NC archers out to climb rankings at National tournament
The AGA-NC team enthusiastically commenced the AGA-SA National Inter-Provincial Championship 2023 at the Springs Indoor Sports Arena in Gauteng on Wednesday, brimming with excitement and readiness for a demanding competition.
The championship featured teams from all nine provinces, encompassing primary, high school, development, and adult teams, with a grand total of 576 provincial archers participating in a thrilling Bull's Eye competition.
In this competition that ends on Friday, the combined scores of 16 provincial archers are meticulously calculated to determine the total score per team. The teams achieving the highest scores in each category will earn 1st, 2nd, and consecutive places in the competition. Additionally, individual archers are recognised and awarded for their outstanding performances, distinguishing the Top Achieving AGA-SA Archers in South Africa for 2023.
The Bull's Eye competition, which unfolded on Wednesday, challenged each archer to take aim at an 80-cm International Bull's Eye Target Face from distances of 10 metres and 15 metres. Each arrow shot had the potential to earn a maximum of 10 points or a minimum score of 0.
Archers aimed to accumulate a total score out of 300, which would contribute to their team's overall performance in the competition.
Dawid de Greeff, the AGA-NC Coordinator, shared his enthusiasm for the competition. He stated, "Some of our Northern Cape members, who typically rank lower, have delivered some of their best scores today (Wednesday). Conversely, some of our most skilled shooters didn't perform at their best."
De Greeff went on to discuss their aspirations, saying, "Last year, we found ourselves in the second-to-last position among the nine provinces, but we are hopeful of making a significant climb in the rankings this year."
Recognizing the intense competition, De Greeff pointed out, "The competition is undoubtedly tough, with Gauteng, the Western Cape, and the North West consistently dominating for over a decade, once again securing the top prizes."
He also stressed the invaluable learning experience for each participating archer, stating, "Each opportunity to partake in a tournament of this standard is another step in the journey of growth and improvement for every archer."
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of this tournament as preparation for the national tournament scheduled to take place in Kimberley next year.
As the AGA-NC team and their opponents from across South Africa compete in this prestigious championship, they embody the spirit of dedication and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the realm of archery.
Armed with determination and unwavering grit, they strive to leave an indelible mark and display their exceptional skills on the national stage, whilst simultaneously building bonds of camaraderie.