Youth from Woodstock Archery Club making a name for themselves nationally
Four youth from the Woodstock Archery Club are considered “hopefuls” for the 2027 Canada Winter Games in Montreal.
Victoria McDermid, Liam Cosman, Mia Gibbs and Abby Demerchant are in training to qualify for the New Brunswick team of athletes who will compete at the national level in 2027. Victoria McDermid currently stands fourth in Canada for her age and equipment category in bare bow archery.
“They’re on a path to try out for the provincial team and make the Canada Games,” said Owen McDermid, vice-president of the Woodstock Archery Club. “They’ve learned archery from the ground up. It becomes second nature when you’re shooting 250 arrows a week or more. The better you become, the more focus you have.”
Founded in 2001, the Woodstock Archery Club has approximately 65 members, ages seven to 21, including a dozen adults. Six members on the board of directors serve as coaches. Practice takes place at an indoor shooting range set up in the basement of the Knights of Columbus Hall in Woodstock. The youth program takes place on Wednesday evenings, while the adults meet on Thursday nights.
Training begins in the fall, and shoots are held around the province on weekends from January to May. Competition takes place at both the regional and provincial level, while an Atlantic championship in the spring brings archers together from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Woodstock archers have earned medals at all levels of competition, while the local club has hosted both regional and provincial tournaments.
“We want to see even more growth in our club and draw more awareness to the sport and what we’re doing in Woodstock,” McDermid explained. “We’ve had good support from the community and sponsorships to help keep the range in good shape.”
He said archers get to participate in several different categories. They are scored on points for their expertise in target shooting based on age, gender and the type of bow used. There is an emphasis on safety, training and instruction, equipment, enjoyment and engagement. The Woodstock facility also offers 3D archery, a growing sport that involves shooting at life-sized animal targets.
In 2024, the local club received a grant from the Canbow Skills Program to help with new equipment. Canbow is a national program that offers young archers an opportunity to improve their shooting skills and knowledge. It is used as a tool by many clubs across Canada to encourage young archers.
McDermid said archers develop their skills through “muscle and memory.” They gain physical strength and improve their hand-eye coordination, while learning the correct stance, how to load and draw their bow and then release their arrow, all in one fluid motion. Paper targets are set up at a fixed distance depending on the level of competition. Points are scored by hitting specific areas of the target, with the centre being the bull’s eye.
“It’s a sport where it’s just you and your equipment,” added Adam Sullivan, club president. “You’re basically competing with yourself.”
Once training begins, archers experience a sense of accomplishment and improved concentration, while learning discipline, patience, precision and control in their technique. Archery is also known to reduce stress.
“We hope to make more improvements to our club and grow our membership,” Sullivan said. “We continue to have fun programs for people to learn and become members as well as producing some great archers along the way.”
There are club membership fees and rental fees for equipment, but free tryouts are available to anyone interested in the sport.
