Rennes captured both the men’s and women’s team titles at the European Club Championships in Ruse, Bulgaria, sweeping the top honors after dominant final matches under the weekend sun, according to the Fédération Française de Tir à l’Arc (FFTA). The French clubs swept the podium stages across divisions, with Nîmes and Clermont-Ferrand also securing crucial podium finishes following tightly contested qualification rounds and bracket matches.
French Archers Set the Pace in Ruse Qualifications
Opening qualification rounds set a strong baseline for French competitors along the Danube River. In the women’s division, Elia Canales and Elina Idensen paced the field for Rennes to claim the top spot after the initial phase. Spain’s Carlota Garcia-Navas, representing Arqueros de Pozuelo, broke up a potential French sweep by securing a place inside the top three. Meanwhile, the men’s qualification leaderboard was entirely French. Nîmes shooters paced the field, led by Baptiste Addis in first and Jean-Charles Valladont in second, while Rennes competitor Jonathan Vetter rounded out the top three.
Gold Medal Showdowns Deliver Close Finishes
The progression through the bracket rounds set up high-stakes gold medal matches for the leading French contingents. In the men’s gold final, Rennes and Nîmes clashed in a fiercely fought battle. Rennes pulled away late with a dominant surge to capture the title by a 5-3 margin. In the men’s bronze medal match, Clermont-Ferrand secured a decisive 5-1 victory over Slovenia’s Kamnik club. On the women’s side, Rennes faced Arqueros de Pozuelo in the final. The Breton squad seized control from the opening arrows and cruised to a 6-0 sweep to claim the European crown.
Nîmes Claims Bronze While Regional Clubs Round Out Standings
Nîmes rebounded from its earlier final defeat by securing the women’s bronze medal. Following a fast start, Nîmes defeated Sambon of AIN 6-2 to secure another podium finish for the delegation. Lower down the tournament ladder, Brienon and Saint-Avertin squared off to decide fifth and sixth place in the continental tournament. The collective results across the weekend highlighted a dominant showing for French archery on the European club stage for the 2026 season.
