GPMedia | ihaa

Media

We would be delighted to work with any media organisations to bring the exciting sport of horseback archery to your readers or viewers. Some text and photos, which you are welcome to use, are attached below. Please contact Claire Sawyer if you would like any more information about this competition series or the sport in general.

Please do let us know if you feature our competition series!

In 2014 the European Horseback Archery Grand Prix Series will involve 22 riders from 4 countries - Poland, Sweden, Finland and Great Britain, 5 of these riders will compete in all 3 stages. The age range of competitors in this competition series is 12 years to 60s; horseback archery is a sport for all, with men and women competing as equals; indeed in last year's World Championships the US team included a lady in her sixties and a gentleman of 75. Across the 3 Grand Prix stages 27 horses and ponies will be used - there is no typical breed used for mounted archery, the temperament is the most important consideration; preferences vary between countries and riders and range from quarterhorses, Spanish breeds, Icelandic horses, warmbloods, Arabs and Turkmens, to draught crosses. Mounts are provided by the competition organisers so riders will generally have only ridden their horse for less than an hour before competing on them. The competition stages are being hosted by Poland (spring), Sweden (summer) and Great Britain (autumn).

The Series was devised by Emil Eriksson (Swe), Anders O Jonsson (Swe) and Claire and Dan Sawyer (UK), and this is the first year we have run the series. We would like to thank the Horseback Archery Associations of Poland, Sweden, Finland and Great Britain for their work in organising competitions and providing teams. Plans are already afoot to increase the number of participating countries next year and we are finding that the international horseback archery community is following the emergence of this series with great interest.