By Marie-Madeleine Remoleur
Published on
Active for thirty years, the archery division from the Association of young Villersois (AJV) has members of all ages, both men and women.
From 10 to 85 years old
Laughter resounds in the heart of the André-Salesse gymnasium, Villers-sur-Mer (Calvados), while the archers leave to collect their arrows. “Here, it’s a very family club, we all know each other”, smiles Delphine Danthier, member of the club for 15 years, and of the departmental committee.
In Villers, for thirty years, archers practice their activity in a good mood. “We are a fairly atypical club”, continues Delphine Danthier, referring to a “very small” club which counts 25 licensees. “It’s a sport that is not publicized so I think we pay a little for this non-mediatization”, recognizes Delphine. However, she insists: it is a sport “that can go to everyone”. And the diversity of the profiles of the members of the club is a good proof of this. “If you look at the ages, we have everything and we like everyone to meet: girls and boys, young and old”. Within the club, the youngest is 10 years old and the oldest, Claude, will be 85 years old. “On the day of the holidays, we have got into the habit of organizing an activity all together with beginners and experienced, as they do not have the same training slots for them to meet”. All while organizing “games” where the different levels mix. “There are no criteria, we are all mixed. The goal is for us all to be together and to get to know each other”.
A very feminine club
Another sign of distinction for this section of the AJV which has several strings to its bow, is its female part. “At the national level, the average is 30% women, we are almost at 50%”, proudly announces Delphine Danthier who works within the departmental committee to carry out operations in favor of the feminization of sport.
Moreover, within the section of the AJV, various targeted events have been carried out in this direction:
In particular, we organized activities to come with your sister, mother or girlfriend. We wanted to suggest that members bring someone from their entourage because it’s easier to come and integrate into a club of a sport you don’t know by going there with a loved one.
Another meeting organized several times in Villers-sur-Mer: the Rose Trophy. An event exclusively reserved for women which was created thanks to Delphine Danthier. “It’s a joyful competition, we are disguised, there is music. » The objective is the same: to show that archery is a sport for everyone… and that there is no age (or sex) to start!
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