National Matchplay Series Final

FINAL LINE-UPS DECIDED FOR MATCHPLAY SERIES   The last of the 2014/15 Archery National Matchplay Series has been run and won in atrocious conditions in Victoria, with the make-up of the series final in Adelaide now decided.   The top four in each category – recurve men, women and compound men, women – will battle it out on May 2nd for the honour of National Matchplay Champion.   A handful of resilient archers thoroughly earned their place in next week’s final, mastering wind and rain and freezing temperatures at Box Hill on Sunday.   Among the archers to perform well was the ultra-consistent Lou Redman in the compound, finishing third and sowing up a dominant season in the women’s competition.   She’ll face off in Adelaide against Lisa Scott, Sherry Gale and Jill Fenner.   World Indoor champion, Ryan Tyack, also continued his good form, edging out 2012 London Olympian Taylor Worth to secure top spot for Adelaide.   An eye-catching performance at Box Hill came from Steven Peter, who was one of the few archers on Sunday to look truly comfortable in the conditions, finishing third behind Tyack and Worth.   Worth can also pack his bags for South Australia, along with Victoria’s Alec Potts and New South Welshman, Matt Gray.   These are the same four archers who are vying for three positions at this year’s Archery World Championships in Copenhagen. Robert Timms and Deonne Bridger, both finished the matchplay preliminary rounds on top of their respective divisions, but are both unavailable for the Adelaide finals, throwing the competition wide open.   South Australian Pat Coghlan will be hoping home-State advantage works in his favour when he takes on Jon Paul Van Loenhout, Scott Brice and veteran, Jim Park, in the men’s compound final.   On Sunday it was Victoria’s Brett Horwood who claimed the compound victory, with local archer Chris Wood finishing second, just ahead of Lou Redman.   With Bridger not competing in the women’s recurve final, it sets up an intriguing final between four of Australia’s most talented up-and-coming archers.   Queensland youngsters Ingrid Brookshaw and Semra Lingard, will battle it out with NSW’s pair, Belinda Maxworthy and Kathy Kuestler.   Many of the competitors in Adelaide will be leaving the next day for the first Archery World Cup, in China.