British compound mixed team ends seven-year World Cup gold medal drought

Ella Gibson and James Mason beat Slovenia’s Toja Ellison and Stas Modic in Berlin to win Great Britain’s first gold medal on the Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit since 2012 and the first compound victory since 2010.

“It’s fantastic, we’ve had a lot of bad luck in the mixed team in the last few years so it’s great to get here, especially in the mixed team event. It’s fantastic,” said Mason.

Gibson, who took a silver with the British women’s team earlier in the day, gave credit to her teammate.

“He helped me through shots and it was just really good. Very nerve-wracking but I really enjoyed getting on the stage,” she said.

James only missed the middle once in the 16-arrow final. Ella wasn’t far behind, shooting five 10s and three nines.

The British team, ahead by two at halfway, finished with ends of 40 and 39 points to take the match, 156-155.

In the history of the Hyundai Archery World Cup, the British team has taken nine gold medals. The last of those came in May 2012 when the recurve men’s team of Larry Godfrey, Simon Terry and Alan Wills were regular podium contenders.

Nicky Hunt was the last compound archer from Britain to take gold at a stage of the international circuit, in Shanghai in 2010.

“Two medals today, which is something the compounds haven’t achieved in some time,” said Mason. “Hopefully we can continue to win more going forward.”

This gold is James’ first medal on the Hyundai Archery World Cup.

Russia beat Italy to the compound mixed team bronze medal in Berlin, 151-149.

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