Countdown Begins To Archery World Cup Tournament

The Meteksan FITA archery World Cup tournament in Dover is now just a month away.

On the weekend of July 28/29 over 250 competitors from around the world, their coaches and officials, will begin arriving at The Duke of York's Military School in the Kent coastal town in one of the biggest archery events ever held in the UK. Official practice begins on July 31, with competition getting underway the following day.

At stake for some is a place in the World Cup Grand Final, which this year wil be held in Dubai, in November. There are still plenty of contenders for the four places in each category - men's and women's recurve, and men's and women's compound - so for them, competition will be tense.

For others, pride will be at stake, and with it the possible prestige of leaving with a gold, silver or bronze medal, in competition against the elite of world archery.

And British archers have the opportunity of competing at the highest level in their own country, cheered on by family, friends and supporters.

Indeed, Britain will be looking to maintain their fantastic success in World Cup team competition this year - having won a gold, two silvers and a bronze at the three previous World Cup tournaments, in Ulsan, South Korea, Varese, Italy, and Antalya, Turkey.

Last year, Britain's Alison Williamson made it through to the first ever World Cup Grand Final, which took place in Mexico. This year Alison, a bronze medalist at the Athens Olympics three years ago, has not featured among the leading contenders.

Instead, Naomi Folkard is Britain's only realistic hope of sneaking into the top four, in the women's recurve, though she needs a gold medal winning performance and the hope that other results go her way. She is certainly capable of achieving a first place finish, having established herself as one of the world's leading female recurve shooters.

"It's a tall order, but to borrow a cliche from the world of football, it's a funny ol' game," said Barry Eley, Team GB Performance manager. "It's fair to say that this World Cup series hasn't gone as well as we'd have liked it to in the individual tournaments, but Naomi is still in the mix, even though it might be as an outsider.

"But remember, we're just over a year away now from the Olympics in Beijing, so all the archers will be looking for confidence boosters over the next 12 months, and good results against their likely rivals in China next year is very important. All of our archers who could be heading to Beijing - men and women - are more than good enough to compete for medals, and with that in mind, there is all to play for.

"What we really are hopeful of is a medal in Dover in the team tournaments, having won in three categories so far this year - the men's recurve, women's recurve and men's compound teams. It will be fantastic if local people get right behind their home archers and cheer them on to another success."

Tom Wenham, of Sportworks UK, is the tournament organiser, and has spent the last year making sure no stone is left unturned in the quest for a fantastic event, with support from UK Sport, Kent County Council, the local authorities in Dover, and the South East England Development Agency, SEEDA.

"It's been a long year, but it will be worth it when it all gets up and running," said Mr Wenham. "It's not just an archery tournament, it's a big event for Kent and for Dover, and we are looking forward to welcoming many people - from the archers and visitors from around the world, to local people who want to enjoy the occassion."

Lynne Evans, a former Olympic archer and now chairman of the sport's UK governing body, the GNAS, said the World Cup event will be one of the biggest weeks in GNAS history.

"Playing host to so many people is a huge honour, and I have been overwhelmed by the goodwill bestowed on us by the people of Kent, and by everyone who has been so enthusiastic in making sure this tournament, this event, is such an enormous success, and I have no doubt it will be.

"There will be a great atmosphere, plenty of things to do and see, and the opportunity to cheer on British archers to international success."

The tournament website: www.archerygb.org.uk