Saturday November 23, first day of archery competition with the special youth challenge, organized at the Sports Hall by the Archers du Conflent. In one part of the large room, chairs are lined up so that the many accompanying parents can take their seats and go to the refreshment bar to get a snack. There is a great excitement which ends with each whistle which starts the events. Silence then falls and the archers line up, concentrate to shoot at a distance of 10, 15 or 18 meters, which varies depending on the age category and level. Bernard Morlot, president of the Pradéen club explains: “Today, it’s a special youth competition, it is not official with the French Archery Federation (FFTA). We are very happy because we have a total of 51 young people, boys and girls, which is a lot, from chicks (7 years old), to juniors (17 years old) with 2 series of 3 arrows in 7 ends. They come from all over the department which has 11 clubs. and the 3 best in each category will be rewarded at half-time, a snack is offered to all the children.
Sunday November 24, time for the official competition, recorded on the FFTA calendar, with qualifying results for the French championship. It brought together 60 participants from 12 clubs, 9 from the POs and 3 archers from Versailles (Yvelines), La Baule (Loire-Atlantique) and the principality of Andorra. 11 categories were represented in recurve bow, 5 in compound bow and 2 in bare bow. The event: 60 arrows shot in 2 series of 30 arrows, distance 18 meters.
