ARCHERY’S coming home this autumn . . . . to Liverpool!
Archery GB’s National Series Grand Final – the blue riband event in the domestic archery calendar – will be staged in the picturesque surroundings of Speke Hall on September 18.
And Archery GB has hailed the venue as hugely appropriate as the sport’s governing body celebrates its 150th anniversary – because the first ever GNAS meeting took place at the Adelphi Hotel in the city, in July 1861.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have secured this wonderful venue, and Liverpool is such an obvious venue for our Grand Final this year,” said Jon Nott, Archery GB’s National Series organiser.
“Liverpool City Council has been really receptive to us, and are now sharing my enthusiasm about putting on a fantastic day of for archery enthusiasts.
“We also look forward to welcoming along members of the public to have a go at our sport, as we did in Leamington last year.
“Speke Hall is a beautiful venue, and members of the archery community will really enjoy not just the top class archery on display, but the grounds and facilities of our hosts.”
Hopes are high of a home winner of the event, too, with Liverpool boasting a double gold medallist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in Duncan Busby, and Liam Grimwood, who won a silver medal at the world championships 18 months ago.
Duncan and Liam are great friends and international colleagues, but are also great rivals when they come up against each other in competitions at home and abroad.
Both proud Merseysiders, they are both setting their sights on winning the National Series Compound Gold Medal in their home city.
Duncan said: “Winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal last year was as good as it gets, a really thrilling experience.
“But winning the National Series title at Speke Hall would also be very special for me, and I’m sure if I qualify for the Grand Final I’ll have good support from friends and family.”
Liam, the reigning National Indoor Champion, said: “I’ve yet to win the National Series title, so it would be fantastic to do it locally.
“I’m delighted the Grand Final’s coming to Speke Hall, especially in the year that Archery GB celebrates its 150th anniversary.”
Councillor Wendy Simon is the cabinet member for culture and tourism at Liverpool City Council, and she is looking forward to hosting the country’s best archers, and followers of the sport to her city.
She said: “Liverpool is delighted to welcome the 2011 Archery GB National Series Final to the city.
“Archery GB is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, so it’s especially fitting that we are hosting this event in the city which saw the birth of the original Grand National Archery Society.”
The 2011 Archery GB National Series Final will take place at Speke Hall with competition and practice ranges together with archery taster sessions located within the gardens.
This is the third year of Archery GB’s National Series.
Archers throughout the country take part in five shoots, with results from three of them counting towards their final total.
The top four archers from each category – men’s and women’s recurve, and men’s and women’s compound – then go through to the Grand Final.
The qualifying events for this year’s Archery GB National Series Grand Final: Evesham, May 22; Penicuk, Scotland, June 18/19; Lilleshall, June 25/26; Bristol, July 23/24; York, August 27/28.
The defending champions are Simon Terry (men’s recurve), Naomi Folkard (women’s recurve), Chris White (men’s compound) and Nichola Simpson (women’s compound).
Simon Terry (men’s recurve), Charlotte Burgess (women’s recurve), Duncan Busby (men’s compound) and Lucy O’Sullivan (women’s compound) were the winners in the inaugural year.
