Eclaron Archery Club qualifies eight archers for French Beursault championship

Eight archers from the 1st Archery Company of Eclaron will travel to Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois in the Essonne department this Sunday to compete in the French Beursault Championship. It marks the first time such a large contingent from a single club in the Haute-Marne department has qualified for the traditional national competition, according to regional reporting.

Representation at Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

The tournament brings together 597 archers from across France. Competition begins with a morning flight at 9:00 a.m. local time, followed by an afternoon session at 1:30 p.m. local time. Among the 597 participants, the eight Eclaronnais contenders represent a milestone for their club’s presence at the national level.

Jacky Soudant, president of the 1st Archery Company of Eclaron, expressed pride in the club’s turnout. « We know that this French championship is going to be complicated, » Jacky Soudant stated regarding the steep challenge ahead for the visiting delegation.

Defending Titles Amid Tough Parisian Competition

Eclaron’s strongest medal hopes rest on Jean-Luc Chevillion in the senior-2 classic bow category and Claudine Ménissier in the senior-3 classic bow division. Both archers previously captured French championship titles in October 2023. Three years later, replicating those performances presents a distinct test against a deep field dominated by archers from the Paris region.

« If we manage to finish on the podium, that will be very good. Our current fitness level is not at its best, » Jean-Luc Chevillion explained.

Alongside Chevillion and Ménissier, six other club members earned qualification across various divisions. The Eclaron roster includes Mylène Soudant in senior-1 classic bow, Brice Soudant in senior-2 classic bow, Christopher Keller in senior-2 compound bow, Xavier Masson in senior-2 compound bow, Florence Masson in senior-3 compound bow, and Victor Manaia in senior-3 compound bow.