Young archer ahead of target for national side
Ryan Jones and his mother Beverley hugged tightly when his name was called out for the New Zealand Junior Archery team.
The James Hargest student received the good news at the end of a recent two-day national selection tournament in Christchurch. He finished second overall.
‘‘I can’t tell you how proud I am of him,’’ Beverley Jones said. ‘‘We gave each other a big hug . . . I think I squeezed the life out of him.’’
Ryan knew he had done his best but was still surprised to be selected.
He, his parents, Beverley and Allan Jones, and coach Tony Waddick thought the teenager was two years away from making a national team.
‘‘We had a plan worked out and he’s blown that out of the water . . . he’s two years ahead of himself,’’ Waddick said.
Ryan is one of three Southlanders in the New Zealand team for the Oceania Youth Championships in New Caledonia in July. The others are Te Anau archers Sidney Spence and Jack Light.
Invercargill’s Adam Kaluzny is competing in the seniors section.
‘‘They’ll do Southland proud,’’ Waddick said.
Ryan began taking archery seriously three years ago and has been competing for two years. His interest in the sport grew after his father gave him a toy bow and arrow set four years ago at the age of 12.
‘‘I thought this is fun . . . I might as well give it a go and see what happens,’’ Ryan said.
After a year he joined the Southland Archery Club and bought a learner’s bow. Advice from Waddick and fellow archery official Chris Kennington has been a huge help to Ryan.
‘‘They’ve been so helpful . . . with training; I improved and I’m getting better,’’ Ryan said.
He has had about 10 wins, mostly in Southland competitions.
Ryan is not overawed by the thought of representing New Zealand at the Oceania Youth Championships.
‘‘It doesn’t feel like a big thing, I’ll be doing what I love.’’
One of his goals is to compete at the junior world championships.