Archery GB launches Arrows
It's brilliant... And can we have another go please? When you get a reaction like that from a 10-year-old, it's a fair bet you're on to a winner.
Arrows, the new school archery product was launched on Friday 14 September at Cam Everlands Primary School, Gloucestershire. It was an immediate hit with pupils - and London 2012 silver medalist Mel Clarke.
She helped 10-year-old Riley Dalton get to grips with equipment - and he was determined to make the most of her expert tuition. "It's brilliant. I love archery!" he said. "I'm going to get really good and teach archery when I get older."
Among the other 10-year-olds determined to have as many goes as possible were Shay Thomas, Shianne Welsh, Ellie Carver and Chloe Dearnley. And their hands shot up as pupils were asked who wanted to meet Mel and then pose for pictures with Development Squad members Ashe Morgan and Kieran Slater.
But they were not the only ones who wanted to get their hands on Arrows. Mel did too. "It's cool," she said. "Archery kit that gives kids the chance to use it safely and get into the sport... it's great. I want to play!"
So what is Arrows? Kate Moss, Archery GB’s National School and Young People Development Coordinator explained; "Arrows has been developed to ensure archery is more accessible to primary schools. We hope that as children are introduced to archery through Arrows at school, they are enthused to take up the sport at a local club. No training is required and the product allows teachers to deliver fun-packed archery sessions. It has been designed to be easy to store and set up, and can be delivered in any school setting – a school hall or on a field or playground." The product includes arrows, double-sided targets, arm bracers, teacher guide and reference and activity cards and there will also be short instruction videos available soon.
David Reader, National Development Manager, thanked Mel, Ashe, Kieran, Cam Everlands head teacher Ian Dixon, John Merne of Sport England and Vicci Wells of Youth Sport Trust for making the launch such a success.
"It's been a great year for sport, one we will never forget and I'm glad to say archery was a big part of that," he said. "I know that the result has been a big groundswell in support for the sport and people want to get involved. Arrows is a great place to start and, who knows, it might eventually lead to greater things - like an Olympic or Paralympic medal."
For more information about Arrows, go to www.archerygb.org/arrows or email Kate Moss, National School and Young People Development Coordinator at arrows@archerygb.org.
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