Krugel, Bezuidenhout top CHS Ranking Shoot

Archery
The event also saw 11-year-old Melzario Gariseb of CHS secure his first-ever gold medal, while Charisme Rothen set a new Bullseye record.
Mariud Ngula
  • 19 Hours Ago

Jorine Krugel and Ru-Wayne Bezuidenhout were the standout performers in the senior girls’ and boys’ divisions at the Community Hope School (CHS) Ranking Shoot, held at Affies Park in Windhoek last weekend.

African Genesis Archery (AGA) Namibia’s event brought together 148 archers from across the country for a full day of shooting on Saturday, with competitors taking aim in the Bullseye and Animal Target rounds for a combined maximum score of 1 200.

School-going archers battled it out in the senior, junior and cub divisions in the individual and league events, while the Adult Archery Group (AAG) section featured parents and individuals outside the school system, with a combined maximum score of 900.

Krugel of Roots Gymnasium dominated the senior girls’ division with an event-high combined score of 1 129, claiming the gold medal ahead of Anchè Heydenrych of Walvis Bay Private School (WBPS), who finished second with 1 108 to secure silver.

Pro-Ed Academy’s Zarita du Plessis scored 1 093 to take bronze.

Bezuidenhout of Windhoek Afrikaans Private School (Wap) claimed the senior boys’ overall title with a score of 1 126, followed by Duan Kruger of Roots, who scored 1 121, complemented by an event-high 68 tens and four 50s.

Wap’s Willem van der Merwe secured third place with a score of 1 120.


Junior, cub champions

The junior section also saw standout performances from the following archers:

Girls: 1 Jeandrie van der Merwe (Wap; 1 089), 2 Charisme Rothen (Pro-Ed; 1 062), 3 Donaline Pieterson (CHS; 1 037).

Boys: 1 Melzario Gariseb (CHS; 1 083), 2 Berend Blom (Moria Private School; 1 059), 3 Wandre Fest (Roots; 1 037).

The cubs competed only in the Bullseye round, which had a maximum score of 300.

Girls: 1 Hope Bahun (Central Elite Archery Club, CEAC; 182), 2 Olivia Sakeus (Windhoek Christian Academy, WCA; 159), 3 Miane Landsberg (Moria; 113).

Boys: 1 Tino Passano (Moria; 228), 2 Pieter Gouws (Moria; 227), 3 Isaiah Wildgen (CEAC; 191).


League champions

In the league competition, schools are pitted against each other and ranked according to each school’s top four archers from a ranking shoot, with their scores contributing to the combined team total for that event.

The CHS Ranking Shoot saw Wap dominate the senior section with a total score of 118, followed by hosts CHS on 112 and Windhoek High School (WHS) on 110.

In the junior division, Wap once again came to the fore to claim top spot with 126, ahead of hosts CHS on 122 and Moria on 104.

The overall senior rankings are also topped by Wap with 4 402, followed by Pro-Ed on 4 362 and CEAC on 4 340.

Wap’s dominance continues in the junior division, where they lead with 4 005, ahead of CHS on 3 964 and Moria on 3 815.


AAG champions

The standout performers in the non-school-going AAG division were as follows:

Women: 1 Marionette de Waal (WBPS; 836), 2 Alyssa van Zijl (Pro-Ed; 833), 3 Angelika Mercker (CEAC; 819).

Men: 1 Berend Blom (Moria; 842), 2 Cruzeiro Garobeb (CHS; 835), 3 Fedaliz Basson (CHS; 833).


Event highlights

CHS event organiser Else Shikolalye said the archers braved the chilly morning and displayed remarkable focus, discipline and sportsmanship.

“It was inspiring to witness athletes of different ages, schools and clubs competing with such passion and determination. The event carried even deeper meaning for the hosts, CHS, as a development programme based within an underprivileged community,” she remarked.

“Archery is not easily accessible to this community. Every opportunity to compete and grow in the sport is meaningful. Over the years, archery has become a tool of discipline, confidence, focus and hope for our children.”


Proud moments

Shikolalye said one of the proudest highlights from the event was witnessing 11-year-old Melzario Gariseb of CHS secure his first-ever gold medal in the junior boys’ division.

Another highlight was Pro-Ed junior girls’ archer Rothen, who improved her Bullseye record from 280 to 282.

“Beyond competition, the event was a beautiful reminder of the strong sense of community within archery. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the archers, parents, supporters and volunteers who [made this event possible].

“Special thanks to our archery sponsor, Pupkewitz Foundation, for the support and resources to give children access to archery.”

The next ranking shoot will be held on 13 June at Roots Gymnasium in Stampriet.

– mariud@nsh.com.na