Riki Wessels and Luke Wood took time out of their cricket schedule earlier today, to try their hands at a spot of archery.

The Nottinghamshire duo received expert coaching advice from the Great Britain duo of Brad Denny and Becky Martin, who are preparing for the sport’s European Championships in Nottingham next month.

Wessels, who played the sport regularly in the past but hadn’t shot in a decade, began confidently, compelling Denny to upgrade his standard of bow and enquire about his availability to join the GB team.

Wood, partaking in the sport for the first time, started nervously and, on one occasion, missed the target altogether.

But the 20-year-old retained his composure sufficiently to win the three-arrow shootout against Wessels that brought down the curtain on the match-up.

“It didn’t miss altogether,” insisted Wood in the face of much Wessels barracking.

“It hit the top-left corner of the target, but to be fair it did end up at the other end of the ground.

“It was a slightly embarrassing moment, especially with the walk of shame to collect it.

“I’d never done it before so it was always going to be difficult,” Wood continued.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking, especially when Becky handed me loads of protective gear, but she showed me what to do, it was really enjoyable and great that I managed to beat Riki.”

Wessels accepted defeat to his less experienced teammate almost gracefully, although he was keen to remind Wood of his early nervousness.

“I was at a bit of a disadvantage using that primitive bow, but I made the best I could with it and I’m quite happy with how I shot,” he said, with an air of mischief.

“I was a better player when I was younger, which was after the 2000 Olympics up to 2006. It’s been a few years, but I really enjoyed it.

“We also have the benefit of Woody being the only one who has completely missed a target today.

“It was a great achievement to hit the target as many times as he did after the first couple, when he looked as though he could have quite happily shot himself.”

 

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