On Sunday 2nd September 2012, Northamptonshire hosted the 54th EMAS Senior Inter-Counties Team Tournament, otherwise known as The Thoresby Shoot.
Long Buckby Archery Club’s field at Daventry Rugby Club was the venue for the largest tournament held in Northamptonshire for many years.
Teams from Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire compete each year for three main trophies: The Thoresby Trophy (Recurve), The Bradgate Trophy (Compound) and The Boat Trophy (Longbow).
Rounds: UK Record & Rose Award Status, York (Gents) and Hereford (Ladies).
The weather conditions were very good, with sunny spells and only a light breeze.
The Northants Recurve team consisted of: (Gents) John Inkley, Dean Edwards, Shahram Montasser, Ian Hannaford, Bob Kaminski, David Forster, Clive Trundle, Steve Allen. (Ladies) Lizzie Cantopher, Susan Corless, Jenny Whitby, Christine Marshall, Wendy Cook.
The Compound Team: (Gents) Martin Ross, Gary Hall, David Quemby, Jon Bull, (Ladies) Frances Bull, Jude Hall, Helen Neumann.
Longbow Team: (Gents) Archie McDoughall, Fred Alderidge.
In the recurve event, Northamptonshire were unfortunately one lady archer short of a full team, and finished in 4th place overall with 9939 points. Leicestershire & Rutland were the winning county with 10668. Individual scores were high on the day with many archers achieving personal bests. For the gents Dean Edwards of WOAC shot a new gents recurve county record for the York round with 1128 to finish 2nd overall. John Inkley of Nene Bowmen finished in 4th place with 1106. Ian Hannaford of WOAC shot a new PB with 1062 to finish 9th. As did Shahram Montasser of Kettering Archers with 1030 in 12th. David Forster with 1023 in 15th place. Clive Trundle, Bob Kaminski and Steve Allen scored 914, 900 and 897 respectively to finish in 30th, 32nd and 33rd respectively.
For the ladies, Lizzie Cantopher of WOAC finished in 4th place with 1095. The rest of our ladies were taking part in the first county event and did very well. Susan Corless of NAC finished 18th with a PB of 965. Jenny Whitby of Broad Green scored 912 in 22nd place. Christine Marshall of WOAC and Wendy Cook finished in 25th and 26th with 704 and 620 respectively
Our compound team did very well, finishing in 2nd place with 6044 behind Derbyshire with 6174.
Jon Bull of Targetcraft Archers, who has had a fantastic year earned himself a place on the senior team and scored a new Northamptonshire Junior Compound record with 1246, which is also above the current senior county record! Jon finished in 2nd place overall behind Simon Scott of Derbyshire with 1252. Team Captain Martin Ross of LBAC finished in 6th place with 1202. Gary Hall of WOAC came 9th with 1190, and David Quemby of NAC in 11th with 1184.
Our lady compounds all shot well with Frances Bull of Targetcraft Archers in 4th place with 1204, Jude Hall of WOAC just behind in 5th with 1202 and Helen Neumann of WOAC in 7th with 1186.
Our Longbow archers were a bit sort in numbers but shot well. In fact both archers scored over the current gents York county record with Fred Aldridge of Kettering Archers scoring 205, and Archie McDougall of Targetcraft Archers scoring 171.
Northamptonshire would like to thank Long Buckby Archery Club for doing a fantastic job in running the tournament. And also thank all of the teams for making the day such a great event.
Photo’s courtesy of Tony Underlin
