7 October 2009 - GB's National Series conclude

GB’s National Series conclude Lausanne – 7 October 2009  Simon TERRY, Charlotte BURGESS, Lucy O’SULLIVAN and Duncan BUSBY are the first ever gold medal winners in Archery GB’s National Series. The series came to a thrilling conclusion with the Grand Final at Lilleshall, producing top class archery, one or two surprise results, and the bonus of a thousand dollars each for the four winners. And the new FITA scoring system was given a vote of confidence by the archers.
In the women’s compound, 19-year-old O’SULLIVAN shocked world top ten ranked Nicky HUNT and Nichola SIMPSON to take the top prize. She saw off HUNT in the semifinals, with the two archers winning three ends each in the new scoring format, and then--with the match tied at 6 points each—won a 3-arrow shoot-off, where nearest the middle went through. And then she justified her appearance in the final with a 9 points to 3 win against an experienced opponent in SIMPSON, who won a silver medal at last year's FITA World Cup Final.   “It’s all taking time to digest,” said a delighted O’SULLIVAN. “To beat two archers of the standard of Nicky and Nichola on the same day, both who have shot FITA 1400s recently, is really something else. Obviously I’m really excited to have won the gold medal, and to be the first National Series champion. It’s a great feeling.”
There was an upset too in the women’s recurve championship, with BURGESS beating higher ranked fellow internationals Alison WILLIAMSON and Naomi FOLKARD to win the gold medal.  
“I’m really thrilled, not just to win the gold medal, but to shoot well against both Alison and Naomi,” said BURGESS. “I was really pleased with the way I shot, and happily it was good enough to see me through against two top class opponents.”

But there was no shock in the men’s recurve category, as the in-form TERRY added a National Series gold medal to the silver he won last weekend in Copenhagen at the World Cup Final. He beat fellow internationals Alan WILLS in the semifinals, and then Larry GODFREY in the gold medal match. “I’m very pleased,” said TERRY. “It’s been a good Series, and a good day today, and I was really up for it—I was as fired up for this as I was last weekend in Denmark.”
And in the men’s compound, BUSBY completed a good year with victory over Chris WHITE in the final. WHITE has been turning in some remarkable scores this year, but came up short in the final against BUSBY, who won the match 8-6 to clinch the gold medal.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be the first ever National Series gold medallist in men’s compound, and it rounds off a good outdoor season for me,” said BUSBY. “The prize-money is a welcome bonus too—I’m going to put it towards going out to Las Vegas for the big shoot there next year, so that’s something to look forward to, and a reward to myself for today’s victory.”   Peter JONES, Archery GB Edited by FITA Communication