Centre-du-Québec will send a delegation of just four archers to the upcoming Jeux du Québec in August, marking a sharp drop in participation compared to previous years, according to regional reporting.
Recurve and Compound Categories at the August Games
The slimmed-down regional roster features athletes competing across multiple age divisions and bow types. In the 17-and-under category, Vicky Bergevin of Drummondville and Myriam Lamontagne of Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover will handle the recurve bow. Both athletes are making their third appearance at the games. In the 14-and-under division, Marjorie Parent of Saint-Nicéphore will also shoot the recurve bow, while Kerby Carey-Traversy of Wickham competes with the compound bow. For both Parent and Carey-Traversy, the August tournament marks a first-time appearance and establishes them as key prospects for the 2016 games.
Cyclical Dips and the 2016 Development Pipeline
While the region fielded a complete delegation last year, head archery coach Sophie Houle explained that recruitment and participation follow a distinct wave pattern. Registration numbers in the sport are strictly cyclical, Houle noted, adding that last year’s cohort reached an operational peak that left nearly all competing athletes over the age limit for the current cycle. That graduation wave created an inevitable valley in the roster numbers. Looking past the immediate August competitions, Houle has already begun training younger prospects, including Nathan Blanchette, Félix Laprise, and Sam Fleurant, whom she identifies as primary medal hopefuls for the 2016 Jeux du Québec.
Visibility and Participation Challenges
Despite a brighter outlook for incoming registrations heading toward 2016, Houle pointed to a persistent lack of mainstream visibility as a barrier to sustained growth. Because relatively few young athletes pick up the discipline, the sport maintains a low profile that makes it less appealing to newcomers—creating a cycle that requires active outreach to break. Overcoming these barriers remains essential if the region hopes to field a full and competitive delegation at future provincial competitions.
August Delegation Roster
The four athletes representing Centre-du-Québec at the August events include:
- Vicky Bergevin (Drummondville) — 17 and under, recurve
- Myriam Lamontagne (Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover) — 17 and under, recurve
- Marjorie Parent (Saint-Nicéphore) — 14 and under, recurve
- Kerby Carey-Traversy (Wickham) — 14 and under, compound
The delegation enters the August competitions as the region prepares its younger talent pool for the 2016 tournament cycle.
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