Hoekwil on the archery map

ARCHERY NEWS - Archers from the Hoekwil Archery Club competed in their first national event, the 2022 South African National Archery Association (Sanaa) National Indoor/Outdoor Championships.

The event was held across various venues all over the country on Saturday and Sunday, 8 and 9 October.

Hoekwil had the following entries:

• Recurve men 50+: 3 @ 18 metres

• Compound men 50+: 1 @ 18 metres

• Recurve boys u.18: 2 @ 18 metres

• Recurve girls u.15: 1 @ 18 metres

• Recurve boys u.15: 1 @ 18 metres

• Recurve boys u.13 years: 4 @ 9 metres

In total there were 12 entries.

Each archer shot a total of 120 arrows in batches of thirty. The size of the targets for all the archers was 40cm with a ten-ring (or bull's eye) with a diameter of 4cm.

Hoekwil Archery Club was registered by Mike Smales in 2016 with the Western Cape Archery Federation. Initially the club operated out of the Hoekwil Primary School to coach their youngsters and those from surrounding schools, but soon the club was recognised by the SA National Archery Association.

This means that all club members may shoot in both national and provincial competitions and are eligible for selection for international competitions and ultimately Protea archery colours.

Smales started the club with the objective of introducing Olympic recurve archery to the youth in and around Hoekwil. Some of the parents - and grandparents - have since developed a keen interest and the club membership now spans ages between nine and 78.

"Archery improves focus and concentration among the young and is an effective stress-busting exercise for adults. This sport is for everyone; men and women alike find it a sociable, relaxing and fun sport to share with their family members," he said.

Archery is not about strength but rather about technique - and in fact some girls do better than the boys.

Smales is enthusiastic about growing newcomers into archers who will eventually be able to compete at club events, provincial league shoots and national competitions.

The club currently has twenty regular archers from Hoekwil, Knysna, George, Mossel Bay and Great Brak River. Some of the founding members will be leaving for university at the end of the year.

"We are on the lookout for new archers to help us achieve our objective to grow to at least thirty active members. With our new archery range, we can certainly accommodate them," Smales said.

Archery is a very affordable sport. Initially the coach provides all the equipment needed until the archer obtains his or her own bow and accessories. And even these are affordable compared with many other types of sport.

The team of archers from the Hoekwil Archery Club.