IG07 Sports

Evidence of ancient archery has been found throughout the world, even in Australia where it had been thought that the bow had not been used.

Although archery probably dates to the Stone Age (around 20,000 BC), the earliest people known to have used the bow and arrow were the ancient Egyptians, who adopted it at least 5000 years ago for purposes of hunting and warfare.

The first known organised competition in archery was held at Finsbury in England in 1583 and included 3000 participants!

Guernsey Bowmen got a Silver and a Bronze in 2005.

By the time of the 30 Years War (1618-1648), it was clear that the bow as weapon belonged to the past, due to the advancements of the handgun. Since then, archery developed as a recreational sport.

Bow and Arrows

There are two different kinds of bows used in Island Games competition: Recurve and Compound.

Recurve is the only type of bow allowed in Olympic competitions. Its limbs curve away from the archer and is also known as the Classic Bow.

In Compound, the bow has pulleys and cables to make the holding weight less than half of the draw weight.

Arrows can travel in excess of 150 miles per hour. They are made of either aluminium or carbon graphite. Aluminium arrows are more uniform in weight and shape, while graphite arrows fly faster.

Fitorio Municipal Field in the distance.

In Rhodes

Although a relatively new sport for the island, it only started in 2002, it already has many participants and supporters. Rhodes competed in Archery in the Island Games for the first time in the Shetland 2005 Island Games with four athletes.

Archery is an Olympic Sport and Rhodes hosted the Olympic Team of Taiwan for a two week Pre-Olympic Training Camp. The team went on to win one Silver and one Bronze medal in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The venue that will host both, the Olympic Round and the FITA event is the Municipal Field of Fitorio.

Games Records before the 2007 Games

Event - Record Holder - Island - Year

Men Double Fita - Recurve 2405 D Ransom Jersey 1995
Single Fita - Recurve 1205 D Ransom Jersey 1995
90m - Recurve 283 G Saunders Jersey 1995
70m - Recurve = 304 D Ransom Jersey 1995
= 304 D Finnie Shetland 1999
50m - Recurve 312 D Ransom Jersey 1995
30m - Recurve 343 H Linden Aland 1987

Ladies Double Fita - Recurve 2266 K Cordon Isle of Wight 1997
Single Fita - Recurve 1172 G Reilly Isle of Man 2003
70m - Recurve 275 G Reilly Isle of Man 2003
60m - Recurve 299 J Nash Guernsey 1999
50m - Recurve 280 K Cordon Isle of Wight 1997
30m - Recurve 327 G Reilly Isle of Man 2003

Team (Four Members)
Double Fita - Recurve 8761 Isle of Wight 1993
Single Fita - Recurve 4379 Isle of Wight 1993

Team (Three Members)
Single Fita - Recurve 3217 Jersey 2003

Men Double Fita - Compound 2571 S Vang Faroe Is. 1999
Single Fita - Compound 1323 S Vang Faroe Is. 1999
90m - Compound 311 H Perrett Jersey 2003
70m - Compound 330 S Vang Faroe Is. 2001
50m - Compound 339 S Vang Faroe Is. 1999
30m - Compound = 351 P Holm Andersen Faroe Is. 1999
= 351 S Vang Faroe Is. 1999

Ladies Double Fita - Compound 2519 S Vang Faroe Is. 1997
Single Fita - Compound 1267 S Vang Faroe Is. 1997
70m - Compound 310 S Leith Shetland 2003
60m - Compound 326 J Gough Isle of Man 1999
50m - Compound 324 S Vang Faroe Is. 1997
30m - Compound 340 S Vang Faroe Is. 2001

Team (Three Members)
Double Fita - Compound 7600 Faroe Is. 2001
Single Fita - Compound 3887 Faroe Is. 1999

Men Fita 720 – Recurve 545 A Hansen Faroe Is. 2005
Fita 720 – Compound 639 J Niclasen Faroe Is. 2005

Ladies Fita 720 – Recurve 502 J Hamm Isle of Wight 2005
Fita 720 – Compound 597 J Moore Isle of Man 2005

Men
Head to Head 18 Arrow - Recurve Individual 154 R Jones Ynys Mon 2005
12 Arrow - Recurve Individual 99 K Houghton Isle of Wight 2003
36 Arrow - Recurve Individual
finals round 295 K Houghton Isle of Wight 2003

Ladies
Head to Head 18 Arrow - Recurve Individual = 134 L Pomeroy Jersey 2003
= 134 G Reilly Isle of Man 2003
12 Arrow - Recurve Individual 101 H Wolstencroft Isle of Man 2003
36 Arrow - Recurve Individual
finals round 289 G Reilly Isle of Man 2003

Team (Three Members) Head to Head Recurve 214 Jersey 2003

Men
Head to Head 18 Arrow - Compound Ind 164 S Vang Faroe Is 2003
12 Arrow - Compound Ind 113 S Vang Faroe Is 2003
36 Arrow - Recurve Individual
finals round 328 S Vang Faroe Is 2003

Ladies
Head to Head 18 Arrow - Compound Ind 142 A Perrett Jersey 2003
12 Arrow - Compound Ind 111 J Moore Isle of Man 2003
36 Arrow - Compound Individual
finals round 319 J Moore Isle of Man 2005

Team (Three Members)
Head to Head Compound 242 Jersey 2003