AN archery-mad couple who moved to Powys and set their sights on bringing a local club back to life have hit their target.

Suzanne and Shawn Clifton moved to Llanwrtyd Wells from Hampshire two years ago. When they found out from the local heritage centre that there used to be a local archery club in the town, which subsequently folded, they knew they wanted to do something about it.

They started Cambrian Archers about a year ago and the club is now starting to take flight. After taking part in the Start Archery Week earlier this month, the couple want to see it become one of the most accessible sports clubs in Powys.

“The club was formed about a year ago but it was only in February this year that we launched properly and changed the name to Cambrian Archers (it was formerly Llanwrtyd Wells Archery Club),” said Suzanne.

County Times: The Cambrian Archers club started about a year ago and is hoping to go from strength to strength The Cambrian Archers club started about a year ago and is hoping to go from strength to strength (Image: None)

“We’ve now got a full committee and we are holding archery sessions every week. We’ve been growing and are going from strength to strength.

“Membership is currently 5 but that’s increasing as coaches become qualified. We’ve had brilliant support from a Tregaron-based company who’ve been running training courses. We’re in the process of getting coaches qualified so we can run sessions ourselves.”

Suzanne and Shawn, who is the Cambrian Archers chairman, moved to Llanwrtyd back in 2021 to look after Suzanne’s mum, who lives locally.

The town is home to some madcap sporting events already – including the iconic Man v Horse race, which brought over 1,000 runners and 60 horses to the town for the 42nd event earlier this month.

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There’s also the World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Championships and World Bog Snorkelling Championships held throughout the year – so an archery club fits right in.

“We both started archery about 20 years ago and when we moved here we went to the heritage centre and found out the previous club folded, so that gave us the spark to bring it back,” said Suzanne, who added that both her and Shawn are fond of Wales, having spent a lot of their childhoods here.

“We wanted to bring archery back to Powys and we want to be one of the most accessible sports clubs in Powys.

“It’s a unique sport in that it’s not restrictive at all, it’s actually one of the most adaptable sports. You can participate even if you’re a quadriplegic. We want it to be accessible for literally anyone.”

Cambrian Archers held an open afternoon as part of the national Start Archery Week in May. The event attracted 23 people ranging from ages 8 to 65+.

Organisers worked to reach people from surrounding rural communities around Llanwrtyd. Attendees enjoyed locally sourced food and produce at the Dolwen Fields’ pavilion. 

County Times: Sharon Cook and son Henry, from Builth Sharon Cook and son Henry, from Builth (Image: None)

Held annually by Archery GB and its member clubs, Start Archery Week aims to encourage adults and children of all ages to try their hand at archery. Now in its 11th year, archery clubs across the country open their doors, welcoming people of all abilities to have a go at what is one of the most accessible sports around.

The events, which not only aim to showcase the enjoyment and benefits archery can provide, are also a great way of enhancing connections with the local community.

A number of people who enjoyed the Cambrian Archers event are planning to come back and attend another archery open day or get involved with the club full time.

“It was a great day, lots of people tried archery for the first time and almost everyone said they wanted to do more,” added Suzanne.

Vic Williams, regional development officer for Wales, said: “I’m really proud of this club, it’s been their first ever Start Archery Week event, they have really worked hard to bring it all together and they now have a list of people who want to take up archery. 

“This will really help the club to grow. Llanwrtyd Wells is a very small town in a very rural area of Mid Wales, it is great to have a thriving club there serving the wider community.”

For more information about the club, visit https://cambrianarchers.sport80-clubs.com/ or check out their Facebook page.

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