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Aiming for gold

Local archers finish the indoor season on top, and look forward to getting outdoors.
67799quesnelProvincialsOneflickr
Can you see the arrow streaking from Kelly Murray’s bow? It’s the faint streak at the leftmost side of the photograph.

The Quesnel River Archers are making their way out into the spring light after a long, productive winter indoors.

With new, outdoor events starting up this month, the archers are happy to be taking their sport back outside.

Wayne Schaefer, one of the club's coaches, says the club has been suffering from that well known Canadian affliction: cabin fever.

"You do something inside for the winter and it's nice to get outside," he said.

Last month, the club competed in Nationals from their very own range and a member went south to take part in the provincials.

Out of the 29 shooters taking part in nationals, seven members finished in the medals, with an even spread: two bronze, two silver and three gold.

"It's the dedication of the shooters that got them there and the backing from the club," Schaefer said.

Kelly Murray took silver in the Cub Barebow category in the Canadian Indoor Championships and was the lone member able to make the trip to Duncan, taking silver in provincials, finishing second to the same shooter that got gold in nationals.

Murray, a new archer having started last October with the club, had a problem with nerves during the competition, saying she didn’t perform well at the competitions. She, however, did quite well despite it.

Dale Chapplow, Lorrie Swirhun and Chloe Raynor took the golds for the club in the national indoor compeition.

Chapplow his gold in the master bow hunter open class, while Swirhun took hers in master bow hunter release and Raynor hers in Cadet Barebow.

The silvers came from Brianne Foley in pre-cub compound and Murray.

The bronzes came from Tammy Raynor, who competed in the master bare bow class and Lucas Farnsworth, who competed in cub bare bow.

Check the Quesnel River Archers webpage for upcoming outdoor activities.