French Archers Crowned Champions in Richelieu
Richelieu, France – The French archery community celebrated a weekend of fierce competition and crowning achievements as the 2026 French Archery Championships concluded at the Richelieu sports complex. Across a range of disciplines, from compound to recurve, established stars and rising talents battled for national titles, with several archers successfully defending their gold medals from the previous year. The event showcased the depth of talent within French archery and the growing accessibility of the sport.
Compound Archery Dominance
Christophe Gerardin of Nîmes delivered a standout performance in the HV Libre Arc à Poulies category, securing the gold medal with a score of 544 points. Gerardin, a para-archer, demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, edging out Cyrille Louarn (Gisors) and Martine Marchand (St Herblain) for the top spot. This victory underscores the inclusive nature of the sport and the high level of competition across all categories.
In the Critérium Arc à poulies, Antony Dufays from Bourges continued his winning streak, claiming victory after a hard-fought contest against Frédéric Herbreteau of Orléans. Dufays’ final score of 485 points not only secured his title but also improved upon his previous year’s performance (511 points in 2025 versus 485 in 2026), highlighting his consistency under pressure. The win is particularly noteworthy given Bourges’ relatively recent emergence as an archery hub, demonstrating the sport’s expanding reach throughout France.
Recurve Archery Highlights
The recurve archery events also saw compelling performances. Laetitia Porcher (St Genenvière des Bois) delivered a strong showing in the Critérium Classique, earning the championship title with an impressive score of 516 points. Alexis Verhelst (Abilly) also claimed gold in the Challenge arc à poulies, building on his second-place finish the previous year.
Stéphane Lelgouach, the defending champion in HV1 and Michel Le Besnerais of Bouscat achieved a remarkable one-two finish, showcasing the club’s continued strength in this discipline. Benjamin Morelle secured a title in the challenge classique, improving from his third-place finish last year.
Youth Talent Shines
The younger generation of French archers also made their mark at the championships. Tiya Barbe (St Nazaire) and Gwenaelle Carvillot-Meyer (Egly) repeated their top two finish from the previous year in the youth categories, demonstrating their consistent excellence. Barbe, a 16-year-traditional prodigy from St Nazaire, secured the gold with 552 points, solidifying her position as a rising star in the sport. Corentin Bonjean (Brive la Gaillarde) rounded out the podium in third.
Other Notable Results
Alain Raharinjatovo (Carpiquet) and Coralie Corbec (St Gaudens) were crowned champions in Support 1 and Support 2, respectively. Florent Lalin (Chaville) retained his title in the men’s federal category, while Muriel Garcia (Aulnay-sous-Bois) emerged victorious in the women’s federal para-archery competition, finishing ahead of Anne-Marie Rotrou (Caen). Clémence Desrutin and Benoit Esteve claimed the championships in the classic arc federal categories. Soline Nseke-Bekombo (Carpiquet) secured the title in HV2-3, while Olivier Lebre brought the title back to the Marseille Trois Lucs club in the classic arc HV Libre category. Stéphanie Schimdt (Voiron) finished second to Gerardin in HV Libre arc à poulies.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 French Archery Championships served as a testament to the growing popularity and competitive spirit of the sport in France. With a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, the future of French archery looks bright. The next major event on the calendar is the European Archery Championships in Rome, Italy, scheduled to begin on July 15th, 2026, where many of these champions will appear to continue their success on the international stage. Fans can follow updates and results on the Fédération Française de Tir à l’Arc (FFTA) website: https://www.ffta.fr/.
The success of athletes like Tiya Barbe and Christophe Gerardin, coupled with the strong performances across all categories, demonstrates the depth and inclusivity of the French archery program. As the sport continues to grow, it will be exciting to see what new talent emerges and what heights these champions will reach.
