Taking Aim at the Heart Ten Spot

By Kelly Sharp

       There is nothing like a little practise before heading out on the Silvertip Archers 3-D course

While the search is ongoing for a new indoor home, the largest archery club in British Columbia is enjoying their outdoor range. So were the visiting archers at this past weekend’s Father’s Day 3-D shoot.  Over the 19 years of operation, the Silvertip Archers outdoor range on Highway 16 East has been developed into a national caliber course. The Tip’s outdoor range received glowing reviews when hosting the 2004 Canadian National 3-D championship. Four courses were set up for the 300 plus archers.

The two-day 3-D tournament was divided into a pair of courses. A network of trails descending into a ravine was the backdrop for the more challenging layout. Twenty Styrofoam three dimensional animal targets awaited the archer, one arrow for each target on the hilly terrain.

“It gets tricky”, said Prince George archer Garry Nolan about estimating the distance and adjusting to the shadows before taking aim on the life size target. The archer is rewarded with the 10 point maximum for an arrow in the heart of the anatomically correct structure.

From primitive to compound bows, the archer’s equipment preference varied as much as their wide range in age. Taylor Sapergia, the vice-president of the Silvertip Archers, completed his round of shooting at the outdoor range with a smile. “It’s so much fun getting there”, said Sapergia referring to the satisfaction of improving his shooting with a traditional long bow.

“It’s way different that shooting indoors,” said Nolan. “Some think indoor is too boring, others prefer shooting paper targets.”

The outdoor range is open for league competition during the week attracting youth and adults.

The Silvertip Archers have set a deadline of late August to find a new indoor home for the continuation of their various archery programs through the fall and winter months.

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