The Osoyoos Traditional Archery School is the talk of the national archery scene after three members claimed gold medals in their respective divisions at the recent Canadian 3-D Archery Championships in Lethbridge. National gold medallists include club founder Brock Paton (centre), Sarah Martin, 39, and Alex Rousseau, 17. (Photo supplied)
The Osoyoos Traditional Archery School is the talk of the national archery community after three members returned from the national championships in Lethbridge with gold medals dangling from their necks.
Brock Paton, 69, the founder of the school and one of the best archers in the country, was a heavy favourite as usual as this was his fifth gold medal in the Canadian National 3-D Archery Championships. He has also captured five outdoor national championships in the longbow (with wooden arrows) category.
Much to his surprise, two new members of the Osoyoos Traditional Archery School – Sarah Martin, 39, and teenage sensation Alex Rousseau, 17, also captured gold medals at the national championships.
Martin and Rousseau are both from Cawston and joined the Osoyoos club only eight months ago. Martin is very good friends with Rousseau’s parents.
For those who aren’t aware, 3-D archery involves competitors firing arrows at life-sized animal targets, ranging from small animals like squirrels all the way up to huge beasts like elk, deer and moose. The targets vary in range from only a few metres up to 30 metres away.
Martin’s performance to claim the national championships for women in the longbow (wooden arrows) category was staggering, said Paton.
“After the first round, she had the highest score of any competitor, male or female, in any category,” he said. “She was just on fire and couldn’t miss.
“To enter your first national competition and shoot like she did was unbelievable. She was the talk of the tournament after her incredible performance.”
Martin’s archery skills are so advanced after only eight months that she could become the first Canadian female archer invited to the world championships later in 2014, said Paton.
“Because she’s so new to the sport, she has to compete in two more big shoots to get enough points, so she’s committed to the provincial and national outdoor championships in the next few months and if she does well there, the national team is going to take a real good look at her,” said Paton. “She’s already arguably the best female archer in Canada and she’s only going to get better as she’s so new to the sport.
“Watching her perform in Lethbridge was just a thrill and I’m really happy for her.”
He shared the same sentiments about Rousseau, who competed in the recurve instinctive division for juniors and came out on top.
“He was in second place until the final round, but his first six arrows in the final round were 10s or near bullseye and this got him the gold medal,” he said. “It’s amazing to see a kid this age compete at his first nationals and come through under pressure like that.”
To have three members of the Osoyoos-based club come back as national champions is something he’s very proud of, said Paton.
“I still haven’t come down from it,” he said. “We’re just a small club in little Osoyoos, but I think everyone in our sport is going to know about us after having three national champions crowned.
“It’s a real credit to our club and all the hard work we’ve put in.”
Paton was up against Jerry Poole, who defeated him during last year’s national indoor championships, and came out on top.
“I was only one point ahead after the first day … but I shot five 11s in the final round and I pulled away,” he said. “It was nice to get back on top after falling a little short last year.”
The facility and organization in Lethbridge made it one of the best national championship events he’s ever competed at, said Paton.
“That was the best 3-D tournaments I’ve ever been to,” he said. “The course set up was incredible and the people were very friendly and courteous.
“They did a hell of a job.”
Paton says he plans on joining Martin and Rousseau in competing at the national outdoor championships later this summer.
The world championships are held bi-annually and Paton is hoping he can qualify in 2015 and says he wouldn’t be surprised if Martin joins him on the national team.
Paton competed at the 2013 world outdoor championships in Sardinia, Italy last fall.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
