(Pictured above: Athens District High School student Brandon Hellyer practices his aim a day before he leaves to compete in the 2009 Federation of Canadian Archers Outdoor 3D Canadian Championship in Amos, Quebec.)
(Athens) – Athens District High School student and gold-medal archer Brandon Hellyer is off to Amos, Quebec this weekend to take on the country’s top competitors at the 2009 Federation of Canadian Archers Outdoor 3D Canadian Championship.
From July 24 to 26, the 16-year-old will compete against approximately 40 other athletes in the cadet division (ages 13-16) by shooting at 20 outdoor targets per day and attempting to collect the highest points possible.
The nationals come exactly two weeks after Hellyer’s gold medal win at the Ontario 3D Championship in Madawaska, Ontario. Prior to that, he won his division at the Seaway Challenge for the fourth year in a row.
“I should do well,” Hellyer said of the upcoming nationals. “But major shoots can be pretty challenging. Local shoots aren’t that hard.”
Hellyer’s archery career began at age 12 when his father Dan brought home his grandfather’s crossbow. After learning more about compound bows from friend and local archer Christopher Perkins, Hellyer decided it was time to get one of his own.
Now Hellyer is taking on his second national championship. In 2007, he competed in Barrie and won the division gold medal.
“I just enjoy it,” he said. “I like walking through the woods.”
In his last year competing in the cadet category before becoming junior, Hellyer says he continues to work on what he finds the most challenging part of archery – estimating yardage.
“You’ve got to judge how far the target is and if you’re off you can go higher or lower,” he said.
But that hasn’t stopped him from focusing on his favorite part of the sport.
“Winning,” he said.
Next on Hellyer’s competition list is the International Bowhunting Organization World Championship and Archery Festival in Ellicottville, New York from August 12 -15. Last year at the event he placed 22nd out of approximately 60 world-class competitors.
“It wasn’t too bad but I would have liked to have done better,” he said.
Unfortunately, Hellyer’s participation in this year’s event is dependent on one thing – funding.
“My dad just lost his job,” he said. “I wouldn’t be going to any of these competitions if it wasn’t for Marg Barraclough of Temperance View Farm. She sponsors me and is paying the whole way for nationals. She is really nice.”
Hellyer is also sponsored by Norris’ Bait Shop in Westport and Bob Edgely of Brockville Motor Sales Ltd. He says he continues to be grateful and surprised by the community support he’s received.
“It’s nice,” he said. “I’ve actually gotten a couple of ‘congratulations’ cards from people in Athens who I don’t even know.”
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For more information please call:
Allison Moorhouse
School Communications Specialist
Upper Canada District School Board
613-342-0371 ext. 1161
allison.moorhouse@ucdsb.on.ca
Posted July 27, 2009