Two victories for France in Nimes

Two victories for France in Nimes Lausanne – 26 January 2009   The 12th edition of the European Indoor Tournament in Nimes (FRA) delivered the goods. A participation record with 1,100 athletes from 26 nations, an archery showroom filled up for three days, a true show during the final matches and two French victories were the ingredients of a fantastic tournament.   The cream of indoor archers had arranged to meet in Nimes just a few weeks before the Indoor World Championships that will be held in Rzeszow (POL) from 4 to 8 March. For example, Romain GIROUILLE (FRA), Marco GALIAZZO (ITA), Simon TERRY (GBR) and the indoor world champion Sebastian ROHRBERG (GER) competed in Recurve Men, as well as Berengere SCHUH (FRA), Elena TONETTA and Natalia VALEEVA (ITA) in the women’s category. In Compound Men, the leading athletes included World Cup Final winner 2008 Dietmar TRILLLUS (CAN), his dauphin Patrizio HOFER (SUI), as well as Sergio PAGNI (ITA) and Dave COUSINS (USA). The women’s competition, not to be outdone, included double world champion 2007 Eugenia SALVI (ITA), Amandine BOUILLOT (FRA), Nichola SIMPSON (GBR) and Gladys WILLEMS (BEL). All these athletes fought for an overall prize money of about 100,000 Euros.  Recurve Men Double medallist at the 1992 Olympic Games, Simon TERRY (GBR) faced one of French hopefuls Jean-Charles VALLADONT photo—who was only three years old at the time of TERRY’s feats. Nevertheless, VALLADONT did not let himself impressed and shot a perfect first end (10-10-10) to take the lead 30-29. TERRY equalized at 58-58 before the Frenchman scored another perfect end to recapture the lead, 88-87. VALLADONT finally won this nail-biting match, 117-116!   For the bronze, Marco GALIAZZO (ITA) beat Thomas AUBERT (FRA).  Recurve Women The Olympian Pia Carmen LIONETTI (ITA) faced young Elena RICHTER (GER) photo in the gold final. The German got off to a perfect start, leading 30-29 and then 58-57. The Italian lost all chances to recover at the third end with 9-8-10. At that moment, RICHTER led 87-84 and she finally clinched victory 115-112.   France’s Berengere SCHUH beat her fellow countrywoman Céline BEZAULT for bronze.  Compound Men Two young, talented archers faced each other for gold: Pierre Julien DELOCHE (FRA)photo and Martin DAMSBO (DEN). The latter has a bigger experience of important matches, with in particular a bronze medal at the World Championships 2007 in Leipzig. And yet, DELOCHE was about to reach perfection and treat himself a first individual victory at top-level. The Frenchman shot ends of 29, 29, 30 and 30 to win this match 118-114.   Dave COUSINS (USA) finished 3rd in front of another French archer, Dominique GENET.  Compound Women Conflict of generation but great friendship for this final! The double world champion SALVI faced her young teammate Anastasia ANASTASIO (ITA) photo who won several junior medals. ANASTASIO had the situation in hand in Nimes and started this final with 30 and 29 to lead 59-55. SALVI tried hard to put pressure, concluding with 30 and 29, but her young rival stood firm to clinch a first victory in the “big girls” category, 117-114!   Two Frenchwomen follow in the ranking, Elodie AMIARD and Annie CAVELLEC.   All results and info on www.arcclubdenimes.com   FITA Communication