16-year old Mark Nesbitt from Banbridge, competing for Team GB, has just returned home after winning archery gold medals in both the individual and team events at the Australian Youth Olympics. Mark was one of 250 young people representing Team GB in Sydney at an event where over 2000 elite athletes from over 20 countries competed in 21 Olympic sports. The British Olympic Association regards these young people as ‘the 2012 hopefuls’.

Individual Gold

As part of Team GB, Mark had some time to acclimatise to the heat and humidity in Brisbane before he flew south to the competition in the Sydney Olympic Park. Although suffering from a chest infection, in the semi final Mark dispatched the top seed Hsiu- Yu Hu from Chinese Taipei to clinch a place in the final where he faced the world junior champion, Ryan Tyack from Australia. 19-year old Tyack had much more completion experience under his belt and the lead changed hands several times. However Mark held his nerve to win by one point on the last arrow.

Team Gold

In an earlier match a relatively young and inexperienced GB team faced the might of the Chinese Taipei archers but they fought hard. At the final arrow Chinese Taipei were five points ahead but Mark shot the final arrow and scored 10 ensuring Team GB won by 5 points.

Dates for your Ballyvally Diary

Club Members are reminded that Ballyvally Prize Night will be held on Friday 23 January 2009 at 7.30pm in the Belmont Hotel, Banbridge. The first outdoor competition of the year will be at Whyte’s Estate, Loughbrickland, on Sunday 25 January with a practice session at 2pm on Saturday 24 January.