Approximately 300 French, Belgian, and Dutch archers converge on Loon-Plage this weekend for the European Vertical Archery Championships, hosted at the Pierre-Godin complex by the Saint-Sébastien association, according to reports from local organizers. The traditional sport features competitors aiming at targets affixed to vertical poles that can reach up to 35 meters in height.
Tournament Schedule and Categories Across Three Days
Competition gets underway with the inaugural Senior Plus European Championship on Friday, followed on Saturday, August 22, by the 56th Youth European Championship, according to regional media schedules. Sunday, August 23, marks the centerpiece of the weekend with the running of the 74th European Championship.
Sunday’s itinerary opens at 9:00 a.m. local time with a formal parade of delegations through the streets of Loon-Plage. Participants dressed in traditional attire are scheduled to march toward the Monument aux Morts by 9:30 a.m. for a wreath-laying ceremony and the ceremonial raising of the pole before heading to the official shooting grounds for the day’s main matches.
Understanding Vertical Pole Archery
Vertical archery stands as a distinctive and popular discipline across northern France and neighboring regions.
Next Steps and Official Updates
Worth a look
