The World's Finest Archers prepare to head to Dover (Press Release GNAS)

PRESS RELEASE GNAS   24 July 2007   The World's Finest Archers prepare to head to Dover, With all to Play for in the World Cup Series     There is now just a week to go until Dover hosts the fourth leg of the Meteksan FITA World Cup archery series. It will be one of the biggest international archery events ever held in Britain, with over 200 of the world's top archers on show, and many of them still dreaming of clinching a place in the World Cup Grand Final, which takes place in Dubai in November.    Naomi Folkard (photo©FITA/Dean Alberga)    "Time has really flown by since we were first handed the honour of hosting this major event, and after so much hard work by so many people it is so exciting that we are almost at the finishing line," said Lynne Evans, chair of the GNAS, British archery's governing body.   "It is going to be wonderful for our archers to be competing at the highest level in their own country, which is a great incentive for them to do well. We are also all looking forward to welcoming friends from home and abroad, and to having the opportunity to introducing many people to our wonderful sport.   "Kent County Council, the people of Dover, SEEDA (South East England Development Agency), and UK Sport have been so supportive in the countdown to this event, and it is not just going to be an archery tournament, but a great event for everyone to join in, with lots going on alongside the archery."   As host nation, Britain has six archers in each category - men's and women's recurve, and men's and women's compound - and Head Coach Peter Suk has selected a blend of youth and experience.   Included are Alison Williamson, an Olympic bronze medallist at Athens four years ago, Alan Wills, a world championship bronze medallist two weeks ago, and Simon Terry - a double Olympic bronze medallist back in 1992, who gave up the sport for 10 years, and then returned after being bitten by the bug whilst watching the Athens Olympics on television, and quickly rediscovering the skills that made him an international star as a youngster.   Indeed, such is the terrific form of British archers, that there is a very real chance of winning medals.   "Most definitely so," said Barry Eley, Team GB Performance Manager. "We have recently won medals at the World Championships in Leipzig, and only last week our youngsters came home with medals from seven different events from the Europa Cup, including young Tom Barber, who's been included in the men's recurve squad, and that's going to be a great experience for him.      Alan Wills (photo©FITA/Dean Alberga) "Not only does that make us feel extremely optimistic about the future, it makes us very competitive on the highest stage at all levels, and of course, for many of the archers there is not just the World Cup incentive, but with just a year to go until the Beijing Olympics, the countdown is already underway.   "And talking of the Olympics, many of us are already looking ahead with great anticipation to London 2012 - one of the many reasons we are all so excited about the prospects and potential of our youngsters."   The Meteksan FITA World Cup tournament begins next Tuesday with registrations and the opening ceremony in the evening. Competition gets underway next Wednesday, with the event running until Sunday (5 August).   The Dover leg of the World Cup series will complete qualifying for the Grand Final. The top four overall finishers in each category go through to the Dubai Grand Final, based on points gained at three out of four events - which so far have taken part at Ulsan, Korea, Varese, Italy, and in Antalya, Turkey.   This is the second year of the Meteksan FITA World Cup. Britain's Alison Williamson was among the elite archers who took part in last year's first ever Grand Final, which took place in Mexico.   For further information, contact Peter Jones, GNAS media, on +44 7841 997408.   Edited FITA Communication