Youngsters from St. Ignatius Village, Rupununi, Region 9, were recently treated to a special archery training exercise under the supervision of Archery Guyana’s Senior Coach Robert Singh.
While on a visit to Region 9, Mr Singh, who resides in Georgetown, collaborated with one of Archery Guyana’s assistant coaches, Shunette Thompson, to arrange an Archery Clinic in an effort to introduce the shooting techniques of a recurve bow to the residents of Region 9.
He utilised rubber stretch bands to initiate the training, after which the actual recurve equipment was used for practice. He explained to the youths the various archery equipment, safety rules, shooting stance, alignment stance and release.
A few of the youths with Coach Robert Singh
Excitement beamed on the faces of the participants, as this was the first time some of the participants were witnessing such an exhibition, since the usual archery technique in the Rupununi is the use of bare bow, or traditional shooting.
Transitioning to the new techniques for recurve is usually very difficult to master in a short period of time, but this was not the case for the youths, as their enthusiasm, determination, and sheer skills under the guidance of Mr Singh and assistant coach Shunette Thompson enabled them to master the basic techniques of shooting with recurve bows and arrows.
This archery training exercise was held at Wilson Laurentino’s sport ground in St.Ignatius Village on the 21st of April 2022 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. It is expected that Archery Guyana’s assistant coach Shunette Thompson would continue to work with, and aid in the training to develop these youths to be able to compete nationally.
The youths from St Ignatius who participated in two hours of Archery training exercise are:
1. TED JUAN
18 years old (RH)
2. SAFRAZ ALDIE
15 years old (RH)
3. DEXTAR HENRY
17 years old (RH)
4. JAD JUAN
16 years old (RH)
5. EZIEKEL HERNANDEZ
17 years old (RH)
6. BERT PAUL
17 years old (LH)
7. WAIDAN HERNANDEZ
18 years old (RH)
8. Shunette Thompson
29 years old
Coach
9. Mr. Robert Singh
Chief coach
