Rhondda to host World Field Archery Championship

The International governing body for archery has awarded the World Field Archery championships to the UK, with the competition centred around the Rhondda and Pontypridd.

The event will take place in 3 locations over the span of a week, ranging from the official practice days in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, the qualification and elimination rounds in Glyncornel, Llwynypia and the finals days being held at the Museum of Welsh Life at St. Fagans during the first week of September 2008.

Considerable work and strong partners in the Welsh Assembly and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council have meant that when the Grand National Archery Society presented the bid, there was already a strong commitment to deliver the event.

I've been working with the Pentref Bowmen over the last six months to get the Assembly and Rhondda Cynon Taff Council behind this. I'm pleased that the Assembly Sports Minister Alun Pugh has already given his backing in principle to the plans, which will bring contestants from dozens of countries to the Rhondda in 2008.

Lynne Evans, Chairman of the Grand National Archery Society has said:

The proposed venues in South Wales are well established for this style of Archery, and from a personal perspective the venue is one I know very well from the past when I have taken part in various National and Welsh Championships held in Ton Pentre.

Field Archery has a great tradition in the UK and has many former and current World Champions, I remember the Championships held in the Rhondda in 1970, although the World event has returned to the UK in the intervening years.

Congratulations especially to Jeanette Howells and Marion Howells who have given a lot of time to this project.