Hampshire’s compound team rounded off the outdoor season in impressive fashion, finishing second overall at the National Counties Team Tournament (NCCT), with local archer Angela Perrett once again making the selection for the county in the ladies compound team.
Angela was selected as one of just three female compound archers representing Hampshire at the prestigious event, which brings together some of the best county archers from across the UK. Her selection was a fitting end to an excellent season and a significant achievement in its own right.
Saturday’s competition got off to a strong start, with Angela shooting an impressive 655 in the individual ranking round to finish 13th overall, this was very impressive when the majority of the top 10 are GB Squad athletes.
In the ladies team event, Angela teamed up with Vicky Loader and Claire Walsh. The trio worked exceptionally well together, finishing sixth out of 14 teams after a series of competitive head-to-head matches.
Sunday brought considerably more challenging conditions, with strong and increasingly frequent gusts of wind making shooting difficult for competitors throughout the day. Angela’s individual ranking round score was below her usual standard as the demanding conditions took their toll and she struggled to find the 10.
Conditions became even more challenging during the afternoon pairs head-to-head competition. With the wind continuing to strengthen, teams were given the option of stopping the competition. It was agreed to continue, with an additional 10 seconds allowed per arrow to help competitors manage the difficult conditions.
Despite the challenging weather, Perrett and Walsh quickly found their rhythm. The pair produced some excellent shooting, winning a number of closely fought matches before progressing through to the bronze medal match.
Although they were eventually beaten by Staffordshire, the Hampshire pair finished an impressive fourth out of 14 pairs.
The result was particularly pleasing given that Perrett and Walsh had never previously competed together as a pair.
“It was some of the most fun I have had competing in a long time,” said Angela Perrett. “Claire and I made an excellent pairing, and it was a great reminder of exactly why I enjoy this format of competition so much.”
Angela was also keen to recognise the contribution of those supporting the Hampshire team throughout the weekend.
“A huge thank you must go to Mollie Perrett for spotting for us on both days, and to Heath Perrett for moving all the equipment and acting as our runner. Their support was hugely appreciated.”
When combined with the men’s scores, the Hampshire compound team’s second-place finish provided an excellent conclusion to the weekend and to what has been a very busy outdoor season.
Angela Perrett competed alongside Vicky Loader, Claire Walsh, Luke Davies, Joe Elliott and Jacob Caine as Hampshire secured an outstanding second place overall.
With the National Counties Team Tournament bringing the outdoor season to a close, Angela Perrett can look back on a successful and memorable year — and an impressive finish on the national stage for both herself and the Hampshire compound team.
(Photos courtesy of Malcolm Rees & Mollie Perrett)