Archer has his eyes on the prize

A STUDENT at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy is hoping to be selected to take part in the World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid, next year.

Lewis Haslam has already won medals and competed across the UK and abroad and hopes to fly out to Spain in August 2019 to compete at the event. He is also ranked number one in GB in the Under-18’s category.

Lewis, 15, said: “When I was 11 my dad wanted to take up archery so I went with him and we joined Anchor Bowmen Archery Club, in Spondon. I worked with a county coach and then an East Midlands coach and I used to shoot a recurve bow but now I shoot a different bow style called compound.

“I was selected for the national squad last year and this year in May I competed in the European Youth Cup, in Italy, where we won silver as a team. I also took part in the European Youth Championships in Greece, in the summer, and as a team we won a gold medal.

“At the moment I’m ranked fifth in the country at U-18 level and 31st in the country at senior level.

“If the bow I shoot, the compound bow, makes it to the Olympics then I would like to compete in the Olympics. At the moment, it’s only the recurve bow that’s shot.”