Tony Nilsen -

I started shooting in the early 1980’s. I was an avid distance runner at the time, so I would run to LCB and, after shooting and a trip to the pub, cadge a left home!

 Archery took over. My first ‘real’ bow was an Apache (from WA of course!), followed by a series of Yamaha risers and limbs. My first Hoyt, a Gold Medallist, led to better scores, and to the Radian, which I shot for a number of years. I have been a Hoyt devotee ever since.

I won the Welsh Indoor Championship after my first season on Welsh Squad. During a club trip to Holland in 1988, I gained my 1100 Star, having gained the 1000 Star at the battle of Britain Shoot in Wells earlier in the year.

I first shot for Wales in Holland in 1989, at the European nations Cup, later to become the Euronations and the Commonwealth Championships. This was the first of a total of 25 consecutive years that I was privileged to shoot for Wales. During this period, I won or held the Welsh Championships in Target, Indoor and out, as well as gaining several Welsh and British Championships in Field Archery. With a best ranking of 4^th in the UK in Target, second in the UK in Field, and 2^nd in the World, (Field Masters).

I have been lucky enough to shoot on three continents, Europe, India and the USA, which has given me the opportunity to observe and speak with some of the best archers in the world, a great learning experience, as well as a lot of fun!

Having retired from Field after a nasty fall, I have now returned to Target Archery, albeit a limited programme, as I am also coaching, both in Wales and the West Country, both of which I am really enjoying. The enthusiasm and dedication of the Archers I work with makes the travelling and research well worth my investment of time and effort, and I feel privileged to be trusted by so many archers with their training and development.

I still shoot a Hoyt, an Xceed riser with Quattro limbs, and I remain proud and privileged to shoot for the Wales Archery family.