British stars Nicky HUNT, Naomi FOLKARD carry the Olympic Torch

Nicky HUNT The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay travelled from Ipswich to Oxford between 5 and 9 July. Several members of the British archery community were among the torchbearers. Three British archery representatives ran with the Olympic Torch in the last few days: the international archer Nicky HUNT on 5 July, the former Junior Chairman John WILSON on 6 July, and the Olympian Naomi FOLKARD on 9 July. The international archer Nicky HUNT ran the last leg of 5 July into Christchurch Park in the town of Ipswich, and over 11,000 spectators cheered as she lit the cauldron. The winner of two World Cup stages (Porec 2009 and Shanghai 2010) and reigning Commonwealth Games team and individual champion in compound, Nicky HUNT described the experienced as "incredible". "It was just an amazing experience, and one of the best days of my life," said the 27-year-old. "I didn’t realise, or even expect, how big an occasion it would be, but running into Christchurch Park, then lighting the cauldron in front of thousands of people was something I will never forget. It was easily on par with winning the two Commonwealth Games gold medals and carrying the flag into the stadium at the closing ceremony in Delhi." To see Nicky’s moment of glory, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-18731550 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uDdMaCg_S-g John WILLSON Archery had another torchbearer on Friday, when former Junior Chairman John WILLSON had the honour. On Monday 9 July, it was the turn of the Olympic archery Naomi FOLKARD who ran with the Torch during its journey to Oxford. Naomi FOLKARD represented Great Britain at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. She came very close to winning a medal in Beijing, placing 4th in the team event. She is having a great season in 2012, with a second place at the Indoor World Cup Final in Las Vegas, and an individual silver medal at the European Championships in Amsterdam in May, and is hoping to win a medal in London. After several members of the British archery community carried the Torch in May and June (Roger CRANG, Mel CLARKE, Alison WILLIAMSON MBE, Wendy STEAD, Adam GUEST, Glen CROFT, Joanne ORBELLE, Thomas TAYLOR), the Archery GB senior coach Helen GEORGE, who has dedicated her life to coaching disabled sports stars, has been chosen to be a Paralympic torchbearer in August. World Archery Communication
Competitions