Louth archers strike silverware after busy weekend

CúChulainn Archers have had a busy few days. Heading off to Eindhoven in Holland for the Kings of Archery Series - JVD Open 2025 were 50 members of Archery Ireland.

With over 1200 archers competing from 46 countries  - and including World Champions -  the Irish archers knew they were in a tough competition.

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Among them were four Louth members of CúChulainn Archers, Alan Convery, JoAnn Bell, Paul McClelland and Robert Hall.

The weekend started on Friday with Registration, Official Practice and, for some, the first of their competition sessions, which ended at 22.15.

Saturday was a more, let's say.... civilised affair, with sessions starting at 8.00am and continuing through until the final arrows at 18.45. Sunday is set aside for the last competition session and for finals.

All four archers shot well, with Robert Hall finishing in 24th place, the highest Irish archer in his category and all departed for the airport and the flight home, tired but reasonably content.

Back home in Ireland, things continued as normal, with some of the club helping with the Beginner Course now in progress, while others headed northwards to Banbridge to compete in the November Challenge UK Record Status Portsmouth Round.

This competition is shot at 20 yards and at a 60cm target face. Hosted by Ballyvally Archers in Banbridge Leisure Centre, this is a popular competition with our archers. 

Competing for CúChulainn Archers were Adria Quinn, Peter Gilmore, Fiachra Judge and Paul McCooey.

Results were as follows: Fiachra Judge, Compound Master Men - gold medal; Adria Quinn, Compound Women - silver medal; Paul McCooey, Recurve Men - bronze medal; and Peter Gilmore, Barebow Master Men - silver medal.

Peter then decided to try his hand in the American Flatbow category, where he came in a credible fourth.

On Sunday, as many of the club as could, gathered in Annalitten to pay homage to our own John Keenan, a member of our club who sadly passed away last month. 

As is traditional among archers, a single arrow was shot in his memory at the archery field in Annalitten. John was a highly respected and well-loved member of CúChulainn.

He was an Honorary Member of Archery Ireland, which was bestowed on him, a highly talented archer, because of his success at local, national and international levels, taking home many medals to Ireland - most recently two Gold World Archery medals and one Bronze World Archery medal.

The members of the club presented Gay, John's wife, with his framed shirt and, attached to his shirt, his World Gold and Bronze medals.

Gay was also awarded Honorary membership of CúChulainn Archers.  The afternoon concluded with a meal at which all those present attended.