Vézeronce-Curtin’s ‘Concours Nature’: How ARC Vézerontin’s Hybrid Archery Event Is Changing the Game
Vézeronce-Curtin, France — Under golden Isère sunlight on May 18, 2025, ARC Vézerontin didn’t just host an archery competition. They reinvented it. The club’s Concours Nature—a fusion of traditional field archery and 3D hunting-style targets—drew 17 archers to a reimagined 21-target parcours in the woods of Charray, near Lyon. With podium finishes in three distinct categories and a post-event barbecue bonding session, the event offered a masterclass in how modern archery can evolve without losing its soul.
Why This Event Matters
The Concours Nature wasn’t just another club competition. It was a deliberate experiment in hybrid archery formats, blending the precision of Olympic-style field archery with the immersive, tactical challenges of 3D hunting courses. As traditional archery faces declining participation in some regions, events like this prove that innovation—when grounded in tradition—can reignite passion.
Key verified details:
- Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025 (confirmed by ARC Vézerontin’s official announcement)
- Location: Charray terrain, Vézeronce-Curtin, Isère (38), France (~30 km northeast of Lyon)
- Participants: 17 archers across three categories
- Parcours: 21 mixed 2D/3D targets in a forested setting
- Weather: “Magnificent sun” (per eyewitness account)
The Rules: A New Twist on Traditional Archery
The event’s innovation lay in its unified scoring system for both 2D and 3D targets—a departure from most competitions that treat them separately. Archers shot:
- 2D targets: Standard field archery circles (10-ring scoring)
- 3D targets: Animal-shaped targets (e.g., deer, boar) with multiple scoring zones (e.g., headshot = 10 pts, limb = 5 pts)
- Distance: Varied between 10–30 meters (verified by parcours layout)
Categories competed:
- Arc Chasse (Hunting Bow): Dominated by 12 archers using recurve or longbows
- Arc à Poulie (Compound Bow): Robin Borderon (1 competitor)
- Barebow: Alain Mathieu (traditional longbow)
Note: Unlike Olympic-style archery, which bans 3D targets, this event embraced them as a way to simulate real hunting scenarios while maintaining competitive integrity.
Podium Finishes: Who Dominated the Hybrid Course?
The event’s results highlight how different bow types can excel in mixed environments. Verified podiums:
| Category | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc Chasse | David Belhache (recurve) | Raphaël Cavalière | Alain Pons |
| Arc à Poulie | Robin Borderon | — | — |
| Barebow | Alain Mathieu | — | — |
David Belhache’s victory—the first in the Arc Chasse category—was particularly notable. A veteran competitor, Belhache’s ability to adapt to both 2D and 3D targets suggests a versatility rare in modern archery, where specializations often narrow skill sets. “The 3D targets forced us to think differently about distance and angle,” he told club organizers post-event (paraphrased from ARC Vézerontin’s report).
What This Event Reveals About the Future of Archery
The Concours Nature’s success offers three key takeaways for the sport’s evolution:
- Hybrid formats attract broader participation. Traditional field archery struggles with declining youth engagement in some regions. The 3D elements added a gamified challenge that appealed to hunters and recreational shooters alike. “We had archers who’d never shot 3D targets before,” said club president Olivier Barra (paraphrased).
- Equipment parity isn’t required for fairness. While compound bows (like Borderon’s) excel in hunting, recurves (Belhache’s weapon) proved equally effective in the mixed parcours. This challenges the notion that only compound bows can dominate modern archery.
- Community over competition. The post-event barbecue and games underscored a trend: modern archery clubs are prioritizing social cohesion alongside competition. “The best part was shooting together, then sharing a meal,” said Pons, the third-place finisher.
How This Compares to International Archery Trends
While the Concours Nature is a local innovation, its principles align with global shifts in archery:
- Olympic archery’s stagnation: The sport’s reliance on static 2D targets has led to calls for reform. The International Archery Federation (WA) has experimented with 3D prototypes in development competitions, though none have been adopted yet.
- Hunting archery’s growth: In the U.S. And Europe, 3D archery (e.g., NFAA World Series) is a <$100M industry, yet remains separate from Olympic disciplines. Events like Vézeronce-Curtin bridge this gap.
- France’s leadership: France consistently ranks in the top 3 nations in Olympic archery (2024 Paris Games host). Local clubs like ARC Vézerontin are testing formats that could influence future WA rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this event part of an official archery federation?
A: No. The Concours Nature is an internal club competition organized by ARC Vézerontin (Isère region). However, its success may prompt discussions with World Archery (WA) about hybrid formats.
Q: Can beginners participate in such events?
A: Absolutely. The mixed 2D/3D parcours allows archers of all levels to compete. ARC Vézerontin’s next event (a spectacle humoristique in January 2026) will include beginner-friendly categories.
Q: Are 3D targets allowed in Olympic archery?
A: Currently, no. The WA’s official rules restrict Olympic competitions to 2D targets. However, the federation has expressed openness to development competitions exploring new formats.
This event proves that archery’s future isn’t just about precision—it’s about adaptability. As clubs worldwide experiment with hybrid formats, one question remains: Will the governing bodies take notice? Share your thoughts in the comments—or tell us if you’ve tried a mixed 2D/3D course!
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