Balma Arc Club Sends Five Athletes to Wroclaw for European Cup
Five athletes from the Balma Arc Club have qualified for the Run Archery European Cup in Wroclaw, Poland, following a strong finish to their domestic campaign. The continental competition is scheduled to run from Friday, October 9, to Sunday, October 11, bringing together top competitors in a discipline that bridges endurance running and precision marksmanship.
The French delegation representing the Haute-Garonne club features Zoé Hardy, Romane Mothe, Muriel Mothe, Florian Caqueret, and Bruno Serny. Their selection follows a demanding final stretch on the national circuit, highlighted by the Run Archery Tour finale held in late September in Montigny-lès-Cormeilles, where 57 athletes competed across multiple categories.
National Finale Success in Montigny-lès-Cormeilles
During the national finals on September 26 and 27, the Balma contingent sent 10 participants to test themselves against opponents from across France. Club president Fabrice Laumon pointed to the team’s depth and consistent podium finishes as the springboard for their European qualifications.
Several club members secured top-tier domestic results during that weekend. In the Under-18 female category (U18F), Iséa Gras claimed first place, a feat matched by Florian Caqueret in the senior men’s division (S1H). Romane Mothe took third in the senior women’s class (S1F), while Muriel Mothe secured second place in the S2F category. The club also captured a second-place finish in the duo relay event.
The Demanding Format of Run Archery
Established as a competitive discipline at the club level since the early 2020s, Run Archery mirrors the physical and mental demands of winter biathlon. Athletes alternate between high-intensity running sprints and archery stages requiring shooting from both standing and kneeling positions.
Competitors must shoot a total of twelve arrows during a race, facing a penalty loop for every missed target. The format requires participants to manage skyrocketing heart rates while maintaining the steady focus needed to place arrows inside standard target faces under race conditions.
Training Facilities at the Palladium Complex
Back in Haute-Garonne, the club prepares for international competition out of a dedicated facility inaugurated in November 2025. Located within the Palladium complex on Avenue des Arènes, the 350-square-meter municipal space provides eight indoor shooting lanes for the club’s 150 registered members.
That infrastructure gives the club year-round consistency to hone both the running conditioning and technical shooting sequences demanded by the sport. With the European Cup now underway in Poland, the delegation shifts from domestic preparation to testing its mettle against international fields.
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