Team GB on target to visit Ricoh Arena
1st and 2nd December- National Competition
Team GB archers from the London 2012 Olympic Games will be on target at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry in a national competition later this year.
Leamington’s Naomi Folkard and fellow Olympians Larry Godfrey, Alan Wills and Simon Terry will all be competing in the National Combined Indoor Championships on Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2.
And Rugby’s Chris White – a double Commonwealth Games medallist two years ago – will also be among the competitors appearing in the Jaguar Hall.
The Junior and Senior Indoor Championships and back-to-back events are expected to attract hundreds of archers from across the UK to the event, which is open to spectators free of charge from 10am until 6pm on both days.
Geoff Malyon, the chairman of the National Tournaments Committee for 2012, said this was a fantastic opportunity to watch the country’s top archers in action.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games have seen the sport’s popularity increase dramatically,” he said. “We had tremendous feedback and everybody loved the Olympic archery at the Lords cricket ground, which is such an iconic venue.
“With the Disney film Brave about a skilled archer named Merida being released as well this summer, there is massive interest in the sport from children, and we hope these championships at the Ricoh Arena will build on the momentum from the last few months.
“The tournament will feature recurve, compound and longbow archers and it is a great chance for anyone in the Midlands who is interested in the sport to come along to watch Olympians like Naomi Folkard and Larry Godfrey.
“Since the junior championships run alongside the nationals it gives youngsters in the sport the chance to see their idols taking part and pick up a few tips as well as gain valuable advice.
“This event is growing in popularity and to have attracted World and Olympic athletes underlines its popularity.”
Chris Owen, event manager at the Ricoh Arena, said the tournament was a great way for Great British archery to build on this summer’s success.
“Archers will be competing for the titles of national champions in the junior and senior sections so there is a great deal at stake,” he said.
“We are pleased to be hosting archery for the first time at the Ricoh Arena and anyone who wishes to come along is more than welcome.
“This will be a fantastic opportunity to see the archers who were part of Team GB and the fantastic summer of sport that we have all enjoyed.”
