ course each day, consisting of 20 shots on each course — all at various distances and sporting unique challenges.
From there, depending on where the archer’s arrow hits, points are awarded per shot until final scores are tallied at the end of the day.
Michael Wright, 12, of Quesnel won the boy’s compound division and said he enjoys coming to Williams Lake for the shoot because it isn’t typical of many others around the province.
“It’s hard, that’s what I like,” said Wright, who’s been competing in archery since he was two years old. “It’s not a really easy shoot, but it’s gone well.”
Other local results for the shoot are as follows:
In the Masters Men’s Open class Campsall took the top spot followed by Dave Corless in third.
In the Masters Men’s Recurve category Ed Oliver finished third.
In the Men’s Open division Danny Cooper took second, followed by Lee Jackman in third.
On the Ladies’ Unlimited side it was Sarah Jackman sniping a second-place finish.
For Men’s Recurve Fred Streleoff took first place — even suffering through a broken rib to take the title — while Dan Mobbs claimed second. Mobbs also won a cash pot for the annual spot shooting event.
In Ladies’ Recurve Jessica Mobbs landed first place with Sharon Allan coming second.
For Youth Girls Breanne Carlson nabbed second, while in the Youth Boys group Taylor Pigeon took second.
For Cub Compound it was Cameron Brockel taking second, while the Pee Wee division’s Cole Skerry finished third.
Additionally, for any youth interested in trying out the sport, Campsall said the Cariboo Archers recently began a new program — the Junior Olympics Archery Program.
“It runs Thursday nights from 6 until 7:30 p.m. [at the Rod and Gun Club],” Campsall said. “We’ve got kids as young as five and kids as old as 17, so they come out and we work on their skills.
“They can try it a few times for free and if they like it they can join the club. We’re quite excited about it.”
For more on the Cariboo Archers visit www.williamslakesportsmen.ca/archery.htm.
