Northland sharpshooters bring home gold from World Bowhunting Championships

Northland has several world champions in its midst after an outstanding effort at the 2011 World Bowhunting Championships in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
Mount Tiger Archery Club's Cheryl Irvine won the Veteran Ladies Freestyle Unlimited class, while her husband Trevor Irvine won the Professional Mens Unlimited class at the recent competition.
Irvine has won numerous medals at World Championship events, but this was his first gold medal in the pro men's division and meant a lot, he said.
Fellow Mount Tiger shooter Rob Ward claimed the Veteran Mens Longbow world title, while Lois Howe picked up a bronze in the Ladies Freestyle Unlimited division.
Rodney Archery Club's Ben Orchard, 12, was the youngest member to travel with the 21-strong New Zealand contingent, and put in an outstanding effort to win the Cub Boys Freestyle Limited Compound class.
Nine of the Kiwi contingent formed the official team, which included Irvine, James Williams, Linda and Mike Lainchbury, Jeff Kai Fong, Gene Gray, Orchard, Lyall Lainchbury and Penny Baggott.
The competition was held over four days, where archers shot at unmarked animal targets in near perfect conditions, Irvine said.
"All of the four courses we shot on were very different, and made it personally challenging.
"There was a very good standard of shooting, with the Australians performing very well with their homeground advantage."
The European and South African shooters were also very competitive, Irvine added.
"percentage wise, however, New Zealand did very well, bringing 12 medals home from 21 archers and there were some excellent performances."
Gold medals: Trevor Irvine (Professional Men's Unlimited), Cheryl Irvine (Veteran Ladies Freestyle Unlimited), Linda Lainchbury (Ladies Freestyle Unlimited Shoot off), Mike Lainchbury (Men's Bowhunter Limited), Rob Ward (Veteran Men's Longbow), Ben Orchard (Cub Boys Freestyle Limited Compound), James Williams (Veteran Men's Bowhunter Unlimited), Mitchell Joynt (Jnr Boys Freestyle Compound).
Silver Medals: Phil Armstead (Men's Bowhunter Limited 2).
Bronze Medals: Lois Howe (Ladies Freestyle Unlimited), Lyall Lainchbury (Veteran Men's Bowhunter Limited), Eddie Sides (Men's Longbow).