Archers from across the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and surrounding departments converged on Parthenay for the second edition of a campaign shooting competition, organized by the Compagnie d’arc de la tour Saint-Jacques. The event took place on Sunday, April 19, drawing 95 participants who navigated 24 targets dispersed throughout the historic town and its outskirts.
This marked a significant increase from the inaugural event in 2025, which welcomed 74 archers. The growth in participation underscores the rising interest in field archery within the region, particularly as the competition serves as a qualifying event for both regional and national French championships.
The competition format required archers to move through a natural and urban course, with targets placed in varied locations across Parthenay’s old town and surrounding areas. This setup challenged competitors to adapt their shooting techniques to different distances, angles, and environmental conditions while engaging with the local landscape.
According to event organizers, the course design intentionally incorporated elements of the town’s heritage, allowing participants to combine athletic competition with cultural discovery. Archers reported enjoying the opportunity to compete under clear spring skies while exploring Parthenay’s historic streets and green spaces.
François Chasseriau, president of the Compagnie d’arc de la tour Saint-Jacques, emphasized the dual purpose of the event: promoting the sport of field archery and highlighting Parthenay’s architectural and natural assets. The club, based in the nearby commune of Le Tallud, continues to serve as a hub for archery activities in the Deux-Sèvres department.
The competition adhered to standards set by French archery governing bodies, ensuring that results could be used for official rankings. Successful performances at this event contributed to archers’ eligibility for higher-level competitions, including the Championnat de France de tir à l’arc en campagne.
Weather conditions were described as favorable, with organizers noting a “franc et beau soleil” — clear and beautiful sunshine — throughout the day. This contrasted with the inaugural edition, which also took place under spring conditions but saw lower turnout.
Local authorities and community groups supported the event, recognizing its value in promoting sports tourism and active lifestyles. The use of public spaces for the course required coordination with municipal services to ensure safety and accessibility for both competitors and residents.
As field archery continues to grow in popularity across France, events like the one in Parthenay play a key role in athlete development and sport visibility. The increasing number of participants from beyond Nouvelle-Aquitaine suggests the competition is gaining recognition as a notable stop on the regional circuit.
The Compagnie d’arc de la tour Saint-Jacques has indicated plans to continue hosting the annual campaign shooting competition, building on the success of the first two editions. Future iterations may see further expansions in participant numbers or course complexity, depending on feedback and logistical capacity.
For archers seeking to qualify for national championships, performances in events such as this Parthenay competition remain critical. The French Archery Federation (FFTA) uses results from sanctioned regional events to determine seeding and eligibility for national-level tournaments.
While specific individual results from the April 19 competition were not detailed in available sources, the overall success of the event was measured by participation numbers, athlete feedback, and the smooth execution of the course layout across the town’s varied terrain.
The growth from 74 to 95 archers in just one year reflects strong engagement from the archery community in western France. Organizers attributed this increase to word-of-mouth promotion, the appeal of the unique course design, and the event’s status as a qualifying opportunity.
Looking ahead, the next confirmed checkpoint for participants will be subsequent regional qualifying events leading up to the Championnat de France de tir à l’arc en campagne. Dates and locations for these competitions are typically announced by the FFTA and regional committees in the months following spring events like the one in Parthenay.
As the sport evolves, initiatives that blend competitive archery with cultural and environmental engagement — such as the Parthenay campaign shooting — may serve as models for expanding archery’s reach while maintaining its traditional roots.
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