Brittany Youth Championships, this Saturday and Sunday, in Quéven
A few days before the start of the Brittany youth archery championships, this weekend in Quéven, a department seems to be missing. Of the 149 participants, the department only has 11 competitors. Given the very good results and the popularity of the sport among adults, it is difficult to understand where such a gap with Finistère or Ille-et-Vilaine comes from.
For Aymeric Sicard, president of the Morbihan archery committee, the explanations are multiple. The reduction in the number of registered young people first, and this “despite an increase in licensees in all categories”.
But not only that: “The level of young people in competitions continues to increase in Brittany. So if we couple the reduction in the number of licensees with this factor, we have less and less chance of being selected in Morbihan. »
“We have to hook our young people into competition”
For the president, “we must not be fatalistic”. “The committee is putting everything in place to return to the forefront. Beginner tournaments for U11 and U13 for example. The objective is to hook our young people into competition. Let them get a taste for it and encourage their friends to shoot archery. »
Clubs are also doing their best to recruit young archers, like in Vannes. Aymeric Sicard, who chairs the club, “recruiting a professional coach makes it possible to open slots during the day, when the children do not have classes. » However, the committee is not panicking about this decline in enthusiasm. “These are things that other departments have put in place before us. We must give things time to bear fruit and Morbihan archery should still have a bright future ahead of it. »
While waiting for the influx of new registrants, the department can count on its competitors. “Antonin Caillaud and Dorine Poree in Vannes, Lou-Marine Pouillard in Quéven… Those who are involved are not numerous, but they have real chances of medals. » Enough to make Morbihan shine, at home, this weekend and, who knows, encourage a few curious people to get started.
