by Tim Jorgensen

    The Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) team, Queen Ann Archers, had a very productive summer. Highlights included the Virginia Commonwealth Games that were held in Roanoke from July 14-16; the NAA National Target Championships in Colorado Springs July 31-August 4; and the Virginia State and JOAD Outdoor Championships at the Bull Run Shooting Center on August 26.
    QAA hosted the archery event at the Commonwealth Games, which included both compound and recurve shooting at adult and youth levels. Coach Lani Young provided the organizational and leadership skills. Coach Mary LeCompte and her daughter, Nikki, were judges. And the QAA kids participated in a choreographed archery skit during the pyrotechnic opening ceremonies. (Luckily no one was burned!)    
    The kids won a lot of medals, but were disappointed to learn that the “gold” ones weren’t real gold. Nevertheless, everyone had a great time at the team party, which was held in a private dining room at the local Mexican restaurant. After dinner, the kids were shuffled off to bed (athletes need their rest), while the parents and other adults reconvened the party at the bar in the hotel lobby. (Morning came early the next day!)
    Another major event was the NAA National Target Championships in Colorado Springs. Cadet recurve archer Greg Begenyi represented QAA. He shot a personal best in this 4-day double FITA and placed 5th in the country (only 4 points from 3rd place). Greg thus qualified to compete in the Junior World Trials on August 6th, where he also placed 5th. Besides his excellent shooting, the most memorable part of this experience for Greg was a ride on the Cog Railway to the top of Pike’s Peak, at an altitude of 14,110 feet above sea level. Congratulations, Greg!
    QAA began its indoor season on October 7, and the kids started practicing immediately to prepare for the FITA East, to be held in Reading PA on November 11. After that, it’s back to Reading for a JOAD tournament in December. So the winter will be quite busy as well.
    QAA is always looking for more kids to share the fun of Olympic recurve archery. QAA holds weekly practices on Saturday mornings at the Bull Run Shooting Center, and Wednesday nights at the IWLA Cub Run Archers indoor range. All children (ages 8-18) in the Arlington-Fairfax Chapter of IWLA are encouraged to join QAA and discover the excitment of competitive tournament archery through JOAD. Visit the QAA website (queenannarchers.org) for more information.

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Annual Christmas Party Needs Help

    Carl Armstrong and Oscar Starz have started working on this year’s Christmas Party for Disadvantaged Children which will be held on Saturday, December 16. Listed below are some of the tasks that need help from volunteers.
    Transportation: Drivers and larger vehicles (vans or SUVs), most with car seats, to bring families and return them home on day of party.
    Party Set-up: Friday before the party. Decorate the Archery Indoor Range and set up tables and chairs, etc., trucked from the main field house
    Party Helpers: Prepare and serve food. Provide entertainment and crafts for kids. Generally help out the day of the party.
    Party Clean-up. Remove trash, Take down tables, chairs and decorations and return to the field house.
    Cookie and Pie Donations. To be brought to Archery clubhouse on Friday or early Saturday morning.
    Turkey Cooks. Cook one large turkey, at your home. Pick up the frozen turkey from the archery clubhouse about a week before the party Bring cooked turkey to the Archery clubhouse on Thursday or early Friday before the party. Call Carl at 703.932.2347 or Oscar at 703.321.8626 and tell them you’ll help.