Local show Western Cape opponents who’s boss of the bow
MORE than 40 archers from the Northern Cape recently gathered at Vooruitsig Primary School in Kimberley to participate in the inter-school, inter-club, and inter-provincial bull's-eye and 3D archery competitions.
The Province’s archers went head-to-head with archers from the Western Cape, both here at Vooruitsig Primary School and virtually, and the local archers achieved remarkable success. The Northern Cape archers also took their Western Cape opponents by surprise in the virtual competition, winning a total of eight medals in different categories.
The results for the Northern Cape archers were impressive, with competitors from various age groups and categories showing off their skills. Hennie Victor, Jaco Niemand, and Otniel van Wyk took the top three spots in the Primary Boys Bull’s Eye, while Elrize de Greeff, Lilly Heuwel, and Mariam Richards took the top three spots in the Primary Girls Bull’s Eye.
In the High School Boys Bull’s Eye competition, Terence van Eck and Wietsche Hoek secured first and second place respectively.
Tru Shaw, Tyra Adams, and Naadirah Cader took the top three spots in the High School Girls Bull's Eye.
The good results didn’t end there, with Schalk van der Merwe, Philip Kotze, and Dawid de Greeff placing first, second, and third in the Adult Men (AAG) Bull's Eye competition, and Odette Victor, Karin Bester, and Annemarie de Greeff taking the top three spots in the Adult Women (AAG) Bull’s Eye.
Ultimately, the event was a resounding success, with archers from both sides showcasing their talents and skills, improving their personal best scores, and thanks to the competition provided by their Western Cape opponents, pushing the standard of archery in the Northern Cape to new heights.
The event marked the first official AGA-SA 3D competition in the Northern Cape, adding an exciting element to the competition for the archers.
The highlight of the event was Schalk van der Merwe’s performance in the adult category. Schalk achieved three perfect 50s in the Bull’s Eye and 3D competitions, achieving a whopping 290/300 in the Bull's Eye competition – the highest score AGA-NC has seen since its start in January last year.
It was in the Bull’s Eye competition where 15 Northern Cape archers improved their personal best scores, while three others – Annemarie de Greeff, Mario Oosthuizen, and Terence van Eck – achieved perfect 50s on the 10m distance.
The event was also a baptism of sorts for two Sol
Plaatje University students who participated for the first time. The two ‘rookies’ impressed and fared exceptionally well. One of the students, Jaimee
Lee Taai, achieved a score of 267 out of 300 in her first-ever Bull's Eye competition, putting her in fourth place in the adult women category.
Meanwhile, Van der Merwe, who is also the AGA-NC coordinator, expressed his excitement at the overall increasing standard of archery in every event thus far.