Sussex CAA
Open Indoor Championships

Sunday 16th March 2008
Worthing Leisure Centre, BN12 4ET

Judges: Roger McMullan, Richard Hillier.
Lady Paramount: Mrs Doreen Cannon.

The 2008 Sussex CAA Indoor Championships are done. A few things went wrong on the day, but most things went right and everyone appeared to leave the venue smiling. That probably adds up to a successful event, so let's begin by thanking those who made it so.

Any amount of time, planning, effort and money can be thrown at the organisation of a sporting fixture, but it can't happen unless someone turns up to take part. Archers from Sussex and its surrounding counties did so in magnificent fashion on Sunday 16th March and empty spaces were few and far between. To everyone who took part in this event, many thanks for your support.

The selection of a judge was the easiest decision that had to be made when the shoot was being planned. It also proved to be the right one as Roger McMullan, as ever, officiated with calm authority and much good humour. He also proved to be a mine of information and a mountain of confidence on which the organiser could draw before the event. Roger, thank you.

Sincere thanks also to Richard Hillier, who travelled from the Isle of Wight to assist Roger in his duties. That's a long journey to spend an even longer day helping other people enjoy themselves. Richard, you are a gentleman.

The two men in green who reported to Roger in their capacity as Field Captain and deputy whistle blower/target checker also deserve a special mention. Rob Keeley and Richard Cobden, please take a bow. Your efforts made a massive contribution to a successful day.

The judges' wives, Zillah McMullan and Di Hillier, handled registration and results with a calm efficiency and a flow of smiles; Liz Bowyer produced the signage and helped with results (and found time to win a medal. Well done, Liz!); and Doreen Cannon carried out the duties of Lady Paramount. Thank you, ladies and thanks also to Andrew Holdsworth for announcing the results.

It's easy and, in some quarters, popular to knock the younger generation. Anyone who witnessed the effort put into a variety of jobs on the day by Joshua Cobden, his sister Emily, Will Martin and Rebecca Tucknott will be in no doubt that, in reality, the kids are alright. Well done, you lot, and thank you ever so much for your hard work. You are a credit to yourselves and your families.

Setting up the venue was no small task, not least because of its size. At the eleventh hour there was a serious shortage of available manpower and forming a circle around the entrance of WLC to repel the natives was beginning to look like the only option. Then the 7th Cavalry arrived in the guise of Greg Strutt of Six Villages and the men of Arundown, namely Graham Brown, Jon Stafford, Hamish Matheson, Russell French, Nick Cole, Rob Keeley, Richard Cobden, John Nolan and Rod Brown. If you entered the main hall at WLC and thought "Blimey! This is good!" or similar, those are the guys you have to thank for the sweat and ingenuity needed to make the venue ready for you to shoot. Great job, people.

Finally, two people require special mention. Without Rod Brown and John Nolan, there wouldn't have been a Sussex Indoor Championship this year. Rod brought a mass of experience and good sense to the planning and organisation of the tournament and ensured the final results were delivered in good time, while John was always available to put together the numerous bits of ancillary equipment needed to make the event happen. Sincere thanks to you both.

The collective effort has been worthwhile. If nothing else, it has shown that archers from Sussex and its neighbouring counties will support events provided the facilities are good and the competition is interesting enough. Quality events should be the norm rather than the exception for Sussex archers. That is the challenge for the County's Officers when, if ever, they consider the organisation of future competitions held under the auspices of the Sussex County Archery Association.

Good luck to the organiser of the 2009 Sussex Indoor Championships. All enquiries about next year's competition should be directed to the Sussex County Archery Association.

£164.98 was raised by those shaking the bucket for Sport Relief. Not as much as we'd hoped for, but a useful contribution nonetheless.

The money was banked on Monday 17th March. A copy of the receipt is available on request.

Although this wasn't a record status shoot, the achievement of Peter Hammond of St Dunstans must be mentioned.

Peter is a B1 category (totally blind) compound archer. The current British record in this category is 377. Peter's score of 432 in the first session of the Individual Championships blitzed this record by 55 points. Now that is performance! And, believe it or not, it isn't his personal best. Well done!

If you'd like to know more about Visually Impaired (VI) archery, visit the St Dunstans AC website or e-mail Sue Habgood.

Greg Strutt of Six Villages (in photo below right): "Go away! I'm having a bad round!" Greg, what are your good ones like?

Andy Randall of Chichester (red chest guard, centre left of photo below left): "I forgot to enter Sam [his son]. I came here to shoot for the team this morning, I remembered to enter myself in the second session, but I forgot about Sam. Now my wife knows. Please help." The Lord Almighty must have overheard this. Seconds later someone withdrew from the second session and Sam's mother was placated.

Pip Tucknott of Arundown during the second session of the Individual Championships: "It's going OK. I'm focused! Honestly! I'm REALLY focused! What's for tea?" Focused - but focused on what?!

9.30 am session

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12.45 pm session

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4.00 pm session

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