British team returns to World Cup podium after 6 years

Great Britain’s Tom Hall, Alex Wise, and Patrick Huston fought their way onto the podium at the second stage of the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, beating Malaysia, 6-2, to the recurve men’s team bronze medal.

It marks the first circuit podium for a British recurve men’s team since Larry Godfrey, Simon Terry and Alan Wills finished third in Odgen in 2012.

“This trio is the start of something special,” Huston said of Antalya squad. “We’ve been working together a while, and we’re starting to click now.”

“This is down to a lot of winter practice. We’ve got a lot more in us. The results are coming out already. And there’s a lot more still in the tank.”

The Brits battled up from the 14th seed, upsetting Spain and France in eliminations, and outshooting number four ranked Malaysia in the arena.

After losing the first set in a tricky wind, 49-47, the British team shot six-arrow scores of 52, 57 and 52 points to take the back three and victory.

They were handed a free pass in set two when the Malaysian second, Muhamed Zolkepeli, shot a six with his second arrow. Zolkepeli never recovered and was the weak link for Malaysia until the end.

The match left Tom Hall needing just a five to secure the win – and in true nail-biting British fashion, Hall shot a six.

“There was a little bit of adjustment needed, so the hold was a bit longer. I will admit I did hear them say ‘five to win’ because I could hear the commentary,” Hall admitted.

“I thought: whatever I do, it’s going to be a five, so it’s fine. And it was.” 

It was a first medal on the international stage for rookie Wise.

“I’ve never really done anything like this,” he said. “I’ve done things on final stages at junior events, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of finally getting a result out here.”

The second stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Antalya, Turkey on 20-26 May.

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