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Field champions crowned at the Torino 2019 European Masters Games

02 août 2019

Torino, Italy

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The first archery medals of the 2019 European Masters Games were awarded at the field archery course set around the Castle of Rivoli to the west of Torino.

Among the local Italian winners were experienced international archers Giuseppe Seimandi (compound men 30+), Irene Franchini (compound women 30+) and Matteo Fissore (recurve men 30+).

Fissore’s final was against two-time Olympian Jocelyn de Grandis.

“It’s a very nice event and it was a very, very nice match. Jocelyn shot very well,” said Matteo. “I was one point down after two ends and then I was able to rise up so I am very happy. I was training for this medal, so I’m very happy.”

The four-target semifinals course was tough, with all shots set uphill, and while the final four targets were flat, archers‘ nerves set in.

“One of my release aids went off prematurely and I hit the wall but I didn’t lose any arrows, only one here, but I was very nervous,” said James Conroy.

Conroy finished fourth in the compound men’s 70+ category.

He is also a two-time Olympian, having represented Ireland at the Games in Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980.

“Maybe I should have shot more competitions and then I wouldn’t be so nervous,” said the 76-year-old. “I wasn’t as nervous at the Olympic Games.”

The medal matches were recorded and streamed by the Italian federation. The dramatic setting made for a larger stage than many of the masters athletes were used to when competing.

“I had friends that had been around the field and I’d heard there were cameras,” said Peter Webb, who upset top seed and top recurve men’s scorer Adolf Mohr to eventually win gold in the 50+ event.

“The last shot was very difficult, I was shaking. I’m very happy and it’s been very difficult; I’m very, very happy. I’m just trying to calm down because I was very, very nervous.”

“I’m just looking forward to the target event.”

Competition at the 2019 European Masters Games continues until Sunday 4 August with over 300 archers aged 30 years or more taking part in the target archery discipline.

The European Masters Games, a regional version of the World Masters Games, is an open-entry multisport event that takes place every four years.

Below is the full list of gold medallists in the field archery competitions at Torino 2019.

Recurve men: Matteo Fissore (30+), Roberto Gaspari (40+), Peter Webb (50+), Claudio Rovera (60+), Giuseppe Macagno (70+)
Recurve women: Laetitia Berlioz (30+), Ute von Schilling (40+), Anna Botto (50+), Lis Becker (60+)
Compound men: Giuseppe Seimandi (30+), Alexey Bashkriev (40+), Hakan Johansson (50+), Bruno Herve (60+), Ganther Kramer (70+)
Compound women: Irene Franchini (30+), Tanja Nordmeye-Khune (40+), Monica Finessi (50+)
Barebow men: Daniele Bellotti (40+), Alessandro Di Nardo (50+)
Barebow women: Rita La Manna (30+), Birna Magnasdattir (50+)
Longbow men: Bart Paalvast (30+), Derek Vredveld (40+), Andy Marti (50+)
Longbow women: Antonella Maroli (50+)