NSW gold bonanza: 2024 National Youth Archery Championships, Tuggeranong, ACT
One of eight rising NSW archers to strike gold at the National Youth Champs in the ACT, the multi-talented Mitchell Campbell has returned home in shock. FULL STORY.
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He’s the Northern Beaches archer who headed to Canberra last week “to have some fun”. Now back on home turf with a gold medal, Mitchell Campbell is still in shock.
Alongside more than 130 of Australia’s youngest sharpshooters at the National Youth Championships in Tuggeranong, the 20-year-old overcame massive odds to move another step closer to his Olympic dream.
“I was going in with no expectations,” said Campbell of his surprise victory in the under-21 recurve field event, where competitors move in groups of four between 24 targets.
“I have shot compound bows for the last nine years but decided to change to recurve a few months ago because that’s what is used in the Olympics.
“So to win gold in the field event, I was sort of shocked. I didn’t really feel too confident – I was just there to have fun.”
Now in the final year of a Project Management degree, amazingly, the Sydney University student was among the last to receive the good news.
“I didn’t even realise that I had won,” explained Mitchell, who trains under current national para coach Ricci Cheah at Sydney Olympic Park Archers.
“In the field, the competitors are so spread out that you can’t really compare how you are going. At the end of it, I looked at the online scores on my phone and was surprised to see my name at the top of the list.”
Despite the breakthrough medal, Campbell, who transitions to open age next year, says the work has only just begun if he’s to become a serious contender for a place at the 2028 or 2032 Olympics.
“Using a compound bow is more about relaxing the mind. Whereas in recurve, I find there’s a need to be more purposeful in all aspects from body form through to shot process,” he said.
“Also, Olympic competition is match-play. I enjoy the stresses of that style of competition, and managed a ninth at last year’s World Youth Championships in Ireland.”
Away from the range, Campbell has just as many strings to his bow, and all going well could one day be on target for even bigger hits.
“I play guitar with a few mates in a band called Tacit. We write our own stuff and are hoping to start playing live at pubs and bars.”
OTHER NSW MEDALS
SILVER: Iris Chen (U14F recurve, x2, SOPA), Olivia Ross (U14F recurve, x2, Cessnock), Eve Whitear (U16F Compound, x3, Warringah), Sophia Jerochim (U16F barebow, x4, SOPA), Tara Choo (U18F recurve, x3, SOPA), Maja Kecskes (U18F recurve, Warringah), Aditya Patil (U18M, x2, recurve, SOPA), Oliver Robinson (U18 barebow, x2, Warringah), Alban Thornycroft (U21M compound, x2, Northern Archers), Mitchell Campbell (U21M recurve, SOPA), Darren Candra (U21M barebow, x3, SOPA)
BRONZE: Iris Chen (U14F recurve, SOPA), Tiah Allen (U14F recurve, x3, Sawtell), Jasper Yan (U14M recurve, x4, SOPA), Eve Whitear (U16F compound, Warringah), Zali Allen (U16F compound, Sawtell), Millie Fisher (U16F barebow, x4, SOPA), Tristal Hoare (U18F compound, Penrith), Tara Choo (U18F recurve, SOPA), Maja Kecskes (U18F recurve, x2, Warringah), Aditya Patil (U18M, recurve, SOPA), Oliver Robinson (U18 barebow, Warringah), Tara Geddes (U21F compound, x3, Sawtell), Alban Thornycroft (U21M compound, Northern Archers), Lachlan Lee (U21M recurve, SOPA)
MEET 14 NSW REPS AIMING BIG IN CANBERRA
With Paris 2024 just around the corner, the next generation of Australian archers are about to take another step closer to their own Olympic dream at the 2024 National Youth Archery Championships.
Over five days starting on March 28, more than 130 of Australia’s rising stars will compete for medals at the Tuggeranong Archery Club in the nation’s capital.
With a range of equipment styles including compound, Olympic recurve, and barebow, athletes will take part in four separate events across divisions ranging from under-14s to under-21s.
In addition, state bragging rights will be on the line as teams battle for the State Award.
Check out the 14 youngsters chosen to represent NSW in Canberra.
INTERESTED IN TRYING ARCHERY: Click HERE to find the nearest club.
ALBAN THORNYCROFT (NORTHERN ARCHERS – PENNANT HILLS)
Definitely one to watch, Alban has been running hot since representing Australia at the Youth World Championships in Ireland last year.
A rising talent on the compound, the 19-year-old from the Central Coast has come along way since taking up the sport six years ago.
Away from the range he enjoys rock-climbing, riding horses and chewing on biltong between sips of coconut water.
DARREN CANDRA (SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK ARCHERS – HOMEBUSH)
Still only 17, Darren is tipped to hold his own after winning a place in the state under-21 recurve team.
From Constitution Hill in Sydney’s west, he’s already tasted senior competition at the Australian Open and continues to be inspired by coaches Ricci Cheah and Alex King.
Doubles as a handy swimmer, and when dry revels in the company of his favourite miniature figurines.
EMILY GRIFFITHS (PENRITH CITY ARCHERS)
Emily developed an eye for the target one Christmas when Santa dropped off a new bow. Now 14, the youngster from Richmond hopes to add to a trophy cabinet that already houses national champion silverware from the under-14s and 16s.
A specialist on the compound bow, she represented Australia last April at the Trans Tasman Challenge and holds the rare distinction of achieving a perfect 900 in a tournament.
IRIS CHEN (SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK ARCHERS – HOMEBUSH)
She’s still a rookie, but Iris Chen is a classic example of what can happen with dedication and hard work.
Inspired by the series The Trials of Apollo, since picking up a bow 12 months ago the 13-year-old from North Parramatta continues to shine.
Now a member of the state recurve team, she will compete in the under-14s and aim to repeat her gold medal performance at the Illawarra target competition.
JASMINE BULL (SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK ARCHERS – HOMEBUSH)
For anyone that has tried to pop a balloon on the public range at Sydney Olympic Park, Jasmine Bull is an example of what can happen next.
Still only 11, the Ermington sharpshooter took the next step just over 12 months ago and is now a NSW recurve rep.
Ranked No.1 in the state for under-14 female recurve, the only thing she likes more is tucking into roast pork and mash after a long day at the range.
LOGAN MERRICK (BATHURST ARCHERS)
When he’s not carving up the outskirts of Bathurst on his motorbike or weaving his magic on anything mechanical, Logan loves loading his favourite compound.
Since asking his folks for permission to attend the come-and-try day at Bathurst Archers two years ago, the now 15-year-old has become a range regular.
Has already won under-16 gold at the state champs and will chase more this year in the under-18s.
TARA CHOO (SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK ARCHERS – HOMEBUSH)
Since entering competitions in late 2021, this 15-year-old has continued to climb the charts.
A current member of the NSW recurve team, Tara has dominated in both outdoor and indoor competitions and last year medalled in all her events for Australia at the Trans Tasman and Oceania Championships.
A fan of frozen grapes, she also credits her success to visiting the range four times a week in addition to home training and gym work.
TRISTAL HOARE (PENRITH CITY ARCHERS)
Tristal has been shooting for almost three years, but for the North Richmond local, her spot in the state team could easily still be the stuff of dreams.
Despite the pandemic and constant flooding of her local range, the 15-year-old’s commitment has never wavered and she cleaned up at the recent Archery NSW presentation night.
A self confessed hot chips freak, the under-18s compound whiz was drawn to the sport through video games and movies.
ZALI ALLEN (SAWTELL ARCHERS)
From a family with four generations of archers, it’s fair to say Zali Allen has arrowheads pumping through her veins.
Based on the state’s north coast, the under-16 NSW compound rep already has a decade of experience under her belt.
Continues to improve, and last year was crowned National Youth Target Champion.
TARA GEDDES (SAWTELL ARCHERS)
Another from the Coffs Harbour town of Sawtell, the 19-year-old currently holds the Troy Adam’s memorial trophy as overall State Champion – Junior Girl’s Compound.
Inspired by the Lord of the Rings, Tara hopes to match the shootings deeds of Legolas and away from the range likes to entertain on a vast array of instruments including the bagpipes and tin whistle.
MITCHELL CAMPBELL (SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK ARCHERS – HOMEBUSH)
In one of the more unusual introductions to archery, Mitchell Campbell followed a tip-off from his hairdresser. Now 20, the Frenchs Forest resident heads to Canberra in solid form after picking up two bronze medals at last year’s Oceania champs.
And when he’s not pulling strings, the final year uni student plucks them with bandmates from an assortment of guitars that far outnumber his collection of bows.
MAJA KECSKES (WARRINGAH ARCHERS)
Another Aussie rep from last year’s trip to Ireland, Maja continues to improve on her personal best scores, and this year the 15-year-old could well turn a few more heads in the under-18 recurve.
Fluent in Hungarian, she can say ‘bullseye’ in four languages and brings a touch of class, having reached elite levels in both ballet and piano.
EVE WHITEAR (WARRINGAH ARCHERS)
With a background in fencing, kayaking and hiking it was no surprise that Eve Whitear extended her love of the outdoors to archery.
Now after just one year of competition, the northern beaches sharpshooter has surprised herself with state selection in under-16 compound.
For a change of pace, she plays flute and piccolo, and enjoys to recover with a tub of frozen yoghurt.
LACHLAN LEE (SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK ARCHERS – HOMEBUSH)
Lachlan Lee’s pathway to archery is quite unique, and is best conveyed by the 17-year-old himself.
“During the pandemic my interest in ancient warfare and weapons led me to stumbling upon videos of Japanese and Mongolian archery,” he said.
“This prompted me to try and build my own bow, and then my mother introduced me to the course at Sydney Olympic Park.”
And thankfully she did, the now recurve specialist will compete for NSW in the under-21s.
More from sport writer Jason Hosken HERE
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