Les Angevins Almost Hit the Bullseye at French Field Archery Championships
The archers of SGTA Angers came within a single match of securing a podium finish at the 2025 French Field Archery Championships, ultimately falling in the quarterfinals to the team that would go on to claim the national title.
Competing in the team event at Chauviat in the Puy-de-Dôme department from August 2-3, 2025, the trio of Carel Bonhomme, Eric Ben Amar, and Mickaël Gergaud represented the Société de Gymnastique et de Tir de l’Angers (SGTA) with distinction. Their run ended when they faced the eventual champions in the quarterfinal round, a loss that prevented them from advancing to the semifinals and medal contention.
The French Field Archery Championships, organized annually by the Fédération Française de tir à l’arc (FFTA), brought together elite archers from across France to compete on challenging outdoor courses. Field archery differs significantly from Olympic target archery, featuring uneven terrain, varying distances, and unpredictable environmental conditions that test an archer’s adaptability and mental resilience.
According to verified results from the FFTA, the Chauviat competition hosted 90 elite archers and 75 competitors in the BB (Barebow) and AD (Arc Droit) divisions. The event was organized by Les Archers des Sources from Artonne-Saint Myon, who managed the complex logistics of setting up two distinct courses through the Auvergne countryside.
Weather conditions proved particularly demanding during the championship weekend, with temperatures reaching 38°C (approximately 100°F) and minimal wind relief. These extreme conditions added another layer of difficulty to an already technically demanding discipline, where archers must judge distance, wind effects, and terrain-induced arrow drift without the aid of rangefinders or other technological assistance.
The SGTA team’s performance was highlighted in regional coverage from Ouest-France, which detailed their quarterfinal exit despite strong performances throughout the elimination rounds. While specific match scores from their quarterfinal bout were not available in the verified sources, the team’s progression to that stage indicates they successfully navigated at least one or two elimination matches prior to their loss.
Field archery competitions like the French Championships follow a specific format where archers shoot predetermined numbers of arrows at targets placed at varying, often unmarked distances. Scoring follows standard archery protocols with points awarded based on proximity to the target center, though the exact scoring system used in the French national championships was not detailed in the available sources.
The FFTA maintains official records of national championships, including field archery events, which serve as qualifiers for international competitions such as the World Archery Field Championships. Performance at events like the Chauviat competition can influence national team selections and funding allocations for elite athletes.
For the SGTA archers, their quarterfinal finish represents a strong showing at the national level, particularly considering the depth of competition in French field archery. The team will now look toward upcoming regional and national events as they continue their training cycle, with the next major checkpoint likely being qualification events for the 2026 season.
Readers interested in following developments in French field archery can consult the official FFTA website for updated competition calendars, results, and athlete rankings. The federation regularly publishes detailed reports from national championships, including breakdowns by division and category.
As the sport continues to grow in popularity across France, performances like that of the SGTA team at Chauviat help raise the profile of field archery’s unique challenges and the exceptional skill required to succeed in this demanding outdoor discipline.
What’s next for French field archery? The FFTA typically announces its national competition schedule for the following season in early winter, with regional qualifiers beginning in spring. Fans can stay updated through the federation’s official channels for announcements regarding 2026 event dates and locations.
Share your thoughts on the SGTA team’s performance and the growing popularity of field archery in France in the comments below.
