El Club Deportivo Arqueros Zamora inaugurated a new, officially homologated outdoor archery range along the Carretera de Almaraz in Zamora, Spain, marking a permanent home after nearly three decades of provisional practice sites. The facility features a 90-meter by 60-meter layout, a roofed concrete shooting line equipped with lighting, and a 16-square-meter storage shed.
A Historic Milestone After Three Decades as Nomads
The inauguration of the new outdoor facility represents a turning point for local athletes who spent nearly 30 years petitioning public institutions for a dedicated training space. According to club president Daniel Valentín García, quoted in municipal records, the opening weekend was historic for the organization and for archery across the region. In the early years, club members practiced in private fields among irrigation pipes and dirt clods before moving to the former Deportes Foundation facility. Subsequent urban remodeling forced another relocation to a private plot in Monfarracinos, where archers trained among thick weeds until highway construction displaced them again. Temporary stints at the football pitch of the IES Alfonso IX school followed, leaving the club in perpetual uncertainty ahead of each outdoor season.
Municipal Collaboration and Facility Specifications
Progress arrived when the municipal corporation engaged with club requests, offering a plot near the city wastewater treatment facility to share with local golf practitioners. While the shared site provided a functional baseline, an uneven elevation prompted the club to request financial assistance from the Concejalía de Deportes for proper grading. Municipal crews completed the 90-by-60-meter leveling project within a single month. The resulting outdoor range holds official homologation from the Real Federación Española de Tiro con Arco, clearing the way for official competitions with a maximum capacity of between 100 and 112 archers. Future infrastructure expansions aim to add locker rooms and perimeter fencing.
Competitive Pedigree and Community Impact
Despite operating as a modest club with approximately 100 members, Arqueros Zamora maintains a strong competitive footprint across regional and national calendars. Club rosters feature multiple men’s and women’s teams competing in the Liga Regular de Clubes, capturing national championship titles, runner-up finishes, and bronze medals. Individual competitors have secured numerous Castilla y León titles across age divisions ranging from Prebenjamins to Veterans, alongside international representation highlighted by a European champion who also earned multiple individual and team Spanish titles.
Next Steps for Arqueros Zamora
With the Carretera de Almaraz range fully operational and lit for all-weather practice, the club plans to focus on youth development through the Escuela Municipal de Tiro con Arco while pursuing additional venue upgrades for future championship hosting.
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