2 Jul 2010

NZ archery team named to compete at Commonwealth Games

5:58 pm on 2 July 2010

A New Zealand archery team will compete at the Commonwealth Games in India in October for the first time in 28 years.

Archery's featured at the Commonwealth Games only once before and that was in Brisbane in 1982, where New Zealand's Neroli Fairhall won a gold medal in the recurve discipline.

Delhi will be the first Commonwealth Games which has included the compound discipline.

Compound archery differs from the recurve discipline seen at the Olympic Games in the sets of pulleys, or cams, that reduce the load on the string when fully extended. The archer does not need to contend with holding 45-50lb when making the fine adjustments needed for a precise aim.

Auckland's Shaun Teasdale will lead the team of three men and three women who will compete as individuals and as teams.

Teasdale will be joined in the men's team by World Championship bronze medallist, Stephen Clifton also from Auckland, and Invercargill's Tony Waddick.

Making up the women's team is 19-year-old Stephanie Croskery from Gisborne, Mandy McGregor of New Plymouth and Anne Mitchell of Balclutha.