A contingent of 78 archers took part in the Johannesburg Indoor Qualifier Tournament recently hosted at Marks Park Archery Club .
The athletes competed not only against each other, but also vied for association and provincial colours if they managed to record qualifying scores.
An indoor archery round is shot at 18m, with the participants under the age of 13 shooting at 9m. Even though the tournament was an indoor round it was hosted outdoors, which has become the norm since Covid-19 when the sport had to adapt to changed circumstances.
Archers who hoped to qualify for indoor colours must compete in at least five tournaments between the previous indoor national competition and this year’s national tournament that will be held in October.
“It was fantastic to have a full field again for this very popular format that makes it accessible to archers of all ages and abilities,” said Barbara Manning, Marks Park Archery’s tournament director. “We managed to attract roughly the same number as in our first qualifying competition in April this year.”
She said what was really exciting was the participation of various schools from as far away as Middelburg and Vanderbijlpark, as well as their own Thandeka Sibande from Roosevelt High School. “I’m particularly proud of Thandeka who has come through our schools coaching programme and who recorded the top score for Recurve U18 Women.”
Manning said the strong interest from schools in the region has sparked a plan to introduce a schools archery league that will involve athletes from central and south Gauteng, as well as other provinces. Schools are seen as the breeding ground for young talent who might one day qualify to represent South Africa at the Olympics.
A number of local archers have represented the country at international events over the years, including the Olympics and Paralympics.
Marks Park Archery Club will host one more indoor qualifying competition in August before the indoor national competition scheduled for October.
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