A total of six British archers will compete against the world’s best at the Archery World Cup Final, being staged in Edinburgh’s iconic East Princes Street Gardens from 18 to 19 September 2010.
After winning a gold medal at the final World Cup tournament in Shanghai (31 August – 4 September) Nicky Hunt qualified automatically for the women’s compound event in Edinburgh in top spot overall. Simon Terry (The Silver Fox) also secured his place in the World Cup FInal by virtue of finishing among the seven best performers in the Olympic discipline of recurve during the four qualifying events of the World Cup season.
For both archers it will be their second successive appearance at the World Cup Final. Last year in Copenhagen, Terry was a silver medalist in the men’s recurve, while Hunt took fourth place in women’s compound.
As host nation of the prestigious World Cup Final, where the top 32 archers will compete head to head, Great Britain also have one male and one female wild card in each discipline in addition to those who have automatically qualified by their World Cup ranking.
Judged on their performances at World Cup events this year, GB archers Alan Wills and Naomi Folkard (in recurve) and Andrea Gales and Chris White (in compound) have been handed the opportunity to shoot on home soil for World Cup gold and a share of prize money totaling $144,000.
For Wills, it will be a second appearance at a World Cup Final – he was a bronze medalist in Dubai three years ago. He was also part of the GB team at the Beijing Olympics, as was Folkard, who will be making her World Cup Final debut. Gales and White will also be World Cup Final first timers.
In each discipline the best mixed teams of the World Cup season will also go to Edinburgh to shoot against the hosts Great Britain. In recurve, team USA composed of Brady Ellison and Jennifer Nichols will compete against Simon Terry and Naomi Folkard. In the compound, team Mexico, who finally won the place by claiming the gold medal in Shanghai, represented by Hafid Jaime and Linda Ochoa, will compete against Chris White and Nicky Hunt.
Rebecca Edser, Events Consultant for UK Sport, said: ‘UK Sport is committed to bringing world class sporting events to the UK ahead of 2012, in what we believe is the most comprehensive pre-Games events programme ever staged by an Olympic and Paralympic host nation.
‘The Archery World Cup Final in Edinburgh will provide an invaluable opportunity for British athletes to experience international competition on home soil in preparation for their home Olympics, as well as a chance to hone the skills of volunteers and officials.’
Thousands of spectators are expected to attend the biggest, most important archery competition ever to be staged in the UK. This together with the potential of up to 250 million viewers watching the thrilling competition unfold via TV and internet the 2010 Archery World Cup Final is not only a fantastic demonstration of the sport in the UK, it will also showcase the city of Edinburgh and Scotland as the perfect destination for the world’s biggest and best sporting events.
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: ‘It’s going to be quite something to see East Princes Street Gardens transformed into an archery arena for this major sporting event and I’m sure the Archery World Cup will draw thousands of spectators, as well as being watched by many millions of viewers across the globe. Scotland’s Capital has forged a reputation as a premier destination for top level international events, exemplified by the Super September of Sport we’re now enjoying. Edinburgh’s packed events calendar offers something for everyone, throughout the year, and its rich history, breathtaking beauty and excellent quality of life ensure that visitors return to the city again and again.’
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland commented, ‘Edinburgh will provide a spectacular venue for the Archery World Cup with the central and iconic location of East Princes Street Gardens creating a great atmosphere around the competition. EventScotland are delighted to be supporting this event and show everyone involved what a wonderful stage Scotland provides for world class events.’
The event will be free for spectators, with a small charge for reserved seating in the Grandstand. At the event there will be a series of ‘come and try’ sessions organised by Scottish Archery and Archery GB.
In September the (FITA) Archery World Cup Final will join two other major international sporting events – the 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships and the IFSC World Youth Championships for Climbing – In Edinburgh’s Super September of Sport – and will welcome thousands of competitors and spectators to the city.
For more information on the Archery World Cup Final and a schedule for the event go to – http://www.archeryedinburgh.co.uk/ or:
FITA (international Archery Federation)- <http://www.archery.org/>;
Archery GB – <http://www.gnas.org/> ;
Scottish Archery -http://www.scottisharchery.org.uk/.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
