It is one of the largest archery clubs in the province and the results from last year's provincial and national events simply speak for themselves.
The Battle River Archers is one of the best clubs in Saskatchewan and is once again ready to start a new indoor archery season and continue to build on their respected reputation.
The club extends an invitation to everyone in the community interested in archery, through hunting or simply interested in trying a new individual sport. Members of the club have an opportunity to learn and take aim alongside club members with decades of experience as well as some of the best young shooters in the country.
Archery can be a recreational sport that can take hours of practice and dedication to potentially compete internationally, says Larry Mackrell of the Battle River Archers.
The idea is to continually grow the sport, and although it is a 100 per cent individual activity, there is plenty of club pride in past successes. Many have taken on the sport as a family activity that a everyone can get into. Last year, was one of the best for the local club not only due to the results, but the number of members registered continues to grown, as the popularity of the sport expands.
The Battle River Archers registration night is Nov. 1 at the Battlefords Wildlife Federation building at 7 p.m. Family, adult and youth rates make it affordable for everyone to join and members have the opportunity to shoot with the club at the Civic Centre twice a week and prepare for the competitive shooting season.
First year club members, along with veterans competed at provincial and national shoots in the past and also took part in the club's annual 3D provincial shoot in April.
Mackrell and club president Raquel Hepp noted the support of the community for that shot and said archers could be shooting every weekend if they choose to. The first major shoot in Lloydminster in mid-December.
Battle River Archers combined for several national medals last year while competing at the Canadian Target Archery Championships, Canadian Field Archery Championships and Archery Canada 3D Nationals.
Nine members earned national medals including Tyson Mackrell, who had five medals and three Canadian records last season in the cadet division. In the pre-cub division Spencer Hepp has also broke onto the scene with three national medals. The club's national medal success stretches from first year and peewee archer Caybre Stynsky to club veteran and men's masters competitor Ross MacAngus. Also, 14 members from the club competed nationally last year and everyone had at least one finish in 15th place or better.
A major reason for Tyson's success and that of many other young archers is the work and dedication of MacAngus and the nationally certified coaches of the Junior Olympic Program. This season, the club expects to put even more focus on the JOP, which runs once a week at the Battlefords Wildlife Federation building with an option to have equipment supplied by the club for the junior participants.
