Members from all three Northland clubs have been gearing up over the past year and a half, working tremendously hard towards the IFAA World Field Archery Championships.(WFAC) being held in Wagga Wagga, Australia at the end of September.
Mt Tiger archer Lisa Ferris said the archers have been impressing all year.
"NZ records have been both equalled as well as smashed by many NZ archers, including those from Northland during the year, which is setting them up well for the competition and shows their level of training and determination," she said.
WFAC Wagga Wagga will see up to 600 archers competing over five days of intense shooting.
Distances range up to 80 yards (all measurement in this style of archery are imperial), with four arrows being shot at each field or hunter target over four of the 6 hour days, and one intense day of a single arrow only shot at marked distance paper animal targets.
The New Zealand Field Archery Association (NZFAA) held their National event in Auckland recently, where the NZ Black Arrows team was announced.
Mt Tigers archers selected for the Black Arrows team are Lisa Ferris (Adult Female Bowhunter Unlimited), Tyrell Rapana (Cub Male Freestyle Unlimited), Lois Howe (Veteran Female Freestyle Unlimited), Cheryl Irvine (Veteran Female Freestyle Unlimited), and Trevor Irvine (Veteran Male Freestyle Unlimited).
This is the first time since 2006 that the WFAC has been held in Australasia, and many New Zealand archers have taken up the opportunity to be part of the NZ Contingent with the ultimate goal being part of the NZ team - The Black Arrows.
Ferris said they have been working hard to get ready for the event.
"Preparation for this world class event has included regular coaching and attendance at monthly National shoots," she said.
This year sees the largest contingent of NZ archers crossing the ditch to compete with archers from 15 different countries.
The next WFAC will be held in Africa in 2018.
