The club is located at the TuksArchery Range (which is on the Hillcrest Campus (Sports campus) opposite the Football club and adjacent to the RAG Farm). The club currently has 120 members, 80 percent of which are from the University of Pretoria and the rest are international players and others are employed and affiliated with other clubs.
Shaun Anderson, TuksArchery Chairperson, also competed in the championships. It was his first tournament back at the range since his injury last October which left him paralyzed from the waist down. When asked about the future of the club Anderson said, “I’m looking forward to the development of the rehabilitation centre for archery which is currently in final negotiations”. He also added that the centre will be instrumental in “[assisting] athletes who have been in accidents or who are disabled to get physiotherapy, counselling and exposure to archery”.
Anderson expressed his excitement at the “influx” of new members, beginners and pros alike. Regarding TuksArchery’s goals for the rest of the year, Anderson added that the club is currently working with UP on developing restrooms on the club premises which will be easily accessible to disabled members.
“We are also working on paving the range and our outreach programmes,” Anderson said. On 17 February, the club hosted their first outreach programme of the year at Marks Park. Gauteng Sports was also in attendance at the outreach programme. “The aim of the programme is to expose children from various backgrounds to the sport to create diversity […] and offer them development and equipment training,” Anderson said. The club is currently training for the upcoming nationals which will be held in the last week of April.
Image: Sally Hartzenberg
