Shoot star Jack finds his range in the rain
THE Lancashire Archery Association held its annual two day tournament at the Assheton Bowmen’s grounds located in Manchester.
The first day (Saturday) is a World Archery (previously known as FITA) 1440 which consists of shooting three dozen arrows at each distance of 90, 70, 50, 30 metres, a total of 144 arrows and a maximum possible score of 1440.
The second day (Sunday) is a York round consisting of six dozen arrows being shot at 100 yards, four dozen at 80 yards and two dozen at 60 yards.
Skelmersdale archer and Chorley archery club member Jack Grogan competed on both days of the tournament.
Saturday’s shoot started with very heavily laden skies which soon turned to torrential rain.
Grogan had a slow start and did not make it on to the top three leader board until the third dozen arrows at the 90 metre distance.
Although thoroughly drenched he quickly ascended from third to first position in worsening weather and ground conditions, increasing his lead with every dozen arrows shot.
He gained an overwhelming unchallenged lead that won him the competition and trophy.
Battle weary from the previous day’s competition Grogan never quite got into his winning stride for the York round.
The heavy clouds once again produced many torrential downpours dampening the spirits of the archers (more so of those that had competed the previous day).
The day favored those who entered Sunday’s shoot only and were not so weary from the horrendous weather of the previous days shoot.
Grogan had a bad start and was many points behind the leaders by the end of the first distance.
He slowly managed to pull some of the points back as the competition progressed, enough to win a medal for the second place position.