ARCHERY NOW A POPULAR SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 76, 14 December 1949, Page 7

ARCHERY NOW A POPULAR SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND

(By John Truell)

To many New Zealanders, Archery commences with a childhood bow of lancewood and ,a boxwood arrow, and ends suddenly with the arrow through the bedroom window. Few are aware that the famous exploits of Eobin Hood are not only being dupilcated in modern times, but are being bettered. A recent picture in Auckland showed the American marcel, Howard Hill, shooting cherries from a friend’s head. Certainly William Tell shot an apple from his son's head, but he used a mechanical crossbow—and an apple is not a cherry. , America is the recognised leader of the Archery in the world 1 today, with well over a million tournament and field archers. The American National Archery Association controls wo?ld tournaments. But American supremacy is being challenged—by New Zealand. . N.Z. Competes Well In 1946, a team of four men representing all, clubs in New Zealand, competed in the Olympic Bowman Leagues Annual Shoot, open to teams throughout the world. The New Zealand team scored 6th place and one of the archers, Mr W. J. Burton (of the Gisborne Club) won the award for the men’s highest score with an all-time record of 799.6 average out of 810. i In 1947 the team competed, again being placed third with Burton again the top scorer, this time beating his ; own record with an average of 801.6. His highest score for the shoot was 806. For a country which officially commenced shooting with the formation of the Dunedin Club in 1938, the results of the first two competitions against the best teams in the world, are highly commendable. Following closely upon Dunedin, clubs were formed in bther centres The Auckland Club commenced Shooting in 1944, and today is the largest club in New Zealand. Membership is growing rapid.lv throughout New Zealand, as more people discover the fascination of an ancient sport, and at present there are over 600 archers in the various clubs, with many more “lone rangers.” Sport For Cripples Following the lead of many American Hospitals, where crippled exservicemen, who cannot hope to compete in any other sport have taken keenly to Archery, patients at the Middlemore Hospital recently were instructed in the use of the bow and arrow, by members of the Auckland Archery Club. It is hoped that hospitals throughout \ New Zealand will follow suit, when the Value v of such a sport is realised. Clubs were soon formed in the Bay of Plenty and at present there are three in operatibn, Opotiki, Whakatane and Tauranga. Opotiki was the first to start and then Whakatane, which now has a strong and enthusiastic membership. Competitions are soon to commence among the Bay Clubs.