THE Orange and District Bowhunters juniors once again repayed their elders’ faith, by dominating the annual Walkabout Shoot, played out over Saturday and Sunday of the Australia Day long weekend.
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Eighty seven archers converged on a hot, sticky Lower Lewis Ponds course to compete in the event, with Orange juniors rounding out the two-day event with 14 top three finishes.
Matt Kearney, Ryan Schick, Nick Wells, Madison Schick, Josh Walton, Bryce Cummings, Ashley Press and Michael Colless dominated the lower age events throughout the shoot.
Competing in the first branch E event for 2014, Kearney gained two first placings in the cubs’ freestyle unlimited division A, scoring 776 and 792.
Ryan Schick scored 776 both days in the cubs’ freestyle unlimited division B to also gain two first placings. In cubs’ freestyle unlimited division Madison Schick (558 and 570) won the division on both days.
Michael Colless dominated the junior freestyle unlimited B division, winning both days with 782 and 778. Ashley Press (622 and 620) was second on both days in the bow hunter unlimited division C, behind Bryce Cummings (740 and 682).
Orange also had success in the seniors with Donna Schick (compound bow unlimited C, 602 and 670), Nigel Sethack (freestyle unlimited A, 756 and 742), Shane Walton (compound bow unlimited, 716 and 740), Rod Schick (bow hunter unlimited A, 758 and 762), Matt Fowler (bow hunter unlimited A 754 and 774) and Jason Cummings (bow hunter unlimited C 720 and 726) all picking up placings over the two days.
ODBC secretary Kylie Kearney said the juniors had justified the confidence of their mentors, continuing to impress as “some of the best junior archers in the state”.
“They’ve been dominating their state events, and hopefully they’ll all do well when we go to nationals in April,” she said.
“Nick Wells deserves a special mention, he’s been competing for a long time and to get a place at home is big for him.”
Kearney said numbers were increasing every year, and looked set to do the same in 2015.
“We had plenty more than last year come for this event,” she said.
“I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t keep increasing every year. It was a huge success.”