2019 Easton Australian Open
It was a time to remember and savour when the Victor Harbor Archery Club hosted the 2019 Easton Australian Open. Despite the odds, including extreme weather conditions, the 'world of archery' acclaimed it a great success.
Soldiers Memorial Reserve - Victor Harbor - setting for Easton Open finals matches
Held over 3 days from 28th February to 3rd March, the event was streamed live via YouTube to Australia and the World making it accessible for the first time to thousands of people. Not only did it present the Victor Harbor Archery Club in the best possible way, it also showcased this wonderful corner of the world [Victor Harbor foreshore], hailed by Archery Australia officials as an area worthy of holding a World Cup.
Day 1 - Recurve ranking round
Thursday 28th of February [day 1] ranking rounds were held at the VHAC home ground for both Compound and Recurve Divisions. A total of 90 archers registered for the event including overseas, disabled and the top archers from all Australian States. Representatives from the VHAC included Pat Coghlan, Graham Potts and Rhiannon Mills while other South Australian archers participating were Andrew Kuchel [Great Southern Archers], Rory Blake and Justin Mamo [Eden Field Archers, Ailani Cox, Clare Reuther and David Barnes [Adelaide Archery Club] and Ian All [The Farm Indoor Archery Club].
Coghlan, Potts and Kuchel
Friday 29th February [day 2] elimination rounds were conducted for both individuals and teams. The day's temperature hit 40 degrees making it an endurance test for all but especially for the archers. It was a day of sunscreen, hats and umbrella's with hundreds of litres of cold water disappearing with little effort. The VHAC's rustic clubrooms were a hive of activity starting early on both days, catering for both breakfast and lunch and providing extra treats in between the activity. The catering team did a great job and left everyone very satisfied.
The umbrella - essential while waiting in the heat.
On Saturday 1st of March [day 3] the Easton Australian Open moved to the Soldiers Memorial Reserve situated on the Victor Harbor foreshore. Temperatures again were high and uncomfortable and water consumed greedily. Both on Friday evening and very early Saturday morning, volunteers loaded and moved the necessary equipment to set up for this public display of the Open finals in this beautiful setting between soaring Norfolk pines.
VHAC members - early Saturday morning set up for the Easton Open
Although there was a small 'opening ceremony' for the event on Thursday, an official opening was conducted on Saturday before the final matches began. President of VHAC Graham Potts began the proceedings followed by Brett Love acknowledging the traditional custodians of the area - the Ngarrindjeri tribe. Included among the dignitaries in attendance were Deputy Mayor of Victor Harbor Tim Glazbrook, Member for Finniss David Basham and Archery Australia President Grant Cole. A full list of all officials, sponsors and supporters can be found on the VHAC Facebook page, posted by VHAC Secretary Wendy Howell and a list of all volunteers who contributed greatly their time and energy to this event, posted by Pat Coghlan.
VHAC President Graham Potts at Opening Ceremony
The day of finals was full of excitement with skill in archery being demonstrated at very high levels. In the end there are the winners who are applauded but in this instance all archers must be congratulated and praised for their attendance and efforts and showing us 'how to do it' with style!
Final results:
Individual Female Compound:
Elizabeth Randle - Westlakes Archers Inc.
Tazmin Forrest - Wendouree Archery Club
Niamh Jones - Great Hamilton Archery Inc.
Madeline Boyle - Penrith City Archers
Individual Male Compound:
Andrew Kuchel - Great Southern Archers
Pat Coghlan - Victor Harbor Archery Club
Danie Oosthuizen - Benara Bowmen Archery Club
Jonathan Milne - Sydney Olympic Park Archers
Individual Female Recurve:
Belinda Maxworthy - Northern Archers of Sydney
Sarah Fuller
Sarah Haywood - Hobart Archers
Kim Lavender - Sydney Olympic Archers
Individual Male Recurve:
Ryan Tyack - Sunshine Coast Archery Club
James Gaze - Moorabbin Archery Club
David Barnes - Adelaide Archery Club
Taylor Worth - Mt Petrie Bowmen Inc.
Team - Female Compound:
Niamh Jones, Anna Balla, Maddie Boyle
Tazmin Forrest, Jessica Sutton, Liz Randle
Katrina Robinson, Amber Lee, Marika Zawadecckyi
Team - Male Compound:
Danie Oosthuizen, Danie Louis Oosthuizen, Jonathan Milne
Pat Coghlan, Andrew Kuchel, Rory Blake
Has Sfar, Ben Doyle, Michael Rule
Matt McDougall, Remy Leonard, Ben Lyons
Team - Female Recurve:
Alice Ingley, Sarah Haywood, Belinda Maxworthy
Chloe Grabs, Ella Byrne, Jaymie Wood
Laura Paeglis, Clare Reuther, Katherine Watson
Deonne Bridger, Sarah Fuller, Miranda Tiong
Team - Male Recurve:
Ryan Tyack, Taylor Worth, David Barnes
Alec Potts, Astin Darcy, Alex Smith
Victor Wei, Nick Kyriazis, Alex King
Scott Jeffries, Alec Farmer, Jason Hurnall
Congratulations to all and hopefully we will see you back here next year for another Easton Australian Open.
Finally to the one person to blame for this wonderful event, the mover and shaker and all-round stirrer - Pat Coghlan - thank you for making it happen!
Pat Coghlan - soft and dreamy.
Gallery of Images - Easton Australian Open
