Despite persistent rain, all registered archers participated in the 75th SA National Archery Championships at Marks Park Sport Club in Johannesburg on April 5 and 6.
The last day brought a reprieve from the rain, allowing the gold medal matches and prize-giving ceremony to proceed under cloudy skies.
Barbara Manning, chairperson of the local organising committee, remarked, “The event was an incredible success despite the weather.
The persistent rain posed logistical challenges, but we overcame them to deliver a world-class event that South Africa can be proud of. My team of volunteers worked tirelessly, and without them, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible”.
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Manning added, “The tournament produced two male and one female World Games qualifiers, which is a fantastic accomplishment for those archers.”
Gold medal winners included Western Cape’s Werner Potgieter (Recurve Men), Gauteng’s Catharina Whitehead (Recurve Women), and Terry Van Rensburg (Compound Men Open), among others.
Archers from Egypt, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, and Namibia added an international flavour to the event.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) was represented by Leon Fleiser, High performance manager.
Reflecting on the event, he said, “I was extremely privileged to attend the final day of SANAA’s 75th National Championships”.
“The event was one of the most professionally run national championships I have attended. I must commend the leadership of SANAA, particularly Barbara Manning, whose dedication to the sport is evident.
“It was also inspiring to see SANAA’s commitment to Para Archery, with a record number of Para Archery athletes participating this year.
“Congratulations to all the athletes, especially those who qualified for the World Games to be held later this year in Chengdu, China.”
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