4 April 2011 - Liverpool’s Speke Hall to host this year’s National Series Grand Final

Liverpool’s Speke Hall to host this year’s National Series Grand Final Lilleshall (GBR) – 4 April 2011   Archery GB’s National Series Grand Final will take place this year in Liverpool. In the year that Archery GB celebrates its 150th anniversary, it is an appropriate venue—the first ever GNAS meeting took place at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, in July 1861.   The Grand Final of the blue riband event of archery’s domestic calendar will take place in the picturesque surroundings of the National Trust’s Speke Hall on 18 September 2011.   "I’m absolutely delighted to have secured this wonderful venue, and Liverpool is such an obvious venue for our Grand Final this year," said Jon NOTT, Archery GB’s National Series organiser. "Liverpool City Council has been really receptive to us, and are now sharing my enthusiasm about putting on a fantastic day of for archery enthusiasts."   "We also look forward to welcoming along members of the public to have a go at our sport, as we did in Leamington last year. Speke Hall is a beautiful venue, and members of the archery community will really enjoy not just the top class archery on display, but the grounds and facilities of our hosts."   Councillor Wendy SIMON is the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, Liverpool City Council, and she is looking forward to hosting the country’s best archers, and followers of the sport to her city. She said: "Liverpool is delighted to welcome the 2011 Archery GB National Series Final to the city. Archery GB is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, so it’s especially fitting that we are hosting this event in the city which saw the birth of the original Grand National Archery Society."   “Merseyside is proud to boast two members of the Great Britain senior men’s archery squad in Duncan BUSBY, a double gold medallist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, and Liam GRIMWOOD, who won a silver medal at the world championships 18 months ago. We look forward to a marvellous event in the picturesque setting of the National Trust’s Speke Hall."   Both proud Merseysiders, they are both setting their sights on winning the National Series compound gold medal in their home city.   Said BUSBY: "Winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal last year was as good as it gets, a really thrilling experience. But winning the National Series title at Speke Hall would also be very special for me, and I’m sure if I qualify for the Grand Final I’ll have good support from friends and family."   Said GRIMWOOD, the reigning national indoor champion: "I’ve yet to win the National Series title, so it would be fantastic to do it locally. I’m delighted the Grand Final’s coming to Speke Hall, especially in the year that Archery GB celebrates its 150th anniversary."   Speke Hall is a rare example of a Tudor manor house, renowned for its grandeur. It is surrounded by attractive gardens, and visitors can enjoy a bracing walk with stunning views of the Welsh hills.   The 2011 Archery GB National Series Final will take place at Speke Hall with competition and practice ranges together with archery taster sessions located within the gardens.   This is the third year of Archery GB’s National Series. Archers throughout the country take part in five shoots, with results from three of them counting towards their final total. The top four archers from each category—recurve men and women, and compound men and women compound—then go through to the Grand Final.   The qualifying events for this year’s Archery GB National Series Grand Final are:   Ø Evesham, 22 May Ø Penicuk, Scotland, 18-19 June Ø Lilleshall, 25-26 June Ø Bristol, 23-24 July Ø York, August 27-28   The defending champions are Simon TERRY (recurve men), Naomi FOLKARD (recurve women), Chris WHITE (compound men) and Nichola SIMPSON (compound women).   Simon TERRY (recurve men), Charlotte BURGESS (recurve women), Duncan BUSBY (compound men) and Lucy O’SULLIVAN (compound women) were the winners in the inaugural year, 2009.   For more information, contact Peter JONES, Media, Archery GB, +44 (7841) 997408   Source: ArcheryGB Edited by World Archery Communication