European Grand prix - Sassari July 5 - 8

[joetapley]

Trying to stick tournament references on the GNAS page which wasn't designed for it results in something messy and hard to read. Be more sensible just to include a link to the Fita calendars e.g.
http://www.archery.org/clients/fita/...7?OpenDocument

The recent GNAS change fixing the width at 700px has resulted in everything looking cramped (about 1/3rd of the screen just white space for most)

[Fox]

Grant, I agree that the selection criteria has become somewhat Blurred under Peter's rule and has become less of a level playing field but until you have been on the team, and shot at international level, save the criticism. At the 5international shoots I have been to, I have shot well 3 times and very badly twice, its hard to perform every time when you are under a lot more pressure. And just try doing that 1 arrow shoot off in a tream round, with everyone watching, and everyone waiting, and expecting, trust me, you will **** yourself. I look back and think that was the hardest thing I ever did in archey, Its a 10 I will remember forever.

[grantwomack]

Yes, I'll admit the criticism wasn't necessary. It is just disheartening to watch a full team of British archers do none-too-well at an event with a comparatively small field of archers.
I'm really looking forward to a time when I can do more one-arrow shootoffs. Got my first taste of it this past weekend at Clophill. Great fun!

[Fox]

Try one at the World Indoors, it certainly makes your sight wobble.

[Reg]

It is just disheartening to watch a full team of British archers do none-too-well at an event with a comparatively small field of archers.

So why didn't we take a full team ? (e.g. only 2 ladies compounds) I'm told it's not a case of funding - just the whim of the coach. Surely you want as many archers out there gaining experience of international competition as possible?

[Fox]

For starters this is not an attack on any cometitiors.

When you go to these events, it is not a level playing field, you compete against a good number of proffesional archers.

If this country wants to send a good number of top archers to International shoots then we need to create a national structure that is not based on amateurs doing a hobby. If the sport is amateur, you get amateurs, if you want proffesionals then there has to be decent incentive. This country is fundamentally backward when it come to winners and achievment. There are no proffesional events at all and never will be when the sport is run by a group of old fuddy duddy's.

We do not even offer free entry to the competition the following year for winners, how backward is that?

I'd like to think that at the moment Peter is finding his feet in the archery structure of this country but i suspect not and the way the money is being spent at the moment is causing hostility and upset among some of the elite due to blatant unfairness.

I mention no names but so far the british compound archer who has won the most world ranking points has only been taken to one shoot, another has been to three and yes, shot high scores but not progressed as well through H-H's and has fewer points, why is this, what is the logic, do we not want a world NO. 1?

You dont need a huge prize fund to start the ball rolling, but if the ball starts I am sure it will do well but someone needs to start it roling. If archers see financial incentive as a reward for performance excellence we stand a far better chance of creating quality in depth and more consistent performance at a higher level.

Clay pigeon shooting has prize money(not a lot, maybe 20 quid to start)from ground roots level upwards and we excel at it as a sport which is highly NON PC and hated by the media who just see strange men with GUNS.

The biggest association with archery is still Robin Hood and Tights to the Layman.

In my opinion the best shoots are all money shoots, they have huge attendance from far and wide(how many of you have been to Vegas) most are totally open shoots and all offer prize money of some amount to a large number of participants and still make money for the organisers.

Nimes and Face to Face are two great examples in europe and I'm sure anyone who has been, win, lose or draw will agree.

[grantwomack]

Agreed, the Face-2-Face was amazing!

[Fox]

And did you win anything? Did you object to some of your entry fee paying for prizes? I bet not. Was it professionally organised and well run, I bet.

I know a lot of people like seem to like slagging off Tony Goodwin and Alternative on this forum but he has always been fine by me. He is about the only person in this country who is switched on to the professional format and is trying to promote it, albeit starting in another country for the moment with the Cartel Classic. He always promotes Nimes, Vegas and F-F as well as the european Field 5 Nations and I think he should be congratulated for it.

I have no sponsorship and or commercial involvement with Alternative by the way.