Departmental Field Archery Titles Decided in Tourtenay
The natural terrain of Tourtenay provided a grueling test of precision and nerve this past weekend as the departmental field archery championship unfolded. On Sunday, April 5, 2026, 81 licensed archers from the Deux-Sèvres region and neighboring departments converged to compete for top honors in a discipline that demands as much mental fortitude as it does technical skill.
Organized by the Compagnie des archers de la Trémoïlle, the event pushed competitors to adapt to the unpredictable variables of the outdoors. Unlike target archery, where conditions are controlled, field archery requires athletes to navigate a course where the environment is part of the challenge.
The Course: A Test of Sight and Strategy
The championship layout in Tourtenay was designed to challenge both the archers’ familiarity with the terrain and their ability to judge distance on the fly. The competition featured a total of 24 targets: 12 “known” targets, where the distance is provided, and 12 “unknown” targets, which force the archer to estimate the range to the target independently.
For the uninitiated, this distinction is where the championship is often won or lost. Estimating distance across undulating ground—especially with “unknowns”—requires an intuitive feel for the landscape and a steady hand under pressure.
Podium Results by Category
The competition was split across various bow styles and age brackets, showcasing the diversity of the sport. From the high-tech efficiency of compound bows to the traditional purity of the longbow, several athletes emerged as the dominant forces of the weekend.
Recurve Bow (Arc Classique)
The recurve category saw a strong showing across all senior divisions. In the Women’s Seniors 2 category, Guillon of Chinon took the top spot, followed by Karasinski of Mazières-en-Gâtine.
The Men’s divisions were equally competitive:
- Seniors 1: Paton (Saint-Avertin) secured first place, with Poublanc (Mazières) and Ricou (Thouars) rounding out the top three.
- Seniors 2: Gaudron (Saint-Avertin) claimed victory, followed by Deboeuf (Thouars).
- Seniors 3: Cantin (Ardin) took the gold, with Rossi (Les Sables-d’Olonne) and Boisumeau (Mazières) following.
Compound Bow (Arc à Poullies)
The compound bow, known for its mechanical advantage and extreme precision, produced several standout performances, particularly from the Ardin club.
| Category | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men Seniors 1 | A. Salard (Ardin) | Series (Ardin) | Pierric Boinot (Thouars) |
| Men Seniors 2 | L. Salard (Ardin) | Quenton (La Crèche) | A. Banchereau (Thouars) |
| Men Seniors 3 | Cailleaud (Courlay) | Patrick Boinot (Thouars) | Nourrisson (Mazières) |
Barebow and Longbow
In the Barebow (Arc nu) category, which strips away the sighting aids used in recurve and compound archery, the Men’s Seniors 2 title went to Forest of Ardin, with Ricou (Thouars) and Godet (Courlay) taking second and third respectively. In the Seniors 3 bracket, Lazzeri of Azay-le-Brûlé took first, followed by Guillemet of the same club.
The Scratch Longbow competition—a nod to the sport’s traditional roots—was dominated by the Thouars club, with Judas taking first place and Poupard securing second. Faure (Ardin) and Braud (Azay-le-Brûlé) finished third and fourth.
Regional Powerhouses
Looking at the overall results, the club from Ardin established itself as a primary force in this year’s championship, securing multiple top finishes across the compound, recurve, and barebow categories. Similarly, the Thouars club demonstrated significant depth, placing athletes on the podium in nearly every bow style.
The event serves as a critical benchmark for athletes in the region, testing their readiness for larger national competitions. The precision required to navigate 24 targets across the Tourtenay commune underscores the technical growth of archery in the Deux-Sèvres area.
For those looking to enter the sport, local initiatives continue to grow. While this event focused on high-level competition, other regional bodies, such as the departmental archery committee of Maine-et-Loire, have recently focused on initiation programs to bring modern shooters into the field archery discipline.
The final results of the Tourtenay championship have been officially recorded, marking the conclusion of the departmental title race for this cycle. The next phase for these archers will be the transition to seasonal training and preparations for upcoming regional qualifiers.
Do you prefer the precision of the compound bow or the tradition of the longbow? Let us know in the comments below.
