What’s your obsession?
‘Archery.’
What got you into it?
‘My Dad used to shoot when I was a child so I always wanted to do this sport. I was never a very fast child so I thought archery would be ideal for me.’
How often do you do it?
‘I can practise every night of the week as I have a target in my back garden, but I tend to shoot with a club up to three times a week.’
Where do you do it?
‘When I am away I shoot at local clubs close to Nottingham and of course at my university itself. When I am back in the Island I shoot at the RJA&HS.’
Is it easy to get into?
‘It is very easy to do, from any age. Archers tend to start from ten years old and you can shoot right into your 60s.’
What skills do you need?
‘You need to be very focussed. It is an individual sport, so you have to prepare yourself in that respect. You also need to have quite strong back and arm muscles to be able to pull back the bow.’
Is it popular in Jersey?
‘Archery is a very unusual sport, but hopefully with more money coming into the sport and the Commonwealth Games on the horizon it will become more and more popular.’
What do you like about it?
‘I like how you can be part of a team, yet be your own person. The thing I like the most is the uniqueness of the sport. It has helped me to improve not only my physical strength, but I have also become a more confident person over the years because of archery.’
What do you need to do it?
‘You will need a target to aim at (foam or straw), a bow and some arrows.’
How do I get into it?
‘I wanted to shoot when I was in England, but I was always told I was too small. However, when I moved to Jersey I joined a club over here and my dad used to take me to archery shoots in England so that I could get used to big competitions. I have just carried on from there.’
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