23 August 2010 - GB National Series Grand Final line-up complete after tense weekend

GB National Series Grand Final line-up complete after tense weekend Exmouth (GBR) – 23 August 2010  European champion Andy RIKUNENKO clinched one of the seven remaining places left for the Archery GB National Series Grand Final, after winning the men's compound event at the fifth and final event of the qualifying series, in Exmouth, in the south of England.   Fellow internationals Larry GODFREY, Michael PEART, Lucy O'SULLIVAN and Nichola SIMPSON will be joined by Sam MEADOWS and Rob HALLWORTH at the gala in Leamington Spa, on 12 September 2010.   Defending women’s compound champion O'SULLIVAN was in great form at Exmouth at the weekend to take top place in her event. It means all four defending champions will be taking part in Leamington.   O'SULLIVAN will now have the opportunity to defend her title alongside the already qualified Dani BROWN and Andrea GALES, and SIMPSON, who qualified after finishing fourth at Exmouth.   There were seven archers in contention to join the defending men’s recurve champion Simon TERRY in Leamington. After a tense weekend, it was PEART, HALLWORTH and GODFREY who clinched the final three places.   In the women’s recurve, MEADOWS leapt ahead of Amy OLIVER to secure the fourth spot at Leamington. It was thanks to her third place finish at Exmouth. Naomi FOLKARD, defending champion Charlotte BURGESS, and Alison WILLIAMSON complete the Leamington line-up.   And in men’s compound, RIKUNENKO, who won the European title in Italy in May, secured the fourth and final Grand Final spot after his top placing at Exmouth. He will join defending champion Duncan BUSBY, Chris WHITE and last year's world championships silver medallist Liam GRIMWOOD in the Grand Final.   Ten archers who featured in last year's Grand Final—the first ever—have made it through for the second year running. Michael PEART, Rob HALLWORTH, Sam MEADOWS, Dani BROWN, Andrea GALES and Andy RIKUNENKO are the 'first timers' taking part at Leamington.   Archery GB National Series Grand Final line-up (* indicates defending champion):   Ø Recurve Men: Simon TERRY*, Larry GODFREY, Michael PEART, Rob HALLWORTH Ø Recurve Women: Naomi FOLKARD, Charlotte BURGESS*, Alison WILLIAMSON and Sam MEADOWS Ø Compound Men: Chris WHITE, Duncan BUSBY*, Liam GRIMWOOD, Andy RIKUNENKO Ø Women: Dani BROWN, Andrea GALES, Nichola SIMPSON, Lucy O'SULLIVAN*   For latest news, go to www.agbns.org   The GB National Series follows the Archery World Cup concept at national level. This year's Archery World Cup Final will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland on 18-19 September 2010.   Peter JONES, Archery GB Edited by World Archery Communication