MEMBERS of Malvern Archers enjoyed success at the West Midlands Championships.

Beth Martel broke a national record in winning her age group and Malvern won the team trophy among other achievements.

The championships were run as part of the 163rd Leamington and Midland Counties meeting, which is the second oldest tournament in the United Kingdom after first being held in 1851.

Fine weather and friendly hosting by Royal Leamington Spa Archery Society made the event enjoyable and high scoring.

Individual Malvern honours were captured by Dave Martel (second man compound bow), Hazel Blissett (third lady recurve bow) and Steve Short (third man recurve bow).

The Malvern group of Short, Blissett and Beth Martel beat off strong competition from Warwickshire’s Warwick University, Meriden Archery Club and the hosts to bring home the team trophy.

Paul Willetts and Verity Gray both improved their personal best scores and claimed their blue roses, which are traditional awards for the longest rounds in target archery.

A second day of shooting completed the main tournament with archers from all regions included.

Blissett and Short both retained third place in the enlarged groups but Dave Martel dropped to third.

Beth Martel was first in her age group and in the process broke the national record, raising it from 2,392 to 2,554 out of a possible 2,592.

Malvern are based at Manor Park Sports Club and run a beginners’ course two to three times a year.

Details are available at malvernarchers.org.uk or by e-mailing secretary@ malvernarchers.org.uk.