Mid-Sussex Junior archers aiming high

Cuckfield Archery Club’s junior team of Aoife Rice, Seb Dickie, Chris Jeffery and Holly Hatch took home the bronze medal whilst the Ditchling Archery Club juniors claimed the gold.

Cuckfield coach Bridget Dolan said “The Ditching team was always the hot favourite for the gold, as it was made up of some of the best youngsters in the County, but we were really thrilled at how well our own juniors performed.” The teenagers were competing against archers from Sussex and all over the South, including Essex, Hampshire and Oxford.

Bridget told the Middy that “The Cuckfield club was only started 2 years ago and had not entered the county championships before.

“We knew our girl’s team had talent as they had already brought home the team trophy from a Summer competition in Eastbourne, but this was the first time any of our junior boys had shot competitively.”

Chris Jeffery, who was the Cuckfield team’s top scorer, had only completed his beginner’s course with the club in December but is already producing scores to rival many of the club’s adult members.

The Cuckfield Archers have a strong focus on inclusion and the club who meet weekly at Warden Park Academy, welcomes members with physical and learning disabilities to train alongside able bodied members.

Cuckfield Archers are running their next beginner’s course from 26th April.

Anyone interested in taking up archery can contact the club through the website for details at www.cuckfieldarchers.org.uk