Another week, another National Tour stage done and dusted!
With numbers archers adding to their National Tour medal collection, it was also the highest finish for a number of medalists. Barnsley AC delivered the fifth stage amazingly, during yet another windy weekend.
Keith Harding headed up the recurve men's podium with his third stage win of the 2019 season whilst also qualifying first claiming 750 rankings points in the race to secure a place in the National Tour Finals in September. After shooting a 637 in a blustery qualification, Keith started his winning streak 6-0 in the 1/16 elimination round, followed by three 6-4 results and won with a 6-2 against Riley Spencer-Nice to take the gold medal.
Riley qualified sixth with 595 to proceed through the elimination rounds winning a shoot off in the 1/8 round against Frank Hanks to get through to the gold medal match and take home the silver medal. Michael Judd, no stranger to National Tour stages, walked away with the bronze medal after meeting Keith in the semifinals with Keith taking the win 6-4. However, Judd won the bronze 6-4 against Crispin Cousins.
The recurve women saw the UK Masters Champion, Sarah Bettles take the gold medal after wining 7-3 against fellow European Games Team Champion Bryony Pitman. Sarah won a shoot off in the quarterfinals against Kayleigh Ivanov with a better seven than Kayleigh's. Bryony won her first two matches 6-2 and 6-0 before winning the silver.
Third place and the bronze medalist, Sally Gilder, won her final match against Freya Palmer to take the match. This was Sally's highest finish for the 2019 National Tour so far.
Compound Women gold medal winner, Victoria Barby, added to her medal collection after picking up bronze at the fourth stage at Surrey after finishing ahead of Marina Rose, who debuted for the 2019 season. Marina shot the highest score for the elimination round with a 139, to earn a shoot off against Iulia Petre in the semi-finals, only to win with an eight.
Youth archer Iulia Peter took home the bronze after shoot a 133 to Amy Bode's 130. This was also Iulia's highest finish for the 2019 National Tour season so far.
Finally, the compound men was won by no stranger to the podium, James Mason, who recently won the British Target Championships and the third stage at Surrey. Rhys Harper, UK Masters Champion, took home the silver medal and his highest finish for the 2019 National Tour so far. Michael Aubery, who also got his highest finish for 2019 National Tour landed bronze after winning 142-134 against Oskars Lock.
Full results can be found here:
https://www.ianseo.net/Details.php?toId=6018
The National Tour continues this weekend in Northern Ireland. https://www.ianseo.net/Details.php?toId=6034
