A YOUNG archer has struck gold after beating older competitors in a national competition.
Northallerton College student Liam Ridge scored an impressive 517 out of a possible 600 points in a 60-arrow shootout in a national contest hosted by the Archers of Bridlington and Burton Agnes.
One of the youngest competitors, the 16-year-old, of Northallerton, took on bowmen in the under 18s category and landed all of his arrows in either the inner gold or red rings. He led the competition throughout and took gold by five points.
“I knew I had been performing well in the indoor competition so I was quite confident,” said Northallerton College sixth former Liam, who has been competing for the past three years.
“But the scoreboard broke down and I didn’t know until it was announced that I had won, which I was delighted about.”
Liam is coached at his local club, Thirsk Bowmen, and he uses a 32lb pull, 16-string, aluminium, Recurve bow.
“When I first started my arms used to really ache but I’ve got used to it and don’t even get nervous because I enjoy archery so much,” he said.
Liam also took second place recently in an outdoor competition at Wakefield Archers and won a club award for the most improved junior bowman.
He is hoping his success will bring him to the attention of Team GB so he can fulfil his dream to represent his country one day at a future Olympics.
“My coach seems to think that I am developing well enough to one day compete at the highest level,” he said.
“I love archery because it is so precise. In competitions I often shoot the fletchings off the arrows that are already in the target, which is good. One of the club members says I have a dead-eye.”
Liam will next compete in national contests in York on December 29 and in Wakefield and Goldthorpe next year.
