South African championships, first world ranking event of the year in Africa

The South African National Archery Championships, which carries world ranking status, comprises of a FITA round which will determine the national champions followed by a 720 round and eliminations.

Amongst the competitors are World Archery record holder Septimus CILLIERS and Danelle WENTZEL (photo) and 17 archers from neighbouring country Namibia (the current Compound Men and Women Continental Champions). Both CILLIERS and WENTZEL are 1400 archers.

The Director of Shooting, National Judge Alfredo LOBO DAS NEVES, gave the organisers the thumbs up after the technical delegate gave the green light.

The championships which will be officially opened by Mr Barry HENDRICKS, chairperson of the Gauteng Province Sports Commission, includes a development category which allows a number of archers to experience the excitement of the national championships.

It will also be an opportunity for the countries three international judges, continental judge and a number of national judges to gain experience. The judges completed a refresher course this week under the guidance of World Archery International Judge Emeritus, Prof Konrad van WARMELO.

With the drive that SANAA is making towards para-archery, nine para-archers will be competing, including para-archer, Shawn ANDERSON, the current CMO Continental champion, who is in training for the 2016 Paralympics. In the past year, SANAA has made major strides in para-archery, with another 36 para-archery members completing the Feathers and Arrows course last month.

The National Championships is also used as an opportunity to develop the sport and SANAA has a number of development opportunities which sees some 20 development archers on the line.

Results and photographs will be available on the SANAA website at  with regular updates on Twitter (@archerysa) and the official SANAA Facebook page.
   
Selwyn MOSKOVITZ / SANAA
Edited by World Archery Communication