Yzeure, France – Martin Boutrand secured a silver medal at the French U18 Archery Championships held this past weekend, February 20-22, in Yzeure. The competition showcased promising young talent in the sport of archery, with athletes from across France vying for national titles.
The championships, held at 18 meters, saw two archers representing the “jeune Loire” club qualify for the event for the third consecutive year – a first in the club’s history. Noélyne Salvat Berthoix competed in the U15 girls’ classic bow category, while Martin Boutrand represented the club in the U18 men’s classic bow division.
Both athletes performed admirably during the qualification rounds, achieving scores consistent with their regular season averages and securing their places in the match play portion of the tournament.
Noélyne Salvat Berthoix delivered a strong performance in her first round of matches, averaging 9.13 points per arrow – matching her qualifying scores. Despite a commendable effort, she was unable to advance to the next round. Her performance caps off a successful indoor season, having already earned a departmental championship, a bronze medal at the regional championships, and a top 15 national ranking.
Martin Boutrand enjoyed a particularly successful run through the bracket. Following a 10th-place finish in qualification, he won his round of 16 match 6-2, followed by a 6-2 victory in the round of 8, a decisive 6-0 win in the quarterfinal, and a 6-2 win in the semi-final. This secured his place in the gold medal final – his second consecutive appearance in a national final, but in a higher age category than the previous year.
The final match, filmed and broadcast on YouTube, proved to be a tightly contested affair. Boutrand’s opponent ultimately prevailed 6-4 after five intense sets. The silver medal marks a significant achievement for Boutrand, who was crowned U15 French champion last season. This concludes a highly successful indoor season for the young archer, adding to his departmental and regional championship titles.
With the indoor season now complete, the focus shifts to outdoor competitions. The team will now prepare for team and individual TAE (tir en extérieur – outdoor archery) championships. The official start of the outdoor season is scheduled for April 11th in Beauzac, with the first sporting event of the season.
The city of Yzeure, located in the Indre-et-Loire department of the Centre-Val de Loire region, has a rich history, with evidence of human occupation dating back to the Upper Paleolithic era. The town, with a population of 1,348 as of 2023, provided a fitting backdrop for this exciting display of young archery talent. The current mayor of Yzeures-sur-Creuse is Jacky Périvier, serving a term from 2020-2026.
This competition highlights the growing strength of the “jeune Loire” archery club and the dedication of its athletes. Martin Boutrand’s silver medal is a testament to his hard work and potential, and fans will be eager to witness what he accomplishes in the upcoming outdoor season.
What’s Next: The “jeune Loire” archery team will begin their outdoor season on April 11th in Beauzac, competing in the first TAE championship event. Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on their progress.
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