Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët hosted a major 3D archery event that brought 180 competitors from Normandy and Bretagne to the venue, overcoming severe weather cancellations and a six-day notice to organize both departmental and regional championships, according to local event reports.
Stepping Up on Six Days’ Notice
When two clubs originally slated to host the regional 3D archery championships bowed out due to adverse weather conditions, the schedule opened up a massive void. Organizers in Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët stepped into the breach just six days before the competition date.
Accepting the challenge meant pivoting a local departmental plan into a dual departmental and regional showcase. A core team of roughly ten volunteers mobilized immediately. Crew members cleared brush, cleaned competition grounds, and hauled equipment, including securing and erecting large marquees sourced from the departmental committee in Les Pieux, as reported by Ouest-France.
Competition Structure and Officiating
The compressed timeline culminated in a smoothly run Sunday contest overseen by federal referee Eugénie Launey. The event featured three concurrent competitions covering multiple bow types, including barebow, compound, and traditional longbow categories. Because competitors crossed regional lines from Bretagne, a general ranking format became mandatory alongside the departmental and regional standings, according to regional coverage.
In the U18 category, Sosthern Paris of Le Teilleul captured both the departmental and regional championship titles. Reflecting on her path to the sport in an interview with local press, Paris noted she picked up archery on her mother’s recommendation and stuck with it after discovering an immediate affinity for the discipline.
Standout Local Results
Additional podium finishes highlighted the depth of the host club’s roster across senior divisions:
- Senior Women (Barebow): Anne Dunaud claimed the departmental crown and finished fourth in the regional standings, while Isabelle Candon took second place regionally, according to match records reported by Ouest-France.
- Senior Men (Compound): Pierric Poulain secured first place in both the departmental and regional competitions, followed closely by Jérôme Candon, who took second in both classifications.
Despite the initial logistical strain, the event concluded with positive feedback from the 180 participating archers. Organizers noted that the strong reception from competitors across Normandy and Bretagne validated the hurried operational pivot.
