Published on 01.03.2022
The French disabled archery championship is organized on the weekend of March 11 to 13 in the Vigneau sports hall. Herblinoise Apolline Racapé, gold medalist at the European Run Archery Championship is the godmother of the event.
Postponed for two years due to the health crisis, this French championship was organized in record time (3 months) by the Archers club of Saint-Herblain. “The Handisport Federation contacted us last December following the withdrawal of a club. We accepted because we benefit from our first experience acquired 4 years ago during a previous French championship” underlines Étienne Blondeau, president of Archers of Saint-Herblain. The project immediately received support from the City. “This French championship is undoubtedly the first sporting event of this magnitude organized for 2 years. The public wants to meet, discover, enjoy” rejoices the mayor, Bertrand Affilé
Sign language translators
During the weekend, the club expects 80 athletes from all over France. Divided into three categories (athletes with severe disabilities / visually impaired veterans / Paralympic athletes), they will try to win the title of French champion in their category. About forty volunteers from the Archers club will lend a hand to welcome competitors and the public.
For the first time in a French handisport championship, sign language translators will be present to guide hearing-impaired archers. “By hosting this event and supporting it, we affirm that, whatever their age, whatever their condition, they can practice sport. Our collective work is to say that it is possible” underlined the mayor, Bertrand Affiliate, and Marine Duméril, sports assistant.
Étienne Blondeau, president of the Saint-Herblain Archers club, was awarded the label by a representative of the disabled sports departmental committee.
The disabled sports club label given to the Archers of Saint-Herblain
The Archers of Saint-Herblain obtain the renewal of the “disabled sports club” label awarded by the departmental disabled sports committee. “It’s a great satisfaction for us as the conditions for obtaining them are becoming more and more difficult,” rejoices Étienne Blondeau. The label rewards the club’s efforts in terms of quality of reception: reception staff, qualified volunteers, accessibility, security.
Initiation of schoolchildren to disabled archery
Anxious to make disabled archery known, the Archers will offer an initiation on Friday afternoon. A CM1 class from the Beauregard school and another CM1-CM2 class from the Sensive school responded.
Apolline Racapé, the godmother of the event
Apolline Racapé, godmother of the French championship, will be present throughout the weekend. Aged 21, the young Herblinoise has been practicing archery since 2014. Tired of classical practice, she chose to open up to run archery which combines running and archery. Today in addition to her title of French junior champion, she has become European champion in the junior category 3 times 400m.
Focus on committed Herbinois athletes
- Thierry Jan, visually impaired athlete, member of the Archers club, qualifies for the first time in the French indoor championship.
- Severine Prigent, deaf sportswoman, licensed at the Archers club, is the reigning French champion in her category.
Practical information: the French championship is open to the public free of charge on presentation of a vaccination pass.
From 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., Vigneau sports area, boulevard Salvador-Allende
