3 August 2007 - World Cup Stage 4 – Quotes from the Mixed Team Event

World Cup Stage 4 – Quotes from the Mixed Team Event Dover – 3 August 2007   Today we had the exhibition of a Mixed Team Event. A golden hit for FITA as one can read below:  Recurve   Alison Williamson (GBR) – winner and FITA Athlete Committee Chairwoman I think both the archers and fans really enjoyed this competition today. This may be the future of the team event because it gives the chance to the smaller countries to have a team with only one or two archers.   Andrey Abramov (RUS) - winner It was very good! I felt immediately in luck with Alison because we had the same back-number from the individual event. She said a few words in Russian and I speak a little of English so we had the team chemistry going quickly. I hope we can do this type of events many times more in the future. It can give a real boost to archery!   Daniel Kravacek (SVK) – second place This is just a superb competition for a small country like us. It gives us a chance to participate and be competitive in a team event, although we don’t have three or four world class archers. With two-people teams (and even two nationalities), we can participate. The Hit/Miss system gives also a better chance to every one. The matches were close and I enjoyed them very much!   Krisitna Melicharova (SVK) This is simply the first time that I have the chance to shoot in a team at an international event thanks to this mixed team format!   Michele Frangilli (ITA) It was good. There was a lot of enthusiasm at the beginning, but I had the feeling it went a bit away at the end. It would be good if this event could be added in the Olympic program. One nation could have two or three mixed teams at the Olympics and also the Hit/Miss targets would bring something different.   Compound   Vladas Sigauskas (LTU) - winner It is a great birthday present, just a bit in advance, because I am born on August 7. I felt lucky today, because I ate breakfast at the table number 13 and we started shooting the competition at the target number 13. My bow was terrific today. It was tuned perfectly. I tried to enjoy the competition as much as could this afternoon. We had some very positive feeling with my “new” team-mate Luzmary Guedez from Venezuela. It is in fact a great victory for me because I only started shooting three years ago, in August. I am very thankful to all the people that help me on the field this week. I don’t have a coach but I received a lot of good advice on how to tune my equipment from the international archers.   Logan Wilde (USA) – second place We had a bit of language barrier at the beginning but we picked it up quickly and it just worked out great for us!   Sofia Goncharova (RUS) I liked it a lot! Thanks to FITA for organizing such a fun event! It was a challenge for compound archers to shoot at a 70-meter target with a smaller target face that is usually used at 50 meters. We would have needed to adapt our sight. I liked the Hit/Miss scoring system, because it has quick pace. I think it is also simple to watch. I was in a shop this morning and I almost bought a Brazilian shirt because I was shooting with Roberval this afternoon. It was very interesting today to shoot with people from different countries and to break the traditional routine of the national teams. I have made a new friend today and I think he is also going to the World Cup Final in Dubai. I will be cheering for him. Maybe we can shoot together again there!   Roberval Dos Santos (BRA) It was fun and very interesting for the fans! I confirm that it was difficult for the compound archers to score a lot of points. I was the lucky man that was drawn to shoot with Sofia and it was a great pleasure. It gives confidence to shoot with such an archer.   Nicky Hunt (GBR) It was a lot of fun! The smaller target face was a bit challenging for compound archers, but I enjoyed the event. I enjoyed the music, the fans that were just close behind us. This Mixed Event just brings people together!   Petra Ericsson (SWE) After these 80 cm target faces we have used today, the 122 cm target faces will look big tomorrow for the individual finals!   Peter Elzinga (NED) These targets and the Hit/Miss system made it quite interesting. Even for the best archers, it was difficult to shoot hits and therefore the competition was really opened, even for the less strong teams.   Emiel Custers (NED) It was fun to try and see what was happening!   Joshua Binger (USA) – archer wishing he could participate today I have shot with the Hit/Miss system for some years and I think it is good. It levels a bit the play of field and it makes things interesting for team events. Here, it is also good to mix not only the gender but also the nationalities. It creates new friendships. I also like the overall atmosphere and the music.   Officials and volunteers   Paul Paulsen – FITA First Vice President This is good for our sport and it is good to see all these archers smiling, even if they have lost their match. There was no obligation to shoot this afternoon. The archers could have chosen to take off but they chose to shoot. I think that people from different backgrounds are meeting here for the first time and playing together as a team. That creates friendship that would never have been possible without this competition!   Georges Tekmitchov – Hoyt We are very glad to have sponsored this historical first for FITA. What I enjoyed the most was the camaraderie showed by archers that were paired together although they never shot together before. I think archery broke new frontiers today.   Erik Kornbek – Danage It was a great day of archery and, at my age, I think I know a bit about archery. I wish I would be younger and that I could shoot today!   Jeff McNeil - Easton I really had a lot of fun being here today and I think all the archers felt the same!   Jeffrey Mckenzie – 70-year old volunteer looking like 50 This was a blast! I have been waiting for this for so many years! It’s great to bring new ideas, new blood to archery. This Mixed Team event is something that should also be done at national and local level. It should also include older people like I am. Being among youngster keeps us young!   Didier Miéville FITA Communication