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Picture – U.S.A. team posing on podiem at the archery field on the last day, after team competitions. |
Tuesday, October 9 |
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Today we watched our compound men and recurve men compete in the team competitions. A team consists of three archers. Each team shoots on their own target. They all are positioned on the shooting line and alternate their shooting. Each archer shoots two arrows for a total of six arrows each end. They shoot a total of 3 ends, 18 arrows total. It’s kind of like a relay race. When the lead archer has shot his arrows, he puts his bow down and rests the stabilizer on the ground. This is the signal that the next archer on the team can raise his bow and shoot. When he has shot his two arrows, he puts his bow down and touches the ground with his stabilizer. Then the third archer raises his bow and shoots. All this is done in four minutes. Its fun to watch. Our teams did very well, but were not able to beat their opponents. They were very disappointed.
After the team competitions were over, Courtney and I, along with Randi and Paul went to a meeting to discuss the rules for IPC competitions with VI archers. Ann Webb wanted the input of the VI archers regarding how the competition was handled and what areas need better clarification.
The first issue brought up was “When should the blindfold first be put on?” The majority felt that the blindfold should be put on the first time the archer steps in front of the waiting line to setup the equipment.
The next issue dealt with the question “When should the VI archer be allowed to remove the blindfold?” The majority felt the blindfold should be warn throughout each distance, but could be taken off behind the waiting line between distances.
The next issue discussed what kind of blindfold should be allowed, sweep shade type or glasses. The majority of archers agreed that the blindfold should be either sleep shades or wrap around glasses that are blacked out. The blackouts will be inspected by the judges at the time of the equipment inspection. The judge will have the authority to inspect the blackouts at any time during competition at his discretion. If the blackouts do not pass inspection, the archer will be subject to the same penalty imposed under FITA rules when there is a problem with equipment. If an archer needs to remove her blackouts during the competition due to dust of similar substance in the eyes, she must face away from the shooting line, behind the waiting line to do so.
The next issue dealt with how large the point of contact should be on the tactile sight. The archers felt the tactile object should be no larger than 1.5 cm (approximately five-eighths inch)
The last issue discussed weather a VI archer should be allowed to stand on a mat or board of some type rather than directly on the ground. One archer currently uses a rubber mat to stand on and another has a board under the heals. It was felt that, unless an archer has a specific classification due to a physical necessity for altering the shooting surface, the FITA rules should be upheld. That is, FITA rules do not allow an able-bodied archer to modify the shooting surface beyond shuffling the feet to smooth down the grass.
Discussion was brought up about putting compound shooters in the same category with recurve shooters as well as the issue of a compound shooter being allowed to use a mechanical release. Ann was not prepared to talk about those issues because the rules had already been written allowing this. Apparently this discussion would have to be brought up at an IPC meeting as a proposal to change the rules.
This meeting went very well. It was not easy because people felt passionate about these issues, but Ann Webb facilitated the meeting brilliantly. Randi and Paul and Courtney and I were pleased with the outcomes.
When we got back to the hotel, the team got together and signed tournament posters for each other. Then they went back to their rooms to pack because they are leaving tomorrow to go home.
The closing ceremony and banquet dinner began at 6:30. At the closing ceremony the awards were given out for the FITA competition that took place the first two days of competition. I had originally been told that I had won gold for the women’s division, but this was incorrect. They combined the men and women VI archers. Steve from Great Britain received the first place award, Gabriel from France received the second place award and I received the third place award. There were no medals given out. Those were given only for the head-to-head competition where I received the silver medal. The awards are very nice. A velvet folder with an embossed certificate with my name and placement. I am glad they did it this way. It didn’t make sense for me to receive a gold medal for women since there were only two women competing. I am very happy to have come in third out of six archers and to be standing up there along side the men.
At the end of the banquet, we had to say good bye to our teammates and coaches. This was sad. It’s hard to say good bye after being together and supporting each other for more than a week.
Courtney and I have one more day here. Everyone who is not going home tomorrow will be able to go on a tour. We are looking forward to this since we have only seen the hotel and archery field up to this point. We will be very happy to get home, and to pick up my Liza girl.
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