The IoM Archery Club opened the Indoor Season at Onchan with a Portsmouth Round. Comprising 60 arrows shot at the largest of the indoor target faces this gives the archers a chance to get used to the artificial lighting and ease into the season.

The Gents Recurve division had the largest field of the day with five archers battling it out, including Rob Lott who was shooting for the first time since the last Indoor Season. Danny Cowin, who had been looking forward to going indoors, added 5 points to his personal best score to secure second place. Veteran Tony Hartley, whilst shooting some way below his best, easily took the win with a score of 549, with Rob Lott claiming third. Both Bradley Layton and Rhys Moore were nowhere near their best but Bradley managed to avoid the wooden spoon by finishing 7 points clear of Rhys.

In the Gents Compound division Colin Moore, Pete Mumford and Dave Moore once again squared off on the shooting line. Pete Mumford led from start to finish but only three points separated Colin and Dave after two dozen arrows. Unfortunately for Colin his next dozen arrows were not so good and Dave opened up a 10 point lead which he held until the end.

Lone Lady Compound archer, Joy Gough shot a solid round of 560 in spite of ill health.

Junior Recurvers Josh Trafford, Joseph Reaney and James Hill also competed. The more experienced Josh Trafford finished streets ahead of the other two as was expected. The tussle between Reaney and Hill was a much tighter contest with only 1 point separating the two. Sadly James put two of his last three arrows into the wrong target face which allowed Joseph to steal second place. James still added 36 points to his pb for the round. Josh Trafford went on to shoot in the afternoon and recorded a new pb for the Double Portsmouth.

The story of the day however, came in the Ladies Recurve division. Barbara Harris, somewhat out of sorts, shot an average round but Karen Lott positively catapulted herself into the new season. Lott’s morning round added 5 points to her pb and proved to be the highest score of the day. Carrying on into the afternoon her combined score added 8 points to her pb for the Double Portsmouth and set a new club record into the bargain. Having taken all the available trophies in the Outdoor Season, Karen looks set to do the same again indoors.

Results Scratch Portsmouth: Gents Recurve – 1. Tony Hartley 60/549/25, 2. Danny Cowin 60/537/17pb, 3. Rob Lott 60/513/14, 4. Bradley Layton 60/479/8, 5. Rhys Moore 60/470/12. Ladies Recurve – 1. Karen Lott 60/572/33pb, 2. Barbara Harris 60/519/12. Gents Compound – 1. Pete Mumford 60/565/27, 2. Dave Moore 60/558/22, 3. Colin Moore 60/548/14. Ladies Compound – Joy Gough 60/560/21. Junior Recurve – 1. Josh Trafford 59/502/12, 2. Joseph Reaney 58/362/4, 3. James Hill 57/361/4pb.

Double Portsmouth – Junior Recurve: Josh Trafford 118/1017/28pb. Ladies Recurve: Karen Lott 120/1137/65pb New Club Record.