14 March 2011 - Archery GB to host international Face2Face event

Archery GB to host international Face2Face event Lilleshall (GBR) – 14 March 2011  Archers from all over the world will compete against Britain's finest when Archery GB hosts the UK's first internationally-recognised Face2Face tournament later this year. The Face2FaceUK will feature as part of the second annual Indoor Festival of Archery at the International Centre in Telford this December, after the success of last year's exhibition Back2Back event.
Starting on Friday, 2 December 2011 with official practice and the first round-robin matches, the tournament will conclude the following day, after the second round-robin stage, semifinals and the finals. It will take place alongside the Junior and Senior UK National Championships—with the juniors shooting alongside the Face2FaceUK finals on Saturday, and the seniors battling it out on Sunday, 4 December.
While last year's Back2Back was well received by competitors and spectators alike, the introduction of the world-renowned Face2Face brand—which originated from the Netherlands in the 1980s and is credited with the introduction of the spectator-friendly head-to-head format now used at major championships, including the Olympics—will draw archers from Europe and abroad, turning the prize-fund event into an exciting international tournament.
"It's great news for Archery GB, and great news for our big weekend of archery in December," said Jon NOTT, member of the event's Organising Committee. "Some of the biggest names in world archery will shoot the Face2FaceUK—and apart from being extremely prestigious for Archery GB, it will be fantastic for our juniors, who’ll be competing in their annual indoor championship in the same hall as the star names of our sport. Last year, many junior competitors told me how much they enjoyed chatting to the likes of Duncan BUSBY and Nicky HUNT, our Commonwealth Games gold medallists, who had recently returned from Delhi."
If the new tournament turns out to be a success it is hoped the UK will continue to run it every other year, swapping responsibilities with the organisers in Amsterdam, who are equally as enthusiastic about the tie-up with Archery GB.  
"We think it is great to host Face to Face in the UK," said Dick ZELVELDER. "Our main goal with the Amsterdam Face 2 Face tournament is to promote a more appealing form of tournament to the archers and the spectators, and we are delighted to be linking up with the UK Face 2 Face initiative. I think it is a great idea to host the Face 2 Face in the UK and Holland in alternate years, and we all looking forward to working together."
The Face2FaceUK will be a great opportunity for junior and senior archers alike to witness world-class, high-pressure archery in this country. And though it is still nine months away, the Festival weekend is already shaping up to be another exciting one.  
It is widely expected that demand for places this year will be extremely high. Entry forms will be available in April. For more details, go to www.archerygb.org.   Peter JONES Media, Archery GB Edited by World Archery Communication