September 03, 2021

National Tour - Recurve Preview

Here is a preview of the recurve archers ahead of Sunday's National Tour recurve Finals!

The National Tour starts tomorrow, with the top eight recurve archers shooting on Sunday, here is a preview of the recurve archers.

Recurve Women Preview

Bryony Pitman - qualified 1st

How did you start archery?

My dad shot for the British Field team and I always wanted to try archery and be as good as him.

What is your biggest achievement? 

Bronze team medal at the 2019 world champs or 9th at the Tokyo Olympics.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

I feel ok. I've not trained a huge amount since coming back from Tokyo and my focus has been more on preparing for the European field championships but I've still been shooting decently at 70m so I've just got to keep that up and hopefully defend my title from last year.

Sponsors 

Hoyt, Quicks, Fairweather, Shrewd, Clear Targets, Elivanes, Axcel, Wifler Industries, Easton, HM Archery, Underground Gym Brighton, R-Core Grips, Vortex, Brunel University.

Jaspreet Sagoo - qualified 2nd

How did you start archery? 

I started archery at a girls convention, getting girls in my borough introduced into unusual sports. So I tried archery and really liked it and it just went on from there. In my first 5 months from picking up my first bow I became indoor London County champion.

What is your biggest achievement? 

Getting all my qualification scores this year and getting 665 at Barnsley National Tour stage 5.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

This season has been a good season for me and I'm very much looking forward to this event. Feeling quite calm and relaxed.

Yulia Larkins - qualified 3rd

How did you start archery? 

First tried archery in Turkey during holiday, then booked a beginners session in a club back in UK.

What is your biggest achievement? 

Bronze in the National Tour Finals in 2018 and 9th place at Lausanne Hyundai World Cup this season.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

Very much looking forward to it.

Sponsors

Fivics, Fairweather Archery, Elivanes.

Louisa Piper - qualified 4th

How did you start archery?

A Â"Have-a-go” sports company came to my school in Reception and said I should take up archery after the first time I'd held a bow. When they came back the next year (age 6) and said the same thing, second time I'd held a bow, my mum found Woking AC and I've been shooting ever since.

What is your biggest achivement? 

Debuting for GBR Senior age 14 at 2018 Shanghai WC, I was the youngest competitor on the field. My PB WA70 627. Debuting for GBR Cadet age 14 at 2017 European Cup Croatia and winning Individual Bronze and Team Gold. Debuting for GBR Junior at 2018 European Youth Champs Greece (whilst still a cadet), winning team silver with Nell (and Lizzie). Debuted for GBR Senior, U21 and U17 within same calendar year. Debuting for GBR Field Team (age 16) and becoming 2019 European U21 Champion. 2nd reserve for Tokyo whilst doing A levels.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

Excited for my first finals but will be a little preoccupied with preparation for the European Field Championships which I fly to the next day.

Sponsors

W&W, SportsAid - Entain, Opticron (scope), Spinwings, Wales Archery.

Penny Healey - qualified 5th

How did you start archery? 

I watched the movie Brave when I was younger and wanted to try the sport. I went to a have a go shoot and I found my love for the sport.

What is your biggest achievement?

To have won medals internationally, my greatest achievement coming first in the mixed teams in 2019 at the Europeans.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

I feel excited about the finals, it will be a great experience and have some amazing competition.

Sponsors 

Win&Win Archery, the Body Barn, Sports Aid, The Archers Nest.

Imogen Sullivan-Bell - qualified 6th

How did you start archery?

I went back to university to do a Masters' degree and we were advised to join a club to help cope with the studying pressure. I'd always wanted to try archery and saw the uni archery club at the freshers fayre, and ended up enjoying the shooting far more than the studying!

Where is your favourite place to shoot? 

My club, Archways TDH, because we have an amazing group of archers and coaches who all help support and challenge each other to improve. I also love shooting at Lilleshall, and at any competition for the atmosphere!

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

Excited! It's my first year shooting in the National Tour, and after all the challenges and restrictions of the last 18 months I'm so grateful to be able to compete at this level and to have made it to the Finals.

Eleanor Brug - qualified 7th

How did you start archery? 

In school, I was always terrible at every sport that involved flying objects or running. The local university team practiced near a busy road and had weekend sessions for local youths, and my parents wanted me to do a sport, so I gave it a go. I later found an indoor range (Palomo Archery) and met a really welcoming group of people who got me hooked on the sport.

What is your biggest achievement? 

Probably this, as it means I've been able to shoot well consistently over longer than a single competition. If I had to pick one competition, then BUCS indoors 2020 when I seeded 2nd and finished on silver which took a lot of work to stay focused.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals?

Excited to have made it! Though my match is against Jaspreet whom I shoot with often, and I'll be thrilled if I take more than one set.

Eleanor Piper - qualified 8th

How did you start archery? 

With my eldest brother being a chorister, my younger brother playing club rugby with my dad and Louisa out shooting with my mum I needed to find something to do of a weekend. As I can't sing, and don't play rugby, I decided to start archery instead (age 12) and have been shooting ever since.

What is your biggest achievement? 

Winning Great Britain's first Women's Senior World Cup Team medal in eleven years at 2018 Berlin World Cup (Silver with Bryony and Sarah Bettles). Follow month winning European U21 Team Silver at 2018 European Youth Champs, Greece with my sister Louisa (and Lizzie Warner). Shooting an X in our tie-break to win GBR a team quota place for 2019 European CQT as the closest to the middle arrow at 2018 European Championships, Poland.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

Really excited to be returning to the National Tour Finals again this year having ranked and finishing second in Barnsley. This meant I had to pull forward plans to find a new club as I only started my new job (Rolls-Royce, Derby - working on nuclear subs) two weeks ago! Thank you to Greasley Castle Archers who have let me train with them at short notice!

Sponsors 

W&W, Opticron (scope), Spinwings, Wales Archery.

Recurve Men Preview

Keith Harding - qualified 1st

How did you start archery? 

Playing Â"Robin Hood” in the woods, and then later found a local club.

What is your biggest achievement? 

Top 10 finish at the Berlin World Cup in 2019.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

Though I want to win, I'm trying to stay focused on what my tactics will be and how they impact my performance in the area; match play is pretty short, so you have to be Â"on it”.

Sponsors 

Win&Win, Beiter, Clickers Archery.

Michael Judd - qualified 2nd

How did you start archery?

I started doing it as a school holiday activity over a number of years then after a few years the couple that ran the archery events said 'why don't I join their club' and I've been doing it ever since.

Where is your favourite place to shoot? 

Meriden archery club, great venue and competitions are always put on there.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals?

Excited, the Finals is always my favourite event of the year. I love the atmosphere and the pressure you get doing which you don't get in many other events.

Sponsors 

Uukha and Perris archery

Alex Wise - qualified 3rd

How did you start archery?

I was on a family holiday in Turkey, one of the activities was archery and we all tried it and enjoyed it, so continued it when we got home.

What is your biggest achivement?

Making the Senior and Youth National teams in the same year after shooting for only two years.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals?  

I feel excited because I always enjoy shooting the National Tour Finals. I feel confident because the second half of this outdoor season has been really strong for me.

Sponsors 

W&W Archery, Reign Bowstrings, Merlin Archery.

Stevie Kent - qualified 4th

How did you start archery?

Back with my grandad at weekends.

What is your biggest achievement? 

Qualifying top for 2 off the National Tour events.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

I feel very excited to be a part of the top archers in the country, fighting for 1 spot.

Sponsors

Podium Bowstrings

Conor Hall - qualified 5th

How did you start archery?

I started archery in my secondary school along with Patrick Huston.

What is your biggest achievement? 

My biggest achievement in archery would be getting 2 medals at the European field championships.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals?

I'm very excited to shoot in another National Tour Finals, I've had a good season so far so I hope I can finish off strong. I've had a very busy few months at work with the affects of Coronavirus and also moving house at the same time, so hopefully I will be able to shoot to the high standard I know I can.

Sponsors

Fivics, Podium bowstrings, Arrowsocks

Roger Castillo - qualified 6th

How did you start archery? 

My dad was an archer, so I went to few shoots as a kid, and I went to a taster session as I was old enough.

Where is your favourite place to shoot?

My old club back in Spain, brings back the best memories in archery when I used to share it with my dad, and where I achieved the level that got me into academy.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals?

Super happy of making the finals in my first season back. Excited to be surrounded by some of the best archers in the country, and some of the Olympic squad.

Patrick Huston - qualified 7th

How did you start archery? 

A British Longbow champion (Audrey needham) came to my primary school as a teaching assistant and started a club aged 8.

What is your best achievement? 

348 70m world record. Exmouth 2015 National Series.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals?

Pretty psyched. Been shooting amazing the past few weeks and my condition to shoot is better than ever. I'm fully prepped for the European Field Championships next week and this is gonna be class.

Sponsors

Axcel, Beiter, Reign bowstrings, Opticron, Vivobarefoot, Arrowsocks.

Ryan Holden - qualified 8th

How did you start archery?

I had a go at a multi sports event in late 2010. After that I found a local club to join.

Where is your favourite place to shoot? 

Porec Croatia. It was my first international, I shot a personal best at the time and the weather was amazing. All round it was a memorable event for me.

How do you feel ahead of the Finals? 

Feeling great. It's been a good year. I've had some ups and downs with equipment and tuning but I'm back shooting towards where I wanted to be leading into the weekend.

Sponsors

Opticron, Arrowsocks, Beiter, RSH Heating Gas and Plumbing.

 

Follow along live on our Facebook page, or come to Lilleshall National Sports Centre and see the action!

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