Cameron Radigan – Para-archer

My 19/20 season started in December 2019 where I represented Scotland in the British Junior Indoor championships where I came in 3^rd place.

I was informed that I only had until April 2020 to submit senior WA720 scores at 70 meters to be considered for the Paralympics in Tokyo 2020. To that end I arranged indoor 70 meter training in an repurposed bus garage with no electricity. I invested in rechargeable LED lights and trained during the day as much as possible. One week before I was due to attend my first qualification event, lockdown was initiated and all competitions were cancelled. I did not have another chance to compete until after the team was selected.

This was the first year I was competing as a senior and as there is only one Para archery event in the UK, I will only be competing against able bodied archers for the full season.

With all the archery clubs closed I approached the Local Authority regarding using the red ash hockey field at my former school as an archery range. After all the risk assessments took place they agreed I could use it at evenings and weekends. It is very hard to stay focused and motivated when you are training alone and have no fixed goals due to COVID-19. So I approached the local authority again regarding a team training at my range, they agreed as long as I met COVID-19 restrictions. I created a team of archers I have trained with previously, two who were under 18 and another over 18 that I am in an extended household with. This allowed us to have two targets (a junior and senior) 5 meters away from each and we could train and compete against each other. It also allowed my coach Lana Needham (Former Commonwealth Scotland Team Head Coach) to coach me over video on WhatsApp.

Team Red Frog was the only archery team operating in Scotland during lockdown.

In August 2020 the restrictions were eased and pilot archery competitions were allowed to take place.

I was selected to compete in 3 of the 5 men’s recurve competitions that took place this season. Just before I was due to compete I was in hospital to get an MRI on my stump, this showed I had fractured the bone in my stump. I was still fit to compete, but it effected my stamina.

In the WAC Open in Surrey I competed against a field of over 80 archers over the weekend including members of the former and current Olympic men’s team. I ranked 13^th over the full weekend.

In the Archery GB international H2H I was ranked 9^th in a field that consisted of the current British men’s Olympic squad, competitors from Ireland and Australia.

Finally, at the Barnsley Archery Club Double WA720, I ranked 4^th in a field that consisted of the current UK top men’s recurve archer.

As restrictions have been tightened again and the outdoor season has finished, I turned my attentions to how I would be able to train during the indoor season. Again, the restrictions do not allow over 18’s to train together indoors, so I had to find an alternative as the bus garage I used last year has now been demolished. I have secured a sponsorship deal with a local dog grooming company that will allow me to train in their factory unit every evening and weekend as they do not use it during these times.

My winter training programme will keep me in form for the upcoming outdoor season where I propose to attend the following competitions in 2021.

*Name of Competition*	*Country*	*Is this a Scottish /British or World Status event?*
Archery GB Nation Tour Stage 1	England	World Status Event
Archery GB Nation Tour Stage 2	Scotland	World Status Event
Archery GB Nation Tour Stage 3	England	World Status Event
Archery GB Nation Tour Stage 5/6	England	World Status Event
UK Masters	England	World Status Event
Archery GB Youth Festival	England	World Status Event
Euronations	England	World Status Event
Scottish archery Outdoor championships	Scotland	World Status Event
British Disability Outdoor championships	England	World Status Event
British Indoor championships	England	World Status Event

As always I appreciate the support of SDS and I hope they are satisfied with the effort I have put in over the past year to ensure my current competitive level has been maintained and that I represent Scotland to the best of my abilities.

Cameron Radigan