I felt the opportunity to compete at the European Grand Prix was just what I needed to prepare for International competition this summer. As this was the first international event I was able to enter, and being right on my doorstep, I had to take advantage of this opportunity. There would be competitors from all over Europe which would give me an amazing experience but also provide a challenging platform that would help sharpen my competitive edge.
The European Grand Prix was held at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire, and the venue is surrounded by beautiful countryside and offers a picturesque setting for the event, and for the most part, the weather behaved.
A look at the competitors taking part
The Grand Prix brought in top Archers from Across Europe as well as the best of the British Archery Team, it’s worth noting that this is a field of some truly top-notch talent. There was a wide range of archers and I felt that I would be able to gain experience by shooting with archers from other countries both on the competition field and the warm-up field. Best part you may ask? Shooting next to some of the best Archers in the world on the warm-up field!
Preparation tips for international events – how to get ready mentally and physically
Preparing for an international event can be both exciting and overwhelming. It was important not only to have your physical belongings packed but also to be mentally and physically prepared. This event was so different than a normal shoot that I left my sight on a table when packing up! Luckily someone was nice enough to turn it in and it was reunited with me the following day. Mentally, it was tough to deal with unexpected situations, the lack of your own personal space (tent), and not having people you know sitting next to you. Physically, it was important to focus on good nutrition, warm-ups, and adequate rest. Though traveling wasn’t an issue on this occasion I’m sure that I will be prepared for any future travel abroad.
A behind-the-scenes look at Qualification Day
As an archer competing at the Grand Prix, every day is filled with excitement, determination, and a passion to succeed. My day started early to ensure enough time for a proper warm-up routine and a chance to mentally prepare for the competition ahead. The morning is spent practicing and going through equipment & clothing inspection (the clothing check was new to me and was slightly nervous that my club top with just my shortened name would not be allowed but all was fine, phew!) and just trying to keep calm and focused. Our qualification was in the afternoon and it didn’t go to plan for me but I will still take it for getting all the first-time jitters out of the way! I did, however, manage to make the cut-off and into the head-to-head rounds.
Key takeaways from competing at an international event – lessons learned and memories made
Competing at an international event is an experience that can never be forgotten. Not only did it provide me the opportunity to compete at a European level, but it also taught me how to cope with everything a large competition like this brings. The key takeaways for me were quite interesting looking back on it now. One, relax and have fun and meet new people who love archery. Two, Be mentally prepared for everything that isn’t archery. things like timings, where everything is, where you should be going etc. Three, never give up! qualification was a disaster but I still made it through to H2H and I fought to make sure that I did.
Overall, the European Grand Prix was a great event for me. It provided a great insight into the experience of competing at an international event. While competitions like this can be daunting for newcomers, there is no better way to learn and understand what it takes to excel at archery than through international opportunities like this. Hopefully, this has helped prepare me for my first International event representing Great Britain at the European Youth Cup Leg 2 in Sion Switzerland in June.
To find out how you can help support me in my archery and at my first International event as a member of Team GB please click Support Callum
