The Quesnel River Archers are winding down the indoor season on a triumphant note as six local archers travelled to Oliver for the 2015 B.C. Provincial Indoor Championships, April 3 – 5.
Placing first in Cup Compound was talented archer Emerie Watson, shooting an 1150.
It seems the excitement never ends for this young athlete after taking bronze at the Canada Winter Games and now Gold at Provincials.
After taking a year long hiatus from shooting, archer Sydney Watson is back in the action with provincials marking her return to competitive shooting.
Despite this brief break from shooting there is no denying that after her 17 years of shooting, Sydney Watson has not lost her sharp aim.
She took home Gold in Senior Ladies Compound with her score of 1190 setting a new B.C. Indoor Championship record.
Sydney Watson also hold the record in Cadet Compound, set in 2011.
It was yet another Gold for our local archers as Kelly Murray took aim and fired away the competition in Cadet Barebow, with a final score of 578.
Having attended provincials in previous years it seemed that first time was the charm for this archer, having brought home second and fourth and now first.
Shooting in Ladies Senior Barebow was Lora-Lee Murray. Her score of 544 earned this archer a silver.
“The whole event was my highlight,” Lora-Lee Murray explained.
“It was the first time I have ever shot provincials and my second competitive shoot.”
Her first competitive shoot being a regional event.
Archer Dale Chapplow took gold in Master 50 Compound with his score of 1175. For Chapplow a highlight of this event was getting the opportunity to shoot against a new opponent.
“There was a guy there that I had never shot against before,” Chapplow said.
“He is a Canadian citizen but he lived in the UK for 14 years. He was pro the same year I was but I never met him before, so I didn’t know anything about him. I like when I go to a tournament and don’t know them guys, it’s more fun for me and makes me concentrate harder.”
According to Chapplow, the uncertainty of shooting against an unfamiliar archer causes him to shoot better.
Chapplow currently hold the B.C. Indoor Championship record for Master 50 Compound, set in 2006.
Also competing in the event, though not medalling, was local archer Sandy Watson.
He was shooting in Master 60 Compound and took fourth place for his efforts at this event.
Next up for the Quesnel River Archers are Regionals in Prince George this weekend, Kelly Murray and Emerie Watson will attend the event.
This will be followed by the Canada Cup in May; Sydney Watson, Emerie Watson and Dale Chapplow will attend.