 Stubbs claimed gold at the Beijing Paralympics |
Paralympic archery champion John Stubbs will bid to add the world title to his Beijing crown when the tournament starts in the Czech Republic on Monday. "I'm shooting well and if I shoot to my potential I can figure on the rostrum," said Stubbs, who was 2005 world champion in the men's compound event. Also part of the GB team is Paralympic and world champion Danielle Brown. Brown will defend her women's compound individual title and also bids for consecutive wins in the team event. She will compete alongside Mel Clarke and Pippa Britton. Stubbs, who had his right leg amputated when he was 24 after a car accident, is hoping that the changes he has made to his training regime since his Beijing success will pay dividends in the Czech Republic. The 44-year-old has split his training base between Cheshire and London.  | We're confident we can win medals, it's been a good year for all our Paralympians, we've had a good training camp, preparations have gone well and spirits are high GB Paralympic coach Tim Hazell |
"I'm still based in the North West, but I needed to have a club closer to London to have a real feel for the place," he explained as he looks towards the London Paralympics in 2012. "Living where I do, you don't really know what London is like until you live there. "I was amazed at the hustle and bustle. I'm a country bumpkin and I didn't want to go down in 2012 and be overawed by London. "I know 2012 is still a long way off, but I now go to London for at least four to six days a month. "I have also joined the Royal Richmond Archery Club so I can shoot whenever I want down there, but I'm still training with the North Cheshire Bowmen and working with my coach there. "We still speak regularly. He has played an important role in my career so far, but I feel this is the best way for me to prepare for 2012." Stubbs made a big impact on his Paralympic debut in Beijing, but he insists that he will approach this week's event no differently. "I'm not feeling any extra pressure as Paralympic champion and I proved in Beijing I can perform under pressure," he said. "I have been trying to introduce new equipment into my shooting form, but as this competition gets closer I have to get back to my Beijing equipment again and hopefully get back into the rhythm of shooting with that. | 606: DEBATE |
"Earlier this summer I won a World Invitational tournament at Stoke Mandeville so my rivals know where they need to be to beat me. "I've been pushing myself forward and concentrating on the Paralympic distance, which is 70m, and I've forgone some other competitions to focus on that so hopefully it will help me." GB Paralympic coach Tim Hazell believes Britain can enjoy a successful tournament. "We've a great squad, and we're all really looking forward to it," he said. "We're confident we can win medals. It's been a good year for all our Paralympians. We've had a good training camp, preparations have gone well and spirits are high." Paralympians Fred Stevens, John Cavanagh, Paul Browne, Kay Lucas and Kate Murray are all back in action while John Murray returns and there are two new faces in Kenny Allen and Philip Bottomley. Bottomley, who hails from Yorkshire, moved to the Netherlands to work and became a Dutch citizen. After taking up archery, he represented the Dutch at two World Championships, reaching world number four in the men's recurve, but he has decided that he wants to shoot for the nation of his birth and will make his British return this week.
GB squad: Men's compound: John Stubbs, John Murray, Fred Stevens. Women's compound: Danielle Brown, Mel Clarke, Pippa Britton. Men's recurve: Kenny Allen, Philip Bottomley, Paul Browne. Women's recurve: Kay Lucas, Kate Murray. Men's W1: John Cavanagh.
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?