A discipline that is both very sporty and spectacular, horseback archery continues to attract new practitioners. The domain of Gauchoux in Haute-Vienne hosts from August 24 to 26, one of the most prestigious competitions of this sport in full development. A sporting event supported by France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Archery on horseback combines two disciplines in one: horseback riding and archery. It is in the Asian tradition that this sport draws its origins.
For three days, the domain of Gauchoux in Peyrat-de-Bellac, near Bellac in Haute-Vienne will bring together more than a hundred archers among the best in the world from fifteen nations.
The Gauchoux Open has been designated as the final of the Nations Cup, a great recognition for the equestrian center which takes archery on horseback to the highest level.
Alan Le Gall is president of the IHAA (International, Horseback Academy Allinace), international trainer and director of the equestrian center of Gauchoux. Beyond this long but incomplete business card, he is also passionate about archery on horseback. His work and rigor were rewarded with a title of French champion in 2019. Anyone who dreams of one day seeing archery on horseback become an Olympic sport has agreed to answer our questions.
In what year did the first European Championships take place and what were the issues?
We organized the first modern European championships through the IHAA (Internationale Horseback Archery Alliance) and the FFE (Fédération Française d’Equitation) in 2017, during Gamefair.
This European championship was very special, because it took place on the federal equestrian park of Lamotte-Beuvron. This marks a real turning point in the development of the discipline because on these extraordinary facilities, 15 nations have come together to fight each other.
What is the role of national and international federations in the development of the discipline?
The setting up of international events, with the support of the federations, has made it possible to introduce high-level sport to our federal interlocutors, to benefit from the support of a federal technical adviser who works to promote and monitor discipline. This also led to the creation of a ”Team of France” staff and the appointment of a national coach.
This is the beginning of the performances of our France FFE teams at the highest level (2018 Vice-World Champion, 2019 European Champion, 2022 European Champion).
What are your goals with respect to the discipline? How do you see it evolving in relation to the actions you want to put in place for the future?
The objectives on the discipline are to wait for sufficient recognition to achieve participation in the Olympic Games.
Internationally, we have gone, in the space of nine years, from 12 to almost 60 countries that play and compete according to the same rules. We are thus benefiting today from an explosion in the number of practitioners in this country. At the national level, we have seen a marked increase too, with more than 1000 competitors in official competitions per year.
We must continue our efforts to structure and promote our important events such as the European and World Championships in the different regions of the globe, but also find partnerships that allow us a wider audience and political support.
Below, a look back at the 2022 edition of the Gauchoux Open
Christophe Nemethy is a Hungarian archer-cavalier. It has an international school of archery on horseback with more than 1200 students around the world, which is called the Néméthy Academy.
What does the Gauchoux Open represent as an international horseback archery competition in the world?
In my opinion, this competition is the cornerstone of the world of mounted archery competitions. It always takes place at this time and, in recent years, the number of competitors has increased significantly. This event is not just a competition, but a world meeting of cavalry archers.
The Gauchoux Open has reached such a level that in 2023 it will be practically the largest competition in the world in terms of number of participants. This success is due to several factors: the tracks, the judges who are very good, the horses who are very well trained and the French cuisine which is excellent and carefully presented to the participants.
Anyone who participates in this competition motivates even more horse archers to come the following year, so the number grows exponentially. Without this weekend, the world of horseback archery would not be what it is.
What makes this contest so special for you?
This competition is for all riders, not just advanced riders, not just those who like fast horses or those who like slow horses. There are all styles of competitions and there are tracks adapted to all levels of competitors, in the “beginners”, “advanced” and “professional” categories. It is a place that suits all nations and all techniques, and that is why it is so special, because the different styles and cultures of the world can compete on a common basis. And to top it off, a competition with a very good atmosphere, filled with cohesion and benevolence, live music concerts and other excellent entertainment.
How do you see the discipline evolving in the future?
The world of horseback archery is moving in a very good direction. Horses are better trained, archery equipment and products are constantly being improved, the level of competitors has also risen, with records being set every year. Coaches are becoming more professional and prepared, and more and more coaches are choosing this field.
Alan Le Gall and his team have contributed a lot to this. They try to raise the level of the horseback archery world, not only through competitions, but also through internships and continuing education. There is a good chance that archery on horseback will evolve in the right direction and one day become one of the Olympic sports.
Of course, there are difficulties. Over the past three years, we have already overcome a lot, and we will overcome the rest together, because if everyone is going in the same direction, no one can stop us. We hope that stability will be restored to the world soon, and we also hope that after that horseback archery will boom, and other horse sports will also pay attention to us. If all goes well, we will soon be able to participate in live TV shows, which will open new doors for us. We work together to bring our sport to the highest level possible.
To note : 2023 marks a turning point for the discipline since the French Equestrian Federation will accompany the French team to Mongolia for the world archery championships on horseback.
2023-08-23 15:52:00
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