Adding new strings to your bow at any age
Massey Archery Club have more than eleven world champion archers on their honours board, but they’re looking for more.
‘‘We want as many people in the community to enjoy archery,’’ club president Lyall Lainchbury says.
The club, based on Red Hills Rd in Massey, has over 300 members from Huapai, Kumeu, Henderson, Hobsonville, Massey and across Auckland.
‘‘We have an eclectic mix of people from all walks of life,’’ Lyall Lainchbury says. From 5-years-old to 85 archery is a sport for everyone - but not many think of as a sport, says the 70-year-old.
‘‘There’s not many sports that a grandchild and grandparent can take part in the same time, like archery.’’
Lyall Lainchbury, who got into the sport six years ago after watching his son and world champion Michael Lainchbury compete, has three world championship titles.
‘‘Watching him win titles appealed to me. But the sport is just as frustrating as golf,’’ he says.
Club members, and husband and wife team, Linda and Michael Lainchbury have competed in the league rounds in Europe, the United States and Australia. The pair have 10 world championship titles between them.
In the recent International Field Archery Association (IFAA) World Championships held in Australia over five days in October, 2016, twelve club archers took home 25 medals. The event, held in Wagga Wagga, produced 13 golds, six silvers and six bronze for the Red Hills team.
‘‘They were shooting very well and shooting at the highest level,’’ says Lyall Lainchbury. He also says the club is the only archery club that own their own land, and spend time teaching archery to schools.
‘‘We’ll do work with any school that asks us. We bring the schools in to shoot as much as we can.’’
Algies Bay resident Lyall Lainchbury recommends starting in the archery introductory course to see if you like the sport.
’’Archery is really good for kids in teaching them selfdiscipline, safety, people skills and concentration,’’ he says.
In April, the club hosts the 2017 World Masters Games field archery division. Go to masseyarchery.org.nz for more.