The Archery GB Recognition Awards have taken place to honour the volunteers without whom our sport wouldn’t flourish.
This year the event was combined with the Performance Awards, honouring the athletes who represent our sport on the world stage. The awards were held at the Performance Archery Centre, the home of Olympic and Paralympic archery, for the first time.
The celebration took place on Saturday 29 November with volunteers and their guests in attendance along with athletes, staff, and representatives from Archery GB's partners and sponsors.
Archery GB President, Graham Potts, opened the awards ceremony by paying tribute to the key role volunteers play in enriching lives through archery all over the UK.
He said: "There's a quote from Heather French Henry that says: 'Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else's help'."
"I would add that no one has taken part in archery without the help of a volunteer. Your dedication inspires athletes, strengthens clubs, and builds communities."
Check out the event photos here
Across the 18 awards, Archery GB received over 200 nominations which made the shortlisting and selection no easy task. Here are the winners and the highly commended runners-up.
Marjan Abdelfattagh – winner
Ethan McKinney
Jonathon Yau
Alex Sillitoe-Price – winner
Candy Schofield – winner
Debbie Teml
Tony Bakes
Thea Rogers – winner
Mark Davis – winner
Adam Doughty – winner
Kathy and Pascal Johnson – winner
Alicia Dodsworth
Peter Sisson
Sarah Smith – winner
Andy Pelling – winner
Malcolm Rees
Peter Hughes
Lee Tyrrell
Tom Spencer
Marty McCullough – winner
Mandie Elson
Nick Kershaw
Deb Horn - Arcus Archery & Ebbsfleet Academy Junior Archers – winner
Wells City Archers - John Baker
Lichfield Archers
Danny Cameron – winner
Sue Matthews
Mark Braham and Phil Lambert - Shropshire CCOs
Charlotte Burgess – winner
Deb Horn
Alannah Smith
Ajay Scott – winner
Davey Thompson at Archery for Everyone – winner
Indigo Archery
Tandridge Archers
Jodie Grinham – winner
Jed Cullen
Nathan Macqueen
Reigate Priory Bowmen – winner
Wallingford Castle Archers
Worcester Bowmen
Certificates were also presented to the Aim for Paris Superhero competition winner and runners-up:
Peter ‘Zed’ Rogers – winner
Sarah Leeming – runner up
Ian Jamison – runner up
During the ceremony, a Special Recognition Award was given posthumously to David Carter, from Archery Insight, for his dedication to coaching and volunteering.
An award was also presented on behalf of World Archery to Paralympic champion Jodie Grinham, who received the Gender Equity and Inclusion Award for demonstrating that disability is no barrier to participation. She demonstrated this when she won bronze in the compound women’s individual event at Paris 2024, and became the first pregnant Paralympic gold medallist in any sport when she won the mixed team event alongside Nathan Macqueen.
Closing the awards, President Graham Potts, said: "Archery is so lucky to have such a large group of volunteers across the spectrum working for others, growing the sport, and hopefully getting much satisfaction from what they achieve.
"Let's all go forward and continue to achieve and encourage others to join in.
"Congratulations to the winners and all those nominated and shortlisted – be proud of your achievements!"
For more information about how to get involved in volunteering at national events click this link.
To get involved in volunteering at club level, explore the different roles available here.
