Happy end of June to you all! I hope you are all well.
The highlight of June for me was escaping to Guernsey for some sunshine, archery and to meet up with Hengameh and my mum and dad.
From June 16th to 22nd the Bowmen of Guernsey hosted an archery competition for small islands. This was the first international archery competition that the Falklands has taken part in since the archery club started 18 months ago. So early on the morning of Tuesday the 11th June the six archers going to compete sat in Mount Pleasant Airport waiting to start a 36 hour journey to get to Guernsey,
The journey involved an 19 hour flight to the UK then a three hour taxi ride to Poole in Dorset then a 4 hour ferry crossing on Condor's fast catamaran (which was quite rough and locally known as the 'vomit comet') with lots of waiting at various points. On arrival in Guernsey we were met by Steve from Guernsey bowmen in what was quickly christened 'the special bus!'. Suits us doesn't it.
Before the competition started we had a couple of days to practice and pose in our Falkland Islands kit. Very smart don't you think? As you can see we had lovely weather (whilst it was snowing down south).
Mum and dad came for a short break to Guernsey and came to watch us practice for a while. They got to meet the team and it was great to spend time with them. I spent the mornings practicing and then in afternoon we went out sight-seeing together. Sadly their break ended before the competition started but I think they had a good holiday.
So Monday saw the start of the competitions the first one being a FITA which for the men was 144 arrows - 36 each at 90m, 70m, 50m and then 30m. For the ladies the distances were 70m, 60m, 50m and 30m. Amazingly Team Falklands came third and got bronze just behind Orkney. Guernsey won. I came 4th out of the gents recurve archers.
More competition on Tuesday and then a rest day on Wednesday. We were taken on a tour of Guernsey in the special bus. A lovely fish and chips lunch and some spectacular scenery.
Thursday was the day of the outdoor imperial shoots and whilst I shot averagely - Jo in the team got a ladies bronze medal. Friday was the last day of competition and we moved to the leisure centre for the indoor FITA rounds. 60 arrows at 25m shooting at a 3 spot 60cm target and then 60 arrows at 18m shooting at a 3 spot 40cm target. The hall was warm and stuffy and we were all a bit tired so lots of concentration required. Completely surprising myself I won gold! So I am very proud of myself and proud to have represented the Falklands in their first international archery competition!
So I enjoyed my taste of summer. I hope you are enjoying it now - as i now sit out the rest of a South Atlantic winter.
Love to you all - stay well and I hope to hear from you soon.
Mark
Well done Mark. Congratulations. I never had you down as such a Deadshot.
ReplyDeleteSee you
Nick