Mixed Teams—Officially!

  The Mixed Teams format for the Porec event was the one tested during the previous season: two archers per team, four ends of four arrows (two per archer), best total score wins.  Recurve Mixed Team In the first round, Great Britain (TERRY-OLIVER) made the difference over Russia in the second end with a perfect 40. They led 75-69, then 111-107 and 148-144. The USA scored a perfect end in the third. They took the lead 113-106 and did not let go at the end to win the match 149-142. Other notable scores included a victory for Italy over Australia 143-142 (73-74 at the half) and an upset of Ukraine from Germany, 137-138.   The USA had a tough quarterfinal match versus Poland. ELLISON-NICHOLS trailed 72-73, but came back strong in the second half to take it by one point, 145-144. Italy (FRANGILLI-LIONETTI) also had some difficulties against Mexico. The Italians led 73-72 and managed to stay on top until the end, 146-143. 
   
China (CHENG-XING) had an impressive run to send the Italians off. The Chinese scored 9-X10-9-9, 10-10-9-8, 9-X10-X10-8 and 10-10-9-9 to win 149-140. The match between the USA and India (CHAMPIA-DEVI) was much tighter. The USA led 110-106, but India came back in the fourth end with 10-10-8-10 to tie the match at 144-144. In the first shoot-off, one arrow per archer, ELLISON had to shoot a 10 to tie it and required a second shoot-off. In this second one, CHAMPIA finished with a 10 to send the teams to a third shoot-off. NICHOLS scored 10, DEVI had a 8 and both men had 9s. USA went through to the final!
 
The team from India did not fare well in the bronze medal match. Italy had the best start and controlled the whole match: 38-35, 76-73, 114-106, 150-144.
 
Compound Mixed Team The first round saw a new official world record! Of course it was one of the first mixed team competitions since 1 April, the date of their official introduction! Peter ELZINGA (NED), who has already numerous world records, teamed up with Inge VAN CASPEL to add another record to his collection with a superb 156 points (maximum is 160). They beat Iran, 156-153. To note, the perfect score of 160 was unofficially achieved by the Russian team during an exhibition in Ulsan last year. They were not so successful today, as they lost to France, 152-153 (score evolution 37-38, 76-76, 114-114, 153-152). The tightest match was between El Salvador and Canada who tied at 151. In the shoot-off, one arrow per archer, the pair TRILLUS-WALLACE had perfect 20, while JIMENEZ-LAGOS had 18.   After the setting the world record, the Dutch team declined, as if often happens. They led 75-74, but Great Britain finished with an impressive 10-10-10-10 and X10-X10-X10-9 to win the match 153-150. Canada continued its way with a strong performance against Italy. The Canadians led 38-36, 75-73, 114-112 and concluded with X10-10-X10-10 to win the match 154-148.   WILDE-VAN NATTA (USA) had DAMSBO-SOEMOD (DEN) had an intense match! The USA led 39-38, but Denmark came back on top after the second end, 76-75. The Danes finish with a strong 9-9-10-10 and 10-10-10-9 to win it 153-151. Canada continued strongly with a perfect 40 to start the match. They had a 40-36 lead that they never let go. They won 153-150 over Great Britain.   The USA did find their rhythm for the bronze medal match! They scored X10-10-X10-9, X10-10-10-10, 10-9-10-X10 and X10-10-X10-10! They won 158-153 over Great Britain and beat the world record that was established by the Netherlands in the first round!   Gold medal matches are on Saturday.   Didier MIEVILLE World Archery Communication