Top archers aiming for Samford

Published 9:00am 24 September 2022

Words by Nick Crockford

Top archers from Australia and overseas will be drawing back their bows in Samford next week.

More than 240 entries have been received for Archery Australia’s National Target Championships being held at Samford Valley Target Archers.

It will be the largest target archery event on this continent in recent times with the 240 archers occupying 576 shooting places over five days.

This national event, at the grounds on Mt Samson Rd, is seen as the start of the archers’ journey towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

It also marks Samford Valley Target Archers’ 75^th anniversary, having started as Grange Company of Archers in 1947 and moving to its current venue in 2009.

The SQAS Short Range Championships at Samford this year.

Official opening

Two “flights” of archers will shoot a round of 90 arrows on Thursday September 29 and the following day, after the official opening, archers will shoot 144 arrows.

Registered entries are such that a second venue will be used on September 30 at the Mount Petrie Bowmen’s grounds at Belmont.

On day three, October 1, two rounds of 72 arrows will form the ranking round to determine the order of the archers who move to the match play part of the tournament.

The match play is an exciting element for the sport where archers or teams of archers go head-to-head in elimination matches.

Team match play, mixed team match play and further individual match play eliminations will be on October 2.

Taking aim at Samford Valley Target Archers

Streaming

Final matches, on October 3, will be for mixed teams and individual matches for compound, recurve and bare bow recurve bows. It is planned these will be streamed on 7 Plus.

Prizes include medals, money, and archery equipment.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery said it was an honour to host one of the most prestigious events on the archery calendar.

“I’d like to thank Archery Australia and the Samford Valley Target Archers for helping to put on this amazing event,” he said.

Moreton Bay Regional Council has provided support and grant funding for the tournament, which spectators are welcome to attend.