March 26, 2014
Just 18 months ago, two young Nanango residents took up field archery as a sport … and already they’re on their way to competing at a national championship.
Jaiden and Tennae Francis, members of the Barambah Bowhunters and Field Archers Club, competed in the State IFAA titles in Maryborough on February 21-22 and brought home gold medals.
Jaiden, who is in Year 9 at St Mary’s Catholic College, won the Junior Boys B Division for Compound Bow Unlimited, beating archers graded higher than him with much more experience.
Tennae, who is in Year 6, won her cub girls division for Compound Bow Freestyle.
They will now both be competing at the 2014 National Safari being held at the Wide Bay Archery Club in Maryborough from April 11-21.
Jaiden said he had taken up field archery to “try something different”.
His father Wayne had shot arrows 33 years ago as a youngster so Jaiden started practising with Wayne’s old fibreglass recurve bow.
“I told him if he wanted to be serious with the sport, I would get him a good bow,” Wayne said today.
Jaiden and his sister Tennae were both serious … so now they have new bows, and are hitting the mark in competitions.
Jaiden practises at home at 80 yards and competes at 50 yards; Tennae, in comparison, does most of her practising on the day of the competition, but it seems to be paying off!
Dad Wayne has also resumed shooting.
“It’s a real family sport,” he said. “We travel all over Queensland to compete, camping at the club grounds.”
The sport is far more technical than simply letting arrows fly at a target.
Each bow must be carefully set up, and arrows prepared – tasks which are now keeping Wayne busy as he prepares the bows for Jaiden and Tennae.
Shoots are held at Barambah Bowhunters club, near Nanango, once a month.
The club also has fun days and coaching days for beginners from cubs to adults, and has recurve and long bows available for use by visitors.
For more information, contact Jenny Hetherington on (07) 4162-4630 or 0407-026-497.
