Amy is aiming for archery success
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A YOUNG Moray archer is on target for sporting stardom after becoming a Scottish champion in her first competitive year.
Amy Wakefield (15), from Portknockie, showed her aim was true in the SAA (Scottish Archery Association) Under-21 Junior Championships when she shot the highest score of the day to win her age group.
It completed a remarkable year for the Buckie High pupil, who has broken nine Scottish archery records since taking up the sport in September last year.
Now it is only a matter of time before Amy hits the bullseye on the international stage by being chosen to compete for her country.
According to her mum Margaret, Amy discovered she had a unique eye for shooting when she watched her brother Liam at archery practice sessions and decided she wanted to have a go herself.
“She started last September, and by the following month she won an outdoor ‘clout’ and broke her first Scottish record,” Mrs Wakefield said.
“Then the indoor season began in April and she won her first competition.
“She has done so well in such a short space of time.”
Amy shoots for the Milnes High Archery Club in Fochabers, where she trains every week and continues to develop her amazing talent.
Her coach Bryan Bream said: “Amy has over the last few months achieved a level of archery winnings and achievement second to none.”
He said the pinnacle of her competitive archery so far came in the recent Scottish Championships in Penicuik when she beat every SAA archer, male and female up to the age of 21, and won the under-16 ladies compound event.
She scored a deadly 1228 out of a possible 1296, firing off 144 hits of which 112 were ‘gold’, or hitting at least the 9 mark or the most central ring.
Mrs Wakefield said her daughter’s shooting skills are not confined to just the archery arena, as she found out on a clay pigeon shooting day out with her school.
“She shot 19 clays out of 20 in her first attempt. She certainly has a good eye, and it’s quite unique.”
Amy has already taken part in Scottish international squad training sessions, and her exploits in Penicuik will surely lead to national selection in the near future.
