13 February 2006 - Archery, the new Cook Islands sport

Archery - the new Cook Islands sport

Lausanne – 13 February 2006

The sport of archery looks like it will be making its mark in the Cook Islands. A public meeting attended by about 30 enthusiasts decided unanimously to form the Cook Islands Archery Association.

The meeting was called after an invitation was received for the Cook Islands to be represented at the Oceania Archery Games to be held in Samoa later this year. Their aim is to affiliate to the Cook Islands Sports and Olympic Committee (CISNOC) and then to seek both Allsports and Olympic Solidarity funding for club equipment and coaching. It was also decided to affiliate the new association to the Oceania Archery Federation.

Nearly everyone at the meeting, which was convened by Cook Islands News, said they wanted to compete in target shooting. The meeting heard there were several competent archers already living on Rarotonga, and a couple of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand and Australia had expressed interest in advising the new club and possibly competing as Cook islands representatives.

After some discussion about possible locations for a shooting range, an Arorangi landowner offered to provide the association with land for a permanent archery range.

CISNOC observer Siniva Marsters said it was important for the meeting to constitute an association so that it could affiliate to CISNOC and gain official backing. This could include administration support in applying to Olympic Solidarity for help with start-up equipment and coaching.

The meeting heard that friends and relatives of those present included a New Zealand Maori archery official and coach in Wellington and an archery equipment agent and level three coach in the South Island. A Sydney couple, competitive archers in compound freestyle divisions, sent a message to the meeting offering both support and involvement.

A German visitor to Rarotonga told the meeting he was a keen competitive archer in his home country. He visits the Cook Islands frequently, and offered to help with any advice or input on his future visits. He spoke of the sport being a means of individuals gaining and achieving inner balance and control, and using stretching and power training to improve one’s ability.

The meeting decided to lodge an application for incorporation as soon as possible. The interim committee for the association is: Rose Akaua, Mousie Skews, Rebecca Hosking-Ellis, Ken Brothers, Brent Fisher and John Woods. For more information, email: bafisher@oyster.net.ck or john@cookislandsnews.com

Press Release John Woods

Edited FITA Communication