East Lancashire archery club hits the funding bullseye (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire archery club hits the funding bullseye

3:33pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in Sport By Steve Tinniswood, Sports reporter

THE chairman of an East Lancashire archery club is hoping National Lottery funding could help unearth Olympic stars of the future.

The Bowmen of Pendle and Samlesbury has secured Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund – one of more than 1,000 sports projects across the country that has received financial support through the programme The club, which is based at Nab’s Head Lane, Samlesbury has received £50,000 to help improve facilities.

Club chairman Norman Suchorzewski said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding, as it means we can build an indoor range to support our outdoor facility.

“This will ensure that we can provide all year training for our members and also be able to invite community groups to experience our wonderful sport, even when it is pouring with rain or freezing cold.”

The Bowmen of Pendle and Samlesbury will now be able to double the size of their clubhouse to house an indoor shooting range.

Suchorzewski, who is also an academy coach for ArcheryGB, believes improved facilities can encourage new players to take up the sport He said: “One of my other roles in the sport is to coach youngsters and hopefully get them on to a world class programme which could possible lead to future Olympians.

“While these two are not directly linked, having better facilities can only be a good thing in bringing in new people to the sport - whether it is to play at a social level or in fact go on and play at the highest level possible.”

Arran Coggan, national club development coordinator for Archery GB, said: “I am delighted that the Bowmen of Pendle and Samlesbury have secured this investment from Sport England. The club is an Archery GB ontarget Community club and are at the heart of the local community, providing lots of activity for people to try archery. This investment in facilities will allow archers to improve and develop whatever the weather!”

The Bowmen of Pendle & Samlesbury is one of 310 projects across England receiving lottery investment from the third round of the Inspired Facilities fund and one of over 1,000 to benefit overall, with the milestone being achieved one year ahead of schedule. Many more communities can still benefit from the fund, with a further two rounds remaining. Bids will be accepted for the fourth round of Inspired Facilities Funding from the 4 March 2013. You can find out more at www.sportengland.org/inspiredfacilities.

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