New AGA league pits schools against each other

Archery
The league sees the scores of the top four archers from each school combined to contribute to the log standings.
Mariud Ngula
  • 4 Hours Ago

African Genesis Archery (AGA) Namibia has introduced a new league system that will see its 16 participating schools ranked against one another after each shoot to determine the log leader.

The league was launched at AGA’s recent ranking shoot held at Windhoek High School’s (WHS) Vegkop Stadium, which saw more than 160 archers battle it out for medals and crucial ranking points.

Hosts WHS and Community Hope School emerged as the early leaders, topping the senior and junior logs respectively.

League coordinator Paul van der Merwe expressed excitement about the new format, saying it forms part of efforts to make ranking shoots more competitive.

The league sees schools compete as teams, with each school’s top four archers from a ranking shoot contributing to the combined team score for that event.

“The combined scores determine each school’s ranking for that shoot, with league points then awarded based on their finishing position.

“This helps the archer who is ranked 70th, 80th or even 100th overall in the competition to still contribute to the school’s performance.

“Results from six ranking shoots throughout the year will determine the league standings before a final event crowns the overall champion,” said Van der Merwe.

In the senior section, WHS were awarded 32 league points for their performance, followed by Community Hope School (30) and Moria Private School (28).

Community Hope School (32) led the junior standings, followed by Windhoek Afrikaans Private School (Wap; 30) and Central Elite Archery Club (28).

The individual competition saw archers compete in the Bullseye and Animal Target rounds, with a combined maximum score of 1 200.


Senior winners

Willem van der Merwe of Wap retained his senior title from the first shoot held last month in Outjo by clinching gold once again with a score of 1 145.

Duan Kruger of Roots Gymnasium took silver just two points behind on 1 143, while AJ van Niekerk of Moria claimed bronze with 1 135.

In the senior girls’ section, Zarita du Plessis of Pro-Ed secured gold with a score of 1 137, ahead of silver medallist Jorine Krugel of Roots Gymnasium (1 128) and Zeanette Jacobs of WHS, who took bronze on 1 111.


Junior winners

The junior section saw the following archers claim top honours:

Boys: 1 Luka Jansen van Vuuren (Moria; 1 119), 2 Adrian Compaan (Moria; 1 116), 3 Ben Rothkegel (Central Elite Archery Club; 1 084).

Girls: 1 Jeandrie van der Merwe (Wap; 1 052), 2 Donaline Pieterson (Community Hope School; 1 045), 3 Charisme Rothen (Pro-Ed; 1 032).


AAG winners

Parents and individuals outside the school system also took part in the full-day event, competing in the Adult Archery Group (AAG) category in the Bullseye and 3D rounds, which carry a combined maximum score of 900.

Women: 1 Alyssa van Zijl (844), 2 Christie Agenbach (824), 3 Charne Coetzee (811).

Men: 1 Delron Gaoseb (841), 2 Berend Blom (840), 3 Cruzeiro Garobeb (832).

Speaking about the event, AGA Namibia’s newly appointed chairperson Madelyn Kruger said the ranking shoots remain important as the highest-ranked archers are selected for the national team.

“We will be selecting 32 of our top archers to represent the country at the African Championships to be held in Botswana this August,” she said.

Kruger added that the final team will be announced on 30 June at the Berg-Op Academy ranking shoot, with archers still having five ranking shoots remaining to improve their standings before selection.

The next ranking shoot is scheduled for 14 March at Danie Joubert Combined School in Mariental.

– mariud@nsh.com.na