Whanganui archer aims for master shot

Sue Laugesen (left), takes aim in the Masters' Games archery contest on Saturday. Photograph by Bevan Conley.

When Sue Laugesen of Whanganui was looking for a new sport to take up five years ago, she fancied the idea of fencing.

"I decided I wasn't fit enough for that so I chose archery," she said.

There has been no looking back and now, at 57, Ms Laugesen is competing in the Masters' Games for the second time.

At Wembley Park on Saturday, she was in third place for women competing in the 40 plus category at half time.

She won a silver medal in the recurve (bow with limbs that curve away from the archer) section of the 2015 Masters' Games competition.

The three main categories for the archery competition are recurve, (compound bow with eccentric pulleys and cables allowing high bow weights, but low weight at full-draw) and barebow or longbow.

The three categories are judged according to FITA (Federation Internationale de Tir a L'Arc or International target archery federation) standards.

Entrants also had the option to compete in the ring shoot if they wished to.

The ring shoot dates back to medieval times said Wanganui Archery Club president Ian Hollins.

"The rules around it have become blurred in the mists of time so it is an informal part of the competition," he said.

Unlike some other Masters' Games events, the number of competitors in the archery competition is limited to 30 and there were just two age categories - 40 plus and 60 plus.

Mr Hollins said around 57 percent of the entrants this year came from outside Whanganui.