Archers strike the jackpot on Vegas mission
FIVE members of Ardee-based CuChulainn Archers experienced the magic of competing at the SouthPoint Casino this month when they took part in the Indoor World Cup in Las Vegas.
They jetted across the Atlantic to attend the world-famous Vegas Shoot 2020, where the finals of the Indoor World Cup were also being held at the same venue on the same weekend.
While Eamonn Rogers, Michelle Brohan and Deirdre Rogers had competed in Las Vegas before, for Christina O’Sullivan and Ann Marie Murray it was a first time to shoot against so many archers in such a big venue and Ann Marie admitted: ‘It was a strange feeling to walk through the casino with the bow in hand and quiver and arrows on the hip!’
The Vegas Shoot is known as the largest and most prestigious indoor archery tournament in the world and drew almost 4,000 archers from around the globe ranging from beginners to Olympic champions.
This year saw a new attendance record of 3,816 archers from 50 countries and more than 6,000 spectators, 752 prizes worth over $460,000 were handed out and 96 vendors representing the industry’s top products were present.
All five CuChulainn Archers shot in the Flights competition where there were 2,277 entrants, and in this category competitors are split into flights consisting of approximately 30 athletes according to scores after day two and then awarded a final flight placing after day three.
No amount of competition practice prepared Ann Marie Murray for the challenge and she said: ‘It’s very difficult to stop shakes at a venue as famous as this, but I can take that forward for the next year.
‘I don’t think I’ll feel any nerves for the European Championship next month and being relaxed makes for better arrows.’
Ann Marie managed to place in Flight 3 out of 7 in the barebow category, placing a respectable 104th out of more than 220 archers.
Michelle also had to overcome nerves and was also inspired by the magnitude of the event.
She admitted: ‘I’m happy to place in the middle of the pack - I’m shooting with Olympic archers, who wouldn’t be nervous.’
The Vegas shoot for Christina O’Sullivan was tough going, as three weeks before she had been diagnosed with target panic, a condition that affects many archers in different ways.
Whilst she enjoyed the shoot and was happy with her form, the target panic did hinder her from attaining what she felt she should have.
Eamonn Rogers battled through an equipment failure to finish best of the Irish in compound, finishing in the top 7% in a field of 1,300.
While disappointed to fail in his pre-tournament goals, only dropping three points from 300 on the last day ensured that he finished in the top eight in his flight.
Deirdre shot a season’s best and placed in her Flight.
The club were delighted to have Ann Marie’s brother from New Jersey fly over for the occasion to support his sister and Cuchulainn Archers would like to send their sincere thanks to Peter Kerin snr for all the proAnn fessional photos he took.
Lotto prizes NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Duleek AFC/SBG FC lotto were 12, 15, 23, 25 and the six €20 prizes went to A Bellew, Bella (c/o post office), S Gallagher, J Maloney, Big Glick (c/o Hilly) and The Bull.
The draw takes place in the Duleek AFC clubhouse at 8.15pm on Wednesdays, tickets are available from commmittee members and the jackpot remains at €8,000.