Sports in the Sun

I really wasn't sure what to do for my sports badge, but I wanted to do something that I could keep up - I really miss sports, especially swimming and dancing, as they were a fantastic way to focus on something other than work. The answer came in the form of archery - it's ideal: a sport I can work at and improve my skill in, while requiring minimal commitment. There is a club in between College and Addenbrookes, so I may even be able to continue shooting in the evenings after shifts at clinical school!

I booked myself a Beginners Archery Course at Robins Reach Archery near St Neots on 17th and 18th of March - the first really properly sunny days I've seen (I may have got a little burnt - whoops!). It was an amazing 2 days, and I really can't recommend Robins Reach highly enough if you need somewhere to go for a beginners course, a bit of coaching, or even someone to come and run a session for your Brownies/Cubs/Guides/Scouts etc.

So anyway, onto the badge:

1. In your chosen sport, with help from an adult, set yourself a target to improve your performance over four weeks or sessions. This could include gaining an award or improving your speed, strength or skills. Make up a plan to help you reach your goal.

2.Keep a record of how you have:

**taken an active part in your chosen sport over four sessions

**shown an improvement in your performance by following your plan.

3.Know the rules of your chosen sport. Discuss with the tester the importance of fair play.

4.Know how to be safe playing your sport. Show the tester:

**what you wear

**some of the exercises you do to warm up and cool down.
All of 1-4 were completed in my beginners course - we did 2 sessions each day with a break for lunch/tea in the middle.My progress record shows all the things I learnt and practiced, as well as the things I need to improve!

Here is a copy of my certificate to show I did it:

5.Make a display about famous sportswomen and sportsmen who take part in your chosen sport.

So I chose to focus specifically on para-archery for this bit, and looked at Danielle Brown, Mel Clarke and John Stubbs

Danielle Brown

Age: 25

Danielle has complex regional pain syndrome in her feet, so she competes seated. She usually competes in the Women's individual compound event. In this event at the Paralympics, she won Gold in both Beijing and London.

Recently, Danielle has been told that classification rules have changed and she no longer qualifies, so she will not be able to defend her title at Rio in 2016.

Mel Clarke

Age: 31

Mel has been in a wheelchair since she was 11 due to arthritis. She has also lost some of her sight due to Lyme's Disease. She first tried archery through Girlguiding in 1998, and now competes in the Women's individual compound like Danielle. At the Paralympics in 2012, she came away with a Silver medal after a very close competition with Danielle.

John Stubbs

Age: 48

John competes in the Men's open compound category, and in 2010, he got the ParaArchery World Record at 70m. He got a Gold medal at his first Paralympics in Beijing. He also became world champion at the end of 2013.

And here's the final sign-off:

If you want a laugh, take a little look at my "concentrating" face:

 2 in the Gold!