The Cowichan Bowmen received some pretty impressive accolades for their annual 3D Hell Hole Shoot last month, which for the second year in a row served as the provincial outdoor 3D championships.
According to Cowichan Bowmen executive member Jim Harper, some of the most impressive comments came from Al Campsall, the head of 3D shooting for the B.C. Archery Association "He said he'd shot basically around the world, and never shot on a course that good," Harper recalled.
The biggest kudos were reserved for the four or five Bowmen who created the course, led by Alfred Braun and club vice president Bryan Harper. They had been working on the design since January, and had to switch out the entire course between Saturday and Sunday so things were different for the shooters on the second day.
"They went above and beyond the call of duty," Jim Harper said, The Hell Hole - named for the steep valley that shooters have to descend into - attracted 162 competitors this year, down slightly from 2014.
"I think it was mostly the weather," Harper said. "People don't like going down in that Hell Hole when it's hot."
Cowichan archers had four first-place finishes: Bernie Vangylswyk in senior men's compound fixed pins, Adam Gazsity in cub men's compound unlimited, Connor Harper in peewee men's compound unlimited, and club president Roger Walker in master 50 men's traditional. Six more Bowmen finished second in their respective classes: Celia Browning in junior women's compound unlimited, Gordon Stone in senior men's barebow, Frank Aubin in senior men's compound fixed pins, James Luckhurst in cadet men's compound unlimited, Bryan Harper in senior men's compound unlimited, and Mike Poole in senior men's longbow.
Sheri Luckhurst placed third in senior women's compound unlimited, Brian Painter was third in senior men's barebow, and Paul Marshall finished third in senior men's compound fixed pins.
Jody Bates was fourth in women's senior barebow and Carlee Howard was fourth in senior women's compound unlimited, while Jacklynn Bates placed fifth in senior women's compound fixed pins and Randy Granbois was sixth in master 60 men's compound unlimited. Brad Luckhurst finished eighth in senior men's compound fixed pins, and Laszlo Gazsity placed 10th in senior men's compound fixed pins.
Bowmen Bryan Harper and Mike Poole will head to Terni, Umbria, Italy in late August and early September to represent Canada at the 2015 World 3D Archery Championships.