For Gloucester’s Jeff Jennings field archery is all about discipline.
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“It’s one of those sports where you have to do exactly the same thing every time to achieve the highest results,” Jeff explained.
This is what he loves about the sport and why he continues to compete.
After his recent win at the 2018 National International Field Archery Association (IFAA) Championships in Alice Springs, Jeff qualified for the Australian Bowhunters Association (ABA) team to represent the country on a world stage.
This isn’t the first time Jeff has competed in the IFAA World Field Archery Championships, having taken part in 2006 and 2016, both events held in Australia, but it’s the first time he’ll be making journey overseas for the event.
Archery is a sport for love, not for money, as Jeff explained and the decision to take part in the event held in South Africa for passionate sportsman like Jeff, is a financial one. One he took up this year, in order to tick it off the bucket list before he’s no longer able.
“You need to be fit,” Jeff explained. “Both physically and mentally.”
The competition takes part over five days, where competitors spent six hours per day shooting four arrows each at 28 targets of different size and distance.
“We walk between five and six kilometres a day,” he said.
The challenge is not only the discipline and precision but also the variety of target locations, which are not always on level ground.
“Sometimes we shoot uphill and sometime we shoot downhill.”
It’s also an opportunity for Jeff to showcase what the Gloucester District Archers can do, by proudly wearing his club shirt on as many days of competition he can.
Jeff’s event is the Veterans Mens Bowhunter Unlimited, meaning the competitor is 55 years plus with unlimited additions, or gadgets, allowed on the bow.
He first picked up a bow in his early 30s and was part of a club that started in Gloucester. He admits he didn’t know what he was doing and it took a while before he did a bit of training; a path to archery he doesn’t recommend.
”If you’re not shown how to do it properly in the beginning,” he said. “You’re really pushing it uphill.”
This he knows from experience, but reckons his persistence is what’s gotten him to this stage.
So, he’ll board a plane for competition where there is no single world champion, with titles given across a range of divisions, where the prize is the prestige of the badge you are given and where your main competition is yourself, as you endeavour to do better than you did last time.
The event runs from October 5 – 16, shooting starting on October 8.