HOME field advantage proved an apt adage for Twin City Archery Gippsland members when they hosted the Victorian State Clout Championships at Latrobe City Archery Park, in Toners Lane, Morwell late last month.
The event was off to a slow start while everyone waited for the heavy fog to lift, so the competitors could see the clout markers, but the archers were happy with the near perfect conditions that greeted them afterward and a number of state records were broken.
TCAG had great success with all competing members bringing home medals; of the seven members who competed six are now state champion in their divisions.
Katrina Toy, Bill Van Oosten, Viv Bennett, Peter Bennett, Dennis Luobikis and Merv Grinstead all scored gold medals at the event.Clout is long distance archery, and its history is tied up with archers shooting arrows over castle walls.
In the modern form there are no walls to shoot over, but a small triangle on a peg at distances of up to 180m to aim at.
With modern equipment the accuracy of the bows over this distance is amazing with a good archer able to land all six arrows in a one metre circle.
In other big news at the club local member Adam Bielby has earned selection as part of the Australian Archery Team to contest the World Field Championships in Ireland in September this year. Adam competed at the recent Australian Field Open at Sherbrooke Archers, and against a very strong field of contenders came home strong to win selection.
Anyone interested in archery, or supporting Adam with his expenses for his trip to Ireland in September, can phone Peter Bennett on 0429 429 240.
TCAG Results
Open Female Longbow Gold Medal – Katrina Toy, Open Male Longbow Gold Medal Bill Van Oosten, Master Female Compound Gold Medal – Viv Bennett, Master Male Compound Gold Medal – Peter Bennett, Veteran Male Recurve Gold Medal – Dennis Luobikis, Veteran+ Male Compound Gold Medal – Merv Grinstead, Veteran Male Longbow Bronze Medal – George Sznek (only shot first half and withdrew due to injury)
