There is nothing quite like hitting the bullseye of a target for an archer, but at Purfecto Archery Club there is more to it than that.
Archery is the art, sport, practice and skill of using a bow to shoot arrows, and this is what the club, which was established in 2018, strives to embody.
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“Our members come from a number of schools, including Laerskool Elspark, Hoërskool Elspark, Hoërskool Oosterlig, Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen, Leeuwenhof Akademie, School of Achievement, Laerskool Baanbreker, Alberton High School, Hoërskool Die Anker, Belvedere Special School and Felicitas School for the Physically and Intellectually challenged, as well as local home schools,” Evlyn Leathley said to the GCN previously.
“In addition to our school archers we have a number of adult archers.”
Leathley described archery as a social sport that anyone, from nine to 99 years old, can take part in.
“Archery helps with coordination and is a great stress reliever,” she said.
“It is not only a sport for able-bodied people, but for the disabled as well.
“It is a sport where all participants, no matter their fitness level, are on an even playing field, where the only person they are in competition with is themselves.”
When it comes to competitions there are two types.
“We have the bullseye competition, where a normal bullseye target with the yellow, red, blue, black and white scoring areas is used and then we also have the 3D competition, where animal targets and other life-size sponge targets are shot at,” explained Leathley.
Before the Covid-19 lockdown was announced, the club celebrated some wonderful news when six archers were selected to compete as part of the South African Archery team in an international archery competition in Swakopmund, Namibia.
Sadly the tour was cancelled due to the pandemic.
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“Kayleigh van Helden from Laerskool Elspark was selected as part of the South African primary team, while Michelle Botha, Johan du Plessis, Jaco Janse van Rensburg, Anneke Barnard and myself were selected as part of the adult team,” said Ilani Smith.
“All local archers dream of being selected as part of the national team.”
The archers would of competed against competitors from Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique.
Smith explained that the team was selected through a point system.
“Points were accumulated through club, provincial and national competitions throughout the year,” said Smith.
“The national team is made up of the top 16 adult archers from all the provinces across SA, the same selection process is carried out when selecting the primary and junior high and development teams.”
Smith explained the club’s members were disappointed they would miss out on the opportunity to travel to Namibia, but the club had not lost their team spirit.
“It is sad that we will not be going to Namibia with the pandemic going on, but there is always next year,” she said.
She urged others to get involved in the sport.
“Archery is great fun and the people are amazing,” said Smith.
If you would like more information on the club call 079 536 5862.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.
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