Brock Paton, the founder of the Osoyoos Traditional Archery School, and his prize student Sarah Martin, were both named to Team Canada and will compete in the World 3-D Traditional Archery Championships in Italy later this summer. Paton has won numerous provincial and national titles, while Martin became Canada’s national female champion last year. To help raise money so Martin can compete against the world’s best female archers, the club is selling bumper stickers and hot sauce made by Paton, who is a retired chef. (Keith Lacey photo)
The founder of the Osoyoos Traditional Archery School is confident a local fundraising campaign will raise enough money to pay for his prize student to participate in the upcoming World Traditional Archery Championships in Italy late this summer.
Brock Paton, who is four-time provincial and national champion in 3-D target shooting, will be joining his prize student, Sarah Martin, as both were named to the Canadian national team following the national outdoor championships in Lac la Biche, Alberta last fall.
Martin became the national women’s champion in 3-D target shooting, where competitors shoot arrows at life-size animal targets ranging from small prey like rabbits up to larger animals like deer, moose and elk.
Martin and Paton will be heading to Terni, Italy in late August to compete in the world championships.
Even though they are members of Canada’s national team, they won’t be receiving any funding to help pay for the trip, said Paton.
“Not even our entry fees are paid,” he said.
To try and raise funds to pay for the costs involved in getting to and from Italy for Martin, Paton and other club members have started a fundraising campaign.
They will be selling bumper stickers that read, “I Support Traditional Archery – World Championships 2015.”
Paton, who made his career as an accomplished chef, will also be selling pure habanero cooking paste.
He will be attending the Osoyoos Market on Main from the time it opens in March until they leave for Italy.
“It’s my own secret recipe,” he said smiling. “This is extremely hot stuff, but adds some really nice flavor to things like soup, stew, stir fry and whatever food needs a little kick of really tasty, spicy hot sauce.
“This stuff is so hot that I use only one prong of a small fork in an entire large pot of soup and you can still feel the heat.”
As a founder of the Semiahmoo Rod and Gun Club, Paton will also be organizing a Dutch auction when he competes at that club’s annual indoor archery competition from March 20-22.
The bumper stickers will sell for $3 apiece or two for $5, while a jar of habanero sauce will sell for $10.
Martin has only been a competitive archer for less than 15 months, but has proven to be Canada’s best female 3-D archer and she has amazed some of this country’s top shooters with her rapid development, said Paton.
“To go from a beginner in this sport to a national champion in just over one year is rather astounding,” he said. “She has been a great representative for the sport, for our club and this community and she is thrilled to be representing Canada on the world stage.”
While he can afford to pay his own way to Italy, Martin is a working mother with two teenage children and that’s why he started this fundraising campaign, said Paton.
He and Martin will spend roughly 10 days in Italy.
“We will go down three days early to get acclimatized to the shooting venue and get some rest before seven tough days of competition,” he said.
Paton has competed in the world championships twice over the past four years and is really looking forward to returning for the third time.
“Anytime you get to compete against the best in the world, you have to get excited,” he said. “I’m more excited for Sarah, because she is a rare talent and I’m really looking forward to seeing how she will do competing against the other top women from around the world.”
The bumper stickers will be sold at Polka Dot Door flower shop in Osoyoos and at Market on Main throughout the summer.
After practising indoors over the past several months, Paton and Martin have returned to shooting outdoors at the club’s home base on Strawberry Creek Road.
The club continues to welcome new members of all ages, said Paton.
Regular practices take place on Tuesday and Thursday evening at the club. Martin and Paton often practice five days a week.
Anyone wishing to purchase the bumper stickers or habanero sauce can contact Paton at home by calling him at 250-495-7878.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
