Archers hit home
October 27th, 2016
Archery SA have hit a bullseye and found a new competition base at Mylor Oval.
The state's premier archery organisation have been looking for a home ground for years, and after some redevelopments at their former base at Saint Ignatius College in Athelstone, they decided to make the move.
Archery SA president Bruce Lang said they ultimately want Mylor Oval to be the state base, including training for state squads, but they are taking it one step at a time.
“We're happy to find a home base at Mylor Oval,” Bruce said.
“The management committee are really supportive and we want to contribute positively to the community.
“During the summer season there's cricket every Saturday, so we're making sure we have events on Sunday.”
Archery SA's State Target Championships will be the first competition at Mylor Oval on Sunday, November 6.
About 80 people will compete in the championships and all are welcome to enter until October 31 or just come along to watch the action.
The Mylor Country Markets are also held on the first Sunday of each month, with bric-a-brac, crafts and baked goods for sale, and will be open for Archery SA's first competition.
President of the Mylor Oval Management Committee Margaret Fidock hopes the sport will help bring more people to the oval.
“We are hoping this will bring people to Mylor to support the town, the businesses and encourage more use of the oval,” Margaret said.
“It's a nice setting for people to come for picnics―we've got an electric barbecue that people can use and the Sherry Park playground is just next door.”
Margaret said Archery SA could eventually practice field archery at the grounds too, which involves shooting at targets of varying distance in bushland areas.
“We manage the land on the other side of the creek, so if we're allowed to put a bridge across there they can use that area for field archery.”
“If we can't, they'll have to walk through the water!”
For now Archery SA will use the oval for target archery—members shoot targets at varying distances while standing in a line.
President Bruce Lang has been practising archery for 40 years but now just shoots for the pleasure of it.
“I used to play hockey and tennis, and while I enjoyed that, I was coming home bruised and battered and that wasn't my idea of fun.”
“I saw a sign that said archery club, inquired about coaching and it went from there.
“Now I shoot four days a week because I'm retired, but if you want to get to a really good level you have to practice every day.
Bruce said archery is a mental challenge.
“You're competing against yourself and when you’ve been shooting for a while you know where the lapse in concentration was for that shot and you can try to rectify the next one,” he said.
If you would like to give archery a shot there are three clubs in the Adelaide Hills at Lobethal, Tanunda and Strathalbyn.
Archery SA's State Target Championships will be held on Sunday, November 6 at Mylor Oval, Lot 1620 Strathalbyn Rd, Mylor. Register to compete at http://www.archerysa.org.au.
Shooting will start at 10am and the Mylor Country Market will be open from 9am-3pm.
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