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Ben Humphrys targets top spot |
Archer aims to be best in the country
Schoolboy makes staggering score to bag silver medal
TRIUMPHANT Ben Humphrys has set his sights on becoming the best archer in the country after just missing out on gold in the British Junior National Championships in Shropshire.
The William Ellis schoolboy scored a staggering 553 points out of a possible 600 in the under-14s compound bow class as he fired his way to stunning silver medal.
Shooting from a distance of 20-yards, Ben hit the target with all 60 of his arrows, 15 of which nestled in the heart of the 10-point circle, a mark no bigger than a £2 coin.
Taking on some of the best bowmen from around the country, the Highgate youngster showed awesome accuracy as he missed out on winning the championships by just nine points, the score of one good arrow.
Having already won countless trophies and recognition within the sport, it’s hard to believe that Ben, 12, only took up archery three years ago after becoming mesmerised with the epic film trilogy Lord of the Rings.
Pleading with his dad Dave to let him try archery, the pair discovered Camden and Islington club Hampstead Bowmen, a recreational society based at the Royal Free Hospital in Pond Street, where they both train every Saturday.
They are also members of the Cloth of Gold Field Archery Club in Enfield, where they get the chance to shoot outdoors at a series of foam three-dimensional targets such as large Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus dinosaurs, aliens and giant snakes.
Although Ben has mastered numerous types of bow, he favours his compound bow that offers him superior accuracy, velocity and distance compared to that of the traditional longbow.
An excited Ben revealed: “Archery is fantastic fun and stops me from just sitting at home all day playing my Playstation.
“Hopefully I will continue to improve and maybe even have a shot at being part of the British team at the 2012 Olympics.”
So far Ben’s dedication knows no bounds. On Monday at the Aquarius Archery Club he scored a new personal best of 563, beating his dad who hit a score of 550.
Anyone interested in trying their hand at archery can contact Margaret Ray at Hampstead Bowmen on 020 7916 7678 or visit www.hampsteadbowmen.org.uk
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