Kathryn Lester, an operating  theatre staff nurse from the Midlands who joined CSSC in 2011 when membership was opened up to NHS Staff (joining her husband who has been in CSSC for approx 31 years) was recently crowned the Ladies Longbow UK Indoor Champion at the International Centre Telford where she beat  both the reigning Indoor and Outdoor Champions, with a new PB and County of Worcestershire Record.

 

This was a tremendous achievement by Kathryn as she only took up archery in  June 2008  as her 13 year old son inspired by the Lord of the Rings films wanted to shoot like an elf. His interest waned after 12 months but alongside her husband who coaches her, Kathryn  carried on but switched to the traditional English Longbow. She is a member of the aptly named Saints & Sinners Bowmen Archery Club.

 

Considered one of the hardest disciplines in the sport of archery Kathryn continued to improve. She joined the Civil Service Archery Association and soon started to win tournaments regularly in the Midlands culminating in second place at the 2010 UK Indoor Championships.

 

In 2011 she decided to venture further afield and was soon a regular sight on the shooting line from the South West to Yorkshire as she competed alongside members of the Great Britain and Olympic Squads at National Tournaments.

 

In August she took 3rd place at the UK Outdoor Championships which took place over 2 days at Lilleshall in Shropshire the home of Archery GB.

 

She then finished the 2011 outdoor season ranked third in the UK, in  the Ladies Longbow and was also the holder of one UK Record plus 15 Outdoor County of Worcestershire Records.

 

With the indoor season underway she has added a further 5 indoor County of Worcestershire records to her tally and is now  a member of the County of Worcestershire Archery squad.

 

Her CCSC MEMBERSHIP now entitles her to compete for both the Civil Service Archery Association National indoor and outdoor titles which she is very pleased about and she hopes to win one or both over the next year or so ,if she can improve to take on the current holders.

 

Full details  of her exploits and others involved in the CSAA can be found in the Ascham magazine and on the CSAA website which includes membership details.