INNISFAIL – Third time’s a charm for local archer Blake Anderson.
The 16-year-old recently returned from his third appearance at the Alberta Winter Games with his first gold medal.
The top archers from across Alberta competed in the event that took place in Wood Buffalo from Feb. 16 to 19.
Anderson won gold in the recurve bow category team challenge. His teammate was 14-year-old Michaela Howel.
“The team challenge is where the top shooting male and female archers from the zone compete against the same in other zones,” said Anderson. “The highest scoring (single) shooters in the zone go together to form a team and compete against the other highest scoring shooters,” he added.
“We went up against the two people who won gold medals in the single challenge and we beat them.”
The Innisfail archer began shooting at the age of six and has competed in the Alberta Winter Games three times, earning a bronze, silver and now his first gold medal.
“It was a very tough competition,” he said. “It got down to a tie between my team and (another) team. It was a one-arrow shoot-off from each person on the team and that decided who won the gold.
“I shot a perfect 10,” said Anderson.
Coached by Walter Wiley, Anderson has been shooting for a decade with the Central Alberta Archery Association in Red Deer.
He noted the success of his gold medal-winning team came down to teamwork under pressure.
“The team challenge is under a lot more pressure because the crowd is really loud and cheering (teams) on,” said Anderson. “I think that’s why Michaela and I did the best out of all of them, because we’re the best under pressure.”
While he won’t be in the 2019 Canada Winter Games next year in Red Deer, Anderson does have his sights sets for the future.
“I’ve thought about the Olympics and training for (archery), not too seriously, but it’s a possibility one day,” said Anderson. “I’m going to continue shooting and practising and see where it takes me.”
Blake Anderson, gold medallist archer
"It was a very tough competition."
