Archery GB Hails Success of Young Athletes at European Youth Archery Championships

• Young GB archers secure seven medals in team and individual events
• Four golds amongst medal wins for GB
• Squad of 24 GB archers took part in competition at Lilleshall
• More than 300 athletes from 36 countries competed over six days

Archery GB has hailed the success of its young athletes following their participation in a major competition on home soil.

A squad of 24 archers aged between 14 and 20 shot alongside more than 300 athletes from 36 countries in the European Youth Archery Championships at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.

The competition started on August 15, with team medals awarded on Friday August 19 and individual finals held on Saturday August 20. 

Under 21 Recurve archers secure three gold medals

It was a successful weekend for the U21 Recurve team members, with three gold medals secured across team and individual events.

Charlie Medhurst, Monty Orton, and James Woodgate became European team champions after winning gold in Friday’s Recurve Under 21 Men’s Team finals. 

Megan Costall, Penny Healey and Louisa Piper secured the top spot in the Recurve Under 21 Women’s Team events, taking the European title. 

Monty Orton is now reigning European Recurve Under 21 Men’s Champion having won Individual Gold.

The Recurve U21 Mixed Team of Penny Healey and James Woodgate also reached the bronze medal match, securing fourth place in the category for GB. 

Silver and Bronze for the Compound Under 21 athletes

In the Compound Under 21 Women’s Team competition, Chloe A’Bear, Layla Annison and Grace Chappell secured silver for Great Britain. 

On Saturday, Grace Chappell continued her medal winning performance, securing bronze in the Compound Under 21 Women’s individual events. 

Compound Under 18 women secure gold and silver for GB

Taking to the field on Friday, Hallie Boulton, Sinead Byrne and Patience Wood secured silver in the Compound Under 18 Women’s Team competition. 

Continuing GB’s success, Hallie Boulton also took individual gold and the European Champion title in the Compound Under 18 Women final.

The Compound U18 Men’s Team of Oscar Orford, Jay Saunderson and Finlay Clark successfully reached the bronze medal match, finishing fourth overall. 

Archery GB celebrates the immense talent of GB’s young archers

The European Youth Archery Championships was the perfect opportunity for young archers aged 20 and under to make their name on home soil and showcase the immense talent within the team, with the encouragement of local support. 

Commenting on the success of the team, Archery GB’s Compound Programme Manager Jon Nott said: “We’re so proud of how all our young athletes have risen to the challenge of competing in this prestigious event this week.

“We’ve had some brilliant successes thanks to their hard work and dedication. It really shows that we have a wealth of young talent coming through who will be challenging for places in the top world events in the years to come.”

Neil Armitage, CEO at Archery GB, said: “It has been inspiring to watch these young archers from all over Europe taking part in this inclusive, diverse and exciting event.

“We’d like to thank all the staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to make this tournament a great success and to raise the profile of this wonderful sport.”

Great Britain’s archers are continuing a tremendous year of success, with gold, silver and bronze medals being won at multiple events worldwide including the European Championships in Munich, World Games in the USA, Para Archery European Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Medellin, Colombia, and the European Youth Cup in Bucharest.

The European Youth Archery Championships is held on behalf of World Archery Europe every two years. The 2018 competition took place in Patras, Greece and the planned 2020 event at Lilleshall was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.