Karl's aim earns him bronze at European championships

Archer Karl Curtis is back at home in Westmeath after a bronze medal winning performance in the IFAA EBHC 2018, a European competition, at Oberwiesenthal, Germany, on June 18-22.

The teenager, from the Swan Lake Archery Club in Coole, was a member of the Irish Field Archery team, and his bronze was one of six medals they won.

As a result, Karl’s ranking has risen from 14th to third in his category in two years, and he is currently number two in Ireland and the UK.

“I was very happy with how the even went,” said Karl.

“Bringing a bow I have only shot for five months was a risk, as most people train and tune their equipment for the whole year before the European championships, but it paid off.”

The archers had to deal with huge variations n the conditions, and were shooting in temperatures from as high as 26 degrees Celsius to as low as six degrees.

“That was a big shock,” said Karl. “It took a while for me to adjust my shooting on the practice range.

“The main difference was the arrows flew much faster in the higher altitude, meaning I had to adjust my sights.

“I was shooting in shorts and T-shirts in the heat and then it got down to six degrees and constant downpours – I shot my best on the rainy day. And on our last day, it was three degrees and snowing!”

Karl broke two Irish record scores during the German event, and says he met lots of new people who are planning to visit his club in Coole next year.

“Hopefully now I have this third position, it will open lots of sponsorship options,” he added.

He is now preparing for the IFAF national champs on July 28 and 29 in Killygarry, County Cavan.