British compounders make two finals at last World Cup stage of season

Great Britain’s compound women’s team and mixed team will shoot for gold medals at the fourth stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Berlin, Germany this Saturday.

Susan Corless, Ella Gibson and Sarah Moon were seeded third in the compound women’s team event after qualification. They beat New Zealand and hosts Germany in their elimination matches to set up a final against Turkey.

“I think we shot really well in some difficult conditions. And worked really well as a team, considering we hadn’t really shot together [before],” said Gibson.

Paired with James Mason, the 19-year-old had an equally successful run in the mixed event. 

The duo upset top-seeded Colombia in a shoot-off in the quarterfinals and then dispatched Italy, featuring multiple mixed team world champion Marcella Tonioli, in the semis, 148-145.

“We had a tough run, as I think everyone did. It was a case of picking your moments. The weather was tricky, it’s been tricky all week. So it’s a case of picking your moment and trying to get it in the yellow, which has been an achievement,” said Mason.

“We don’t have much luck in the mixed team usually. So it’s great to get there. Hopefully, we can come back with the gold.”

This is James’ first medal on the international circuit. He and Gibson will face Slovenia in the final.

Berlin marks the second consecutive stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup at which the British compound women will win a medal. Gibson took bronze in Antalya with Lucy Mason and Layla Annison.

“Once some archers start getting good and doing well it pushes everyone else to work that little bit harder,” said Ella. “You train longer, train harder and train together as well. It just helps everyone move up. And we’ve definitely got that at the moment.

This event in Berlin marks the end of a full-on Hyundai Archery World Cup season, save for those athletes who have qualified for this year’s Final in Moscow.

But both Gibson and Moon have more on their international calendars.

The former will shoot at the World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid in August, while the latter – who was world junior silver medallist in 2017 – flies from Berlin to Napoli for the Universiade in Italy.

“I’m away for two weeks. It’s a long time and that can be very difficult. You put your life on hold for it,” said Moon. “It’s being a part of a team and following a schedule and being very, very disciplined. It’s not: do what you want, when you want. It’s very structured.”

The compound women’s final takes place in the morning and the compound mixed team final in the afternoon on Saturday 6 July in Berlin.

The fourth stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place on 1-7 July in Berlin, Germany.