Greenough deadeyes overcome challenging courses and frigid conditions to medal at national titles

The Geraldton archery quartet have returned from the national Australian Bowhunters titles with medals around their necks as they cemented Greenough as one of the best clubs in Australia.

The titles began on Easter weekend and had competitors from around Australia competing for both the flat and 3D target titles across multiple divisions.

Dave Hancock, Reece Espinos, and Daniel and James Berry formed the entire WA contingent at the national event and despite carrying the weight of the State did not disappoint bringing home five medals — one silver and four bronze.

This was despite what Daniel Berry described as some of the most difficult courses the club ever faced.

“The courses that we shot were the most extremely challenging courses we have ever seen with shots out to 48m, up and down hills on a 45-degree angle or across a 5m deep gully,” he said.

“Not only did you have to work out the distance of the target but you also had to take into consideration the elevation difference which made it extremely difficult.

“The weather didn’t play nice either, with heavy rain Friday morning, showers most of Saturday and wind gusts coming in at temperatures of -3C all weekend.”

The bowhunter (flat targets) were held over the first two days of the competition with Hancock securing third place in his A-grade division with Espinos going one better taking second in the longbow category.

James Berry took home third in the junior boys A-grade with Daniel finishing fourth in the men’s C-grade missing out on third by one target.

For the 3D targets held on Easter Sunday and Monday, Hancock again won third in his division as James Berry secured another third with Daniel finishing fifth.

James Berry thanked the JK foundation for helping get to the titles.

“I would like to thank the Josh Kennedy sports scholarship program for their support to get me across to the national titles,” he said.

It represented an excellent result for what were the club’s first-ever national titles.

“We had a great weekend away and met a lot of other archers from all over Australia, we were the smallest club/State there but we definitely put Greenough archery club on the map,” Daniel said.