The Home of Archery’s open day in Heidelberg brought together children, teenagers and adults between the ages of five and 78 on August 23 to experience the sport.

The event received an encouraging response from the community, with many participants trying archery for the first time. Raeesah Dhabelia of Home of Archery said they were pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm shown by participants.

“For many people, archery is something they may have seen in movies or at competitions but never actually had the opportunity to try themselves. Being able to put a bow in their hands, learn the basics and experience that feeling of releasing an arrow was a real highlight,” she said.

The event also created an opportunity for families to participate together, with parents and children encouraging one another throughout the day. Dhabelia said the participants’ age range demonstrated that people of all ages can enjoy archery.

“Most attendees were complete beginners, while some already had an interest in the sport or had previous experience. One of the things we love about archery is that it really is a sport for all ages, and the open day demonstrated that. Feedback from the event was positive, with several participants expressing an interest in continuing with archery and joining regular lessons,” she said.

Dhabelia said one of the key objectives of the Open Day was to introduce people to the sport and show them that it can become a long-term hobby or a competitive pursuit.

“We want archery to be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, experience or ability. We want people to feel comfortable asking questions, learning at their own pace and enjoying the experience without feeling intimidated.

“Home of Archery offers training for children from the age of five through to adults, catering for complete beginners as well as archers who want to develop their skills and eventually compete.

“The organisation focuses mainly on traditional archery and Olympic recurve, allowing participants to explore both the heritage of the sport and the competitive Olympic discipline.

“We also manufacture our own archery equipment, allowing the organisation to maintain a hands-on approach and provide archers with equipment suited to their development and training,” she said.

Dhabelia also added that the organisation is affiliated with Gauteng Archery, giving its archers opportunities to participate in recognised competitions and to work towards achieving South African provincial and national colours.

“Anyone interested in joining can contact Home of Archery to register their interest and find out more about upcoming training opportunities. The organisation’s existing branches across Gauteng, including Nigel, continue to provide regular training, while organisers hope to build a strong archery community in Heidelberg.

“Ultimately, our goal is to introduce more people to this amazing sport and give those who develop a passion for it the opportunity to grow, compete and see how far they can take their archery journey,” she said.