Area archers headed to world 3D championships

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This article was published 26/08/2022 (1118 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two members of the Yellowhead Bowhunters Archery Club will soon be competing on the international stage.

April Willis and Brad Hackewich have both made Canada’s squad for the World Archery 3D Championships, which runs from Sept. 4 to 10 in Terni and Stroncone, Italy.

“It’s pretty surreal that a couple of people from a small club can make it to an international event,” said Hackewich, who lives in Franklin.

“I’m really happy to have Brad there with me,” added Willis, who lives just outside of Wellwood. “He helps to keep me calm at tournaments, as he’ll remind me to go and do my best and control what I can control.

“Plus, I’m not the best flyer and he’s pretty good at that, so it’s a good thing that we’ll be on the same flight together.”

Willis and Hackewich have been competing at major events for several years but didn’t really think about making an attempt to make the Canadian team until their trip to the 2019 national championships, which were held in Prince Albert, Sask.

Normally, the team is determined by the overall scores that are posted in consecutive nationals, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 competitions.

Instead, a trials competition was held this June in Lac La Biche, Alta., to determine who would be headed to Italy.

“After we had come out of COVID, my mind was set on those trials once they were announced,” Willis said. “My main goal for the year was to go to that event.

“I knew that I was right on the bubble for a spot as I had been in the hunt at the nationals three years ago, but I wasn’t certain that this was going to be my year,” Hackewich said. “I had hopes though that it would be possible.”

The duo did just that at the trials as Hackewich reached the podium in the men’s traditional event, while Willis earned one of the three available spots in the women’s compound category.

“When I had realized that my scores had put me in a spot to get on the team, I called my mom on the phone and I was crying a little bit when I told her ‘I think I’m going,’” Willis said.

“I think it felt real for me when I was standing up on the podium with the other three guys (Marc Britton of British Columbia and Gentian Zoto of Ontario),” Hackewich added. “The anticipation has been building ever since.”

Willis and Hackewich have been busy practising and competing ever since the trials, with their last event before the worlds coming this Sunday in Virden at the provincial 3D archery championship.

“There hasn’t been a real change to my approach, but I’ve just been ramping up what I’ve been doing already,” Hackewich said. “There’s a lot more focus now on making sure that you are getting out shooting in the morning and at night.”

While keeping up a steady practice regimen is important, Willis is quick to point out that every course in 3D archery is different and presents its own challenges.

That will certainly be the case in Italy, as the qualifying rounds will be held around the foothills of a mountain and along walking trails, while the elimination rounds will be set up near an archaeological dig site.

“I was talking with one of the girls on our team (Monica Higgins of Alberta) who has been to the worlds three times and she said to think of the hardest course that you’ve ever shot on, as that’s what it’s going to be like at the event,” said Willis, who is also joined on the women’s compound team Andrea Wiens of Saskatchewan said.

“There are going to be no easy shots there, so you sort of just try to prepare for it the best you can in different ways. You can either create a course at home, if you are fortunate enough to have 3D targets, or you can go to your local club and ask them to make the course as hard as possible.”

While the pair hope to make it on the podium at the worlds, their main goal is to try and take in as much as they can from the experience.

“There are lots of people there from other countries that their paid job is to compete in archery,” Hackewich said. “I’m just hoping to shoot my score and stay relevant against them, while gaining a bunch of knowledge along the way.

“I’m going go there and shoot the way I know I can shoot and see what happens,” Willis added. “It’s not a win-or-lose experience … it’s win and learn.”

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