Simon Needham - Competitive Archer

ADVICE FROM ARCHERS

At one point I considered asking archers to answer a short questionnaire to include in Archery The Art of Repetition . That didnt happen, but it was something I really wanted to if the opportunity arose again.

The views and methods described earlier come from my approach to success. I have also found that the effort required to succeed is often diluted by suggestions that the route can be made easier and accomplished with less effort. To help give readers a balanced idea of how world-class archers think, train and approach their sport, I contacted many of the finest archers from around the world.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have passed on their advice to help others follow in their footsteps.

Alan Wills

Club: Sellafield

Country: England

Bow type: Recurve

How did you start in archery?

I just fancied trying it when I was twelve.

Alan Wills: represented Great Britain for 13 years. 2 times Olympian (Beijing and London), World Field Champion 2010, European team gold 2011.

How many times/years have you represented your country?

I think about 100 times. I have been on the junior and senior teams since 1997.

What motivates you to practise?

For me its the enjoyment and the addiction of bettering myself.

How many arrows do you shoot a week?

At the moment I shoot about 1,000 a week.

How many hours/times do you spend shooting a day/ week?

From one hour to eight hours a day.

Do you work? If so, how many hours?

I work part-time two or three days a week.

How do you deal with the limited time you can spend with family and friends?

I try to make the best of the time I have with every-body and I have a very understanding family and girlfriend.

Do you see a physiotherapist regularly?

I try to go for regular treatment to keep my body working right.

Who tunes/looks after your equipment?

Its all me, I take advice from others such as Larry Godfrey, Werner Beiter and Simon Needham.

Who coaches you and helps you shoot better? Why do you trust them?

Alf Davies is my main coach. Lloyd Brown helps me too. Peter Suk had a big impact on how I shoot today. But I mainly watched a lot of the top archers to see why they did what they did.

What was your most memorable event and why?

There have been a lot, but the best was winning the world field champs in 2010.

What is your advice to archers wanting to get to the top?

You have to be in it for the long haul and enjoy it. Just keep plodding on and the hard work will pay off. Have an open mind and a lot a dedication. I like to compete with a high arousal level. I think being happy or pumped up gives me a different approach. It makes me more focused for a short space of time. I know that if I have to do something or shoot a ten when needed, 99 per cent of the time I will. Alf Davies and I worked a lot on controlled aggression as you can sustain it for short spaces of time, such as head-to-heads.

Ana Umer

Archery club: Ankaran

Country: Slovenia

Bow type: Recurve

How did you start in archery?

At school I played handball, the violin and did gymnastics. I decided to try to shoot with a real bow, starting with a barebow, and after a few years I changed to an Olympic bow. I could not carry on doing all of these and decided to continue only with archery

How many times/years have you represented your country?

I have been representing my country for five years. My first competition with the Slovenian national team was the 2006 Junior European Cup in Germany.

What motivates you to practise?

My goals are my motivation. Normally I dont have a problem with motivation. I practise at least once a day and its the way I live. If hard times come, my motivation is seeing my archery friends at practise.

How many arrows do you shoot a week?

In the summer I shoot 1,300 to 1,500 arrows a week. Thats not many in comparison with other world archers. The number of arrows is lower during the indoor season. Its a big problem that my club doesnt have full-time use of the hall.

How many hours/times do you spend shooting a day/week?

I shoot six days a week. Five of these are for practice and normally at weekends there is a competition. One day is free for recovery.

Do you work? If so, how many hours?

I am a student, but help at the club for four hours, coaching beginners and competitors.

Ana Umer: represented Slovenia for 4 years. Gold and Bronze Junior World Field Champion.

How do you deal with the limited time you can spend with family and friends?

I still live with my parents but see less of my sister, who lives in another city. I see my friends when I can. My closest friends are archers and we spend time together anyway.

Do you see a physiotherapist regularly?

Once a week.

Who tunes/looks after your equipment?

My coach and sometimes me if he lets me.

Who coaches you and helps you shoot better? Why do you trust them?

My coach, Matija lender, represents Slovenia in international competitions. He was largely self-taught, but he has studied at the faculty of sport and is very knowledgeable. Since I started to shoot seriously with the Olympic bow we have practised together like teammates and he has always been ready to help me as a friend. In 2009 he became the club coach and selected six of us to work with: three others are in the Slovenian junior team and we hope the other two will make it soon.

What was your most memorable event and why?

One of my favourite moments was the 2008 Field Archery World Championship in Wales when I won in the junior category. But the best event was the 2011 Universiade in China 2011. The feeling that comes from living in the Village with more than 10,000 sportsmen is incredible. The Chinese are very good organizers as well.

What is your advice to archers wanting to get to the top?

Zig Ziglar said, You cant hit a target you cant see, and you cant see a target you dont have. Find your target and do your best to get it. On the way to the top everybody feels ups and downs. If your reaction is positive you are on the right way up. Just keep on going.

What sayings do you use to help with your archery?

My coach sometimes reminds me about going Step by step. This always motivates me to march towards my goal. And I like Zig Ziglars one.

Andreas Lorenz

Club: Arcieri Bolzano Bozner Bogenschtzen

Country: Italy

Bow type: Recurve Olympic

How did you start in archery?

Through my parents. They started shooting when I was six and I used to go with them on the fields at weekends. I began shooting arrows at seven and when I was thirteen I knew I wanted to shoot at a high level.

How many times/years have you represented your country?

Ive lost count, but it was over six years.

What motivates you to practise?

At different ages, there have been different motivations: first being with my family, then meeting people (still a main motivation), travel and last, but not least, training to become better and to go to the Olympics.

How many arrows do you shoot a week?

About 100 arrows a week, two weeks before an event. I didnt shoot regularly for almost ten years, but started again this year. During my active period I would shoot four to five times a week, 100 to 250 arrows a day, depending on the programme.

How many hours/times do you spend shooting a day/week?