Local Robin Hoods take on the UK
Thabazimbi – Dr Gary Bauer and Hendrik Johannes (HJ) Swanepoel (Thabazimbi Archery Club) joined a team of Protea Archers and Federation members to compete in the 2023 World Indoor Archery Championship which is set to take place from Monday 13 to Friday 17 February 2023 in Kent in the United Kingdom (UK).
It can perhaps be said that Robin Hood is the most famous archer in English folklore. Now, two Archers from Thabazimbi will be following in the footsteps of this legend.
These modern-day Robin Hoods had to meet all the requirements from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Field Archery Association (IFAA) to be capped with their PROTEA colours. This is the highest accolade for any sportsman or woman to be crowned with the Green and Gold Protea colours!
Unlike Robin Hood, they will not fight evil but will battle it out for a place on the podium for the gold medal. Both archers are in good form. Dr Gary Bauer competes in the Veteran Male Freestyle unlimited category (archers above 55 years of age). He won the gold medal in the World Field Archery Competition 2022 (WFAC 2022) in Estonia.
While HJ Swanepoel is on fire in his category of Adult Male Freestyle unlimited. He shot a 300/300 with 60/60 x’s during a virtual national Limpopo north indoor competition at the Thabazimbi Archery club on 19 January 2023. The second time he could master this achievement. Many archers only dream of this full score.
The Protea squad will represent South Africa in for five days of the international competition. There are 15 scholars joining this squad. A true sign that archery is a growing sport!
If you have young ones who dream of becoming Robin Hood, join us at the Thabazimbi Archery Club every Tuesday evening at 17:45 for 18:00. More information is available on Facebook and at Thaba Boog & Hengel in Thabazimbi.
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