Archers win 10 golds at indoor nationals in UL

ALL roads led to Limerick last weekend with members of CúChulainn Archers travelling long distances from various parts of the country to University of Limerick to compete in the Archery Ireland indoor nationals.

This is one of the two most prestigious indoor competitions in the Calendar, and the last major competition before the outdoor season commences.

The club had archers competing in both senior and master, individual and team categories and did extremely well.

In women’s senior compound, JoAnn Bell seeded in first place and went on the take the gold medal. Emma Crosbie seeded in eighth place and was unfortunate to be knocked out by her clubmate, JoAnn, in the quarter-finals.

Robert Hall came in fourth position in the senior male compound, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal.

In senior women’s barebow category, Ann Marie Murray seeded in seventh place and fought her way through the field to come away with the bronze medal having been narrowly beaten by Ciara Douglas (silver) who was shooting for UCD but who also hails from Ardee.

Ann Marie’s husband, Enda, was unfortunate to be knocked out in the last 16 of the senior barebow men’s competition as he returns to the sport following more than a year out. But David Ryan won through in straight sets until he came up against fellow CúChulainn member, Neil Keeble, who knocked him out after a hard fight in the quarter-finals, with Neil going on to take the gold medal.

In a team event, CúChulainn’s male compound team of Alan Convery, Robert Hall and Éamonn

Rogers took the gold medal. The senior barebow male team of Neil Keeble, Enda Murray and David Ryan also took the gold medal.

Sunday was the masters’ day and CúChulainn had archers also competing in that category. In masters’ female compound, JoAnn Bell again took gold and then collected bronze in the masters’ open compound, with Paul McClelland coming third.

Ann Marie Murray was the gold medal-winner in the masters’ female barebow and Enda Murray collected silver in the masters’ male barebow.

In total, the club took home 10 gold, one silver and two bronze medals, which is a fine haul.

Not content with competing in the national competition, however, some of our members went on to other competitions on Sunday.

Competing Lough Cuan Red Kite 3D field competition were: Ryan Dougan, who took gold in the men’s barebow; Peter Gilmore, bronze in men’s 50+ barebow; Alan Convery, silver in the men’s compound; Phillip Fitzpatrick took silver in men’s 50+ compound; and Mark Young, gold in the men’s traditional bow.

At the Black Castle IFAF 3D competition in Limerick, Neil Keeble once again took a gold medal, his third of the weekend.

CúChulainn Archers hold beginner courses throughout the year, enquiries to cuchulainnarchers@ hotmail.com.