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Results (2019 FAZZA Para World Ranking Event): results

The competition was the first international test of the year for the Canadian contingent.

“With the para world championships fast approaching, in early June, we have a very quick start to our season,” said Duncan Crawford, Archery Canada’s head coach, Paralympic Team. “After this, we will compete at the Canada Cup in Maple Ridge, B.C., in May, and then seven days later we’re off to the Netherlands for Worlds.

“As our first outdoor event of the season, it’s given us great perspective on where we are and where we need to be by June 1. We have an aggressive training schedule starting Wednesday, and are excited to get underway as soon as we return to Canadian soil.”

Van Nest, who has represented Canada at the last five Summer Paralympic Games, including three in pistol shooting (2000, 2004, 2008) and the last two in archery, was one of four Canucks competing in Dubai.

She was accompanied by three-time Paralympian Kevin Evans of Jaffray, B.C., Kyle Tremblay of Deep River, Ont., and 17-year-old national team rookie Rhys Leidal of Cranbrook, B.C., all of whom tied for 17th place in the men’s open compound tournament.

In women’s action, Van Nest was fifth after the qualification phase thanks to a score of 670 and managed to hold her position in the ranking round. After earning an opening bye, she edged Malaysia’s Noor Saadah Abdul Wahab 134-133 in the round of 16 before falling 135-140 to the eventual silver medallist, fourth-seeded Maria Andrea Virgilio of Italy, in the quarter-finals.

On the men’s side, Tremblay (671), Leidal (665) and Evans (660) were 15th, 19th and 21st, respectively, at the end of qualifications and all fell in the opening ranking round (round of 32).

Van Nest and Evans also took part in the mixed team compound event, where they finished seventh. After qualifying fifth with a score of 1,341, the Canadian duo was defeated 129-138 by fourth-seeded Brazil in the quarters.

“The level of competition was incredible, including a new world record in the men’s open compound division,” said Crawford. “After the qualifying round, the usually arid desert weather turned completely around. Match Play saw swirling wind gusts in the open exceeding 50 kilometres per hour and almost 30 millimetres of heavy rain! Lady Luck and the winds were not in our favour this time, unfortunately.

“That being said, Rhys put in a great round in men’s compound, barely losing (141-145) to a Japanese archer (Leon Miyamoto), who put in a field-leading score, only dropping five in the match. The future looks bright for our 17-year-old rookie.” 

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Archery Canada is the National Sport Organization responsible for the promotion and development of the timeless sport of archery in a safe and ethical manner. Archery Canada supports the achievement of high performance excellence in archery in all categories and the development of a national archery infrastructure to promote archery participation across Canada in cooperation with the Provincial/Territorial Archery Associations.

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