Archers from across Nouvelle-Aquitaine converged on Parthenay this weekend for a regional field archery competition that highlighted the sport’s growing presence in western France. The event, held at the Bois de la Gâtine archery course just outside the historic town, brought together over 120 competitors ranging from novice club members to seasoned national-level archers, all testing their skills on a challenging outdoor course designed to simulate hunting conditions.
Field archery, distinct from target archery due to its uneven terrain and variable distances, requires archers to navigate wooded paths while shooting at foam animal targets placed at unknown ranges. Competitors in Parthenay faced 24 targets spread across undulating ground, with distances varying from 5 meters to 60 meters — a format that demands not only precision but also keen judgment of elevation and wind conditions.
According to officials from the Comité Départemental de Tir à l’Arc des Deux-Sèvres, which hosted the event in coordination with the Ligue Nouvelle-Aquitaine de Tir à l’Arc, participation marked a 15% increase compared to the previous year’s regional field competition. “We’ve seen steady growth in interest over the last three seasons,” said Jean-Luc Moreau, technical director for the regional league. “More clubs are investing in field-specific training, and archers are drawn to the blend of physical challenge and mental focus this discipline requires.”
The competition followed World Archery field round rules, with archers shooting three arrows per target from colored pegs indicating distance categories. Scoring was based on the standard 5-zone system, with the innermost ring worth five points. Divisions were separated by age group and equipment type, including recurve, barebow, and compound categories, allowing archers to compete against peers using similar gear.
In the senior men’s recurve division, Clément Durand of Arc Club Niortais emerged victorious with a total score of 542 points, edging out local favorite Thomas Lambert of Parthenay Archers by just eight points. Durand, who placed in the top ten at the national field championships last September, credited his performance to consistent practice on variable-distance courses. “You can’t simulate this kind of shooting on a flat range,” he said after the award ceremony. “Every shot feels different — you’re constantly adjusting for slope, light, and even the way the target sits against the background.”
On the women’s side, Élise Moreau (no relation to Jean-Luc) of Cognac Archery Club won the senior recurve category with 498 points, demonstrating strong form despite challenging crosswinds that picked up mid-afternoon. Her performance was particularly notable given that she had only transitioned to field archery six months prior, having previously focused exclusively on Olympic-style target shooting.
The barebow division saw impressive depth, with over 30 archers competing — a sign of the discipline’s rising popularity among traditional archery enthusiasts. Barebow archers, who shoot without sights or stabilizers, rely entirely on instinct and form. In this category, 22-year-old Léo Dubois from Limoges took first place with a score of 415 points, showcasing remarkable consistency across the course’s most difficult shaded sections where light changes rapidly.
Compound archers, using mechanical release aids and magnified sights, posted the highest scores overall. In the senior men’s compound division, Julien Rivière of Bordeaux Archery Club dominated with 603 points — just shy of the maximum possible 630 — thanks to near-perfect execution on longer-range targets. His performance underscored the growing technical sophistication within the region’s compound archery cohort, many of whom train year-round for both field and 3D competitions.
Beyond individual accolades, the event served as a qualifier for the upcoming Inter-Regional Field Archery Championship scheduled for May in Limoges. The top five finishers in each division earned automatic berths to represent Nouvelle-Aquitaine, adding competitive urgency to the weekend’s proceedings. League officials confirmed that the qualification pathway remains unchanged from last year, with standings determined solely by performance at sanctioned regional events like the one in Parthenay.
Logistical support came from the town of Parthenay, which provided access to the Bois de la Gâtine site and assisted with course setup. Municipal sports officer Marie Lefebvre noted that the town has actively pursued archery events as part of its broader strategy to promote outdoor sports tourism. “Parthenay’s central location and natural terrain develop it ideal for disciplines like field archery,” she said. “We’ve hosted regional events for two years now and witness real potential for growth, especially as we improve signage and accessibility along the course.”
Weather conditions played a subtle but influential role throughout the competition. Saturday began with overcast skies and light winds, creating favorable shooting conditions. By Sunday morning, however, temperatures had dropped to 6°C (43°F) with intermittent gusts shifting direction across the valley — a change that tested archers’ adaptability. Several competitors mentioned in post-event interviews that the shifting winds on the latter half of the course required last-minute adjustments to aim point, particularly on elevated shots where wind drift is amplified.
Equipment checks conducted by official judges before each division’s start ensured compliance with World Archery regulations, including bow weight limits, arrow specifications, and accessory restrictions. No disqualifications were reported, though a handful of archers received warnings for minor infractions such as exceeding allowed stabilizer length in the recurve division or using non-approved finger protection in barebow.
The event also emphasized inclusivity, with dedicated divisions for youth archers (under 18) and adaptive athletes using specialized equipment. In the junior barebow category, 14-year-old Manon Rousseau of Poitiers stood out with a score of 387 points — the highest among all under-18 competitors — signaling strong developmental pathways within regional clubs. Adaptive archery, though still emerging in the area, featured three participants using wheelchair-mounted stools and modified release aids, all of whom completed the full course without assistance.
Looking ahead, regional league officials announced plans to host a second field archery meet in Périgueux later this autumn, aiming to establish a dual-event circuit that would allow archers to accumulate points toward an annual Nouvelle-Aquitaine field champion title. Discussions are also underway with the French Archery Federation (FFTA) about potentially bidding to host a national-level field championship in the region within the next three years, a move that would require further investment in course infrastructure and parking facilities.
For now, the success of the Parthenay event has been measured not only in scores and medals but in participation numbers and community engagement. Local archery clubs reported a noticeable uptick in beginner inquiries following the competition, with several offering free introductory sessions this week to capitalize on the heightened interest. “Events like this do more than crown winners,” said Jean-Luc Moreau. “They reveal people what archery can be — challenging, rewarding, and deeply connected to the landscape we shoot in.”
As the regional circuit continues to evolve, archers across Nouvelle-Aquitaine now turn their attention to indoor target competitions scheduled for the winter months, where the focus shifts back to precision at fixed distances. Yet for many who spent the weekend navigating forest trails with bow in hand, the appeal of field archery lies precisely in its unpredictability — a reminder that in sport, as in nature, no two shots are ever quite the same.
The next confirmed checkpoint for competitive archers in the region is the Ligue Nouvelle-Aquitaine Indoor Target Championship, set for January 18–19, 2025, at the Complexe Sportif de Châteauroux. Registration opens December 1, with qualifying standards expected to be released by the league in mid-November.
What did you think of this weekend’s field archery competition in Parthenay? Share your thoughts in the comments below — whether you competed, watched, or are simply curious about the sport. If you found this overview helpful, consider sharing it with fellow archery enthusiasts or anyone interested in the growing world of traditional and modern archery in France.
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