By Catherine Ferraro
KARINA Marshall has more than just a bullseye in her sights.
Her first place in the target event and three new national records at the Australian Target National Championships are testament to that.
The 29-year-old Heathcote Junction resident is excelling in a sport she describes as one she can ‘love to hate,’ and Karina has only been back shooting for 14 months after a five-year break from the sport.
Difficulty finding time to dedicate to her craft alongside work commitments saw Marshall take five years off from the sport, yet her recent achievements in competition in Australia and overseas have demonstrated she has lost none of her skill.
For the recent Target National Championships, archers shoot a round called a FITA 70, which for women consists of 36 arrows firing at 70 metres, 60 metres, 50 metres and 30 metres.
Marshall returned scores of 1389 and 1370 over the two days from a possible perfect score of 1440 in each round.
In addition, her first place at the 2010 state indoor championships and second place at the national indoor championships have ensured that Marshall is a definite contender at these events this year.
Marshall also competed at the World Indoor Championships in Las Vegas in February this year, an experience she will not soon forget.
Placing an extremely credible 15th from a field of 80, with many professional archers,
Marshall loved the experience.
“It was absolutely cut throat. One slight error could see you out of the race so quickly, but it was good to get experience with this kind of pressure and I am definitely looking forward to the event next year,” Marshall said.
While dreams of Olympic glory are not feasible, as her present bow type is excluded from Olympic competition, Marshall still has her competitive sights set on various World Cup and Indoor Championship events to come this year, and has not ruled out a change to her present specialty, to one day represent the green and gold.
Marshall was quick to thank her club Diamond Valley Archers in Yarrambat and Urban Archery in Greensborough, for their support and generosity.
She works part time at Lowdens Saddlery in Kilmore as a sales assistant, and also at Urban Archery, and in dedication to her sport spends at least 3 hours five days a week honing her craft.
“I was never really introduced to the sport by anyone, it was just something I always wanted to try and I often drove past the range in Yarrambat and one day I went in and signed up for beginners lessons,” Marshall explained.
Warning that the sport is “seriously addictive,” Marshall also enjoys how “it is really a competition against yourself, constantly trying to better and beat your own best scores.”
Anyone interested in archery can contact the Diamond Valley Archers at their website, <www.dva.asn.au>.
