Archers right on target

Penrith one of three clubs hosting competitors from across NSW at Championships

Some of the best sharpshooters in New South Wales will travel to the outskirts of western Sydney this weekend for Archery Australia’s National Indoor Championships.

To prevent competitors travelling interstate, the competition will be hosted by select clubs around the country, with Penrith City Archers (PCA) one of the three from NSW hosting the event at the Butterfly Farm Pavilion in Wilberforce.

All the action of the National Indoor Championships will kick off this Saturday morning with sessions running right throughout the weekend.

“The Nationals are held every year and multiple venues around the country will be used,” PCA Club President, Todd Boyle told the Weekender

“But it’s not only the Nationals being held this weekend but the ANSW State Indoor Championships as well, so the archers have a good chance of getting a State medal as well as a National medal.”

Penrith City Archers will have a large number of archers representing them on the big stage this weekend, including three very talented Youth archers.

PCA’s number one youth member Emily Griffiths is a strong chance to medal as is fellow locals Tristal Hoare and Isaiah Owen.

The trio have also been entered as a club team for their age division of U16 Compound Bow, with their individual shoot scores added together for a team result.

“Emily has made the NSW team and we’re expecting her to medal in the Nationals and the State,” Boyle said.

“People age in range from under 16s to over

70s, and they hail from all over greater metropolitan Sydney and the Central Coast.”

Indoor archery is shot at 18m, with archers choosing between a single 40cm face target and a 20cm triple triangle face target. With the targets incredibly small, the skill and precision on display will be a marvel to watch.

“On the Sunday, compound archers will be aiming for three small targets about the size of a saucepan,” Boyle said.

“The 10 spot is a little bit smaller than a 10-cent piece. It’s roughly 10mm in diameter and that’s what they’re aiming for.”

Penrith City Archers will host the 2023 National and ANSW State Indoor Championships this weekend, July 8 and 9, at the Butterfly Farm Pavilion in Wilberforce. Spectator space is strictly limited.