Really nice piece from guest blogger Gorana Gytha Galic on a lesser known sport in Split – archery.
ARCHERY IN SPLIT
THE BEGINNINGS
Even though in the last years Sports Association of Split almanac there’s no representative of Olympic sport archery, it’s not possible for an Olympic sport not to exist in Split. Archery Club ‘’Dalmacija’’ was founded in November, 2011. But they lacked a clubroom, so the members have been training wherever and whenever they could get permission. They attended competitions as individuals. Vice-president, competitor and trainer Zoran Jurić said that their fight started last year in February when they started looking for a space for club. They got the atomic shelter on 23 Poljička Street in a public bid in July, but didn’t get the keys till October. They found there a devastated space which the members of the club made into a proper sports clubroom with their own money and work.
Even with all the hardships members of the club trained and won medals in archery competitions. Josip Džimbeg was the one who won the first, ‘’historic’’ medal for Split – bronze on a compound bow in the international competition, and last year it was Zoran Jurić who won silver with Olympic bow ( 60 meters, seniors over 50 y/o).
FIRST SCHOOL OF ARCHERY
There were a lot of interested people that came to tryouts on a first day of opening and a lot of them started their training in the School of archery that is conducted by trainers Zoran Jurić and Josip Džimbeg. They say that the high price of the equipment shouldn’t be deciding factor on whether someone should start training since the club has enough bows and arrows for every participant of the school to train.
This sport doesn’t have limitations about sex or age of participants; you can overcome everything as long as you follow the basic rules. – Zoran Jurić deducted.
NEVER STAND IN FRONT OF AN ARCHER
‘’Sacred rule’’ of archery – even though at the first glance it doesn’t look dangerous, bow and arrow are considered a weapon and are strong enough to seriously wound a person.
THE STRONGER YOU PULL, THE FARTHER IT FLIES
Just like any other sport archery consists of different disciplines and shooting seasons.
There are two sorts of bows in the club at the moment – Olympic bow that is the only Olympic discipline, and the compound bow.
Winter season implies indoor shooting on 9 and 18 meters lines, and its competitions end with state championship. Outdoors season lasts from April till October and the shooting lines start at 50, 70 and 90 meters.
‘’THE AMBULANCE’’
One small area of the club is called ‘’the ambulance’’ but it’s not reserved for treating injuries but for equipment repairs. ‘’The doctor’’ is Josip Džimbeg who put a lot of work, time and money into his own education and equipment necessary to work repairs on any kind of bow and arrow.
HUNTING PROHIBITED!
There is a policy at the club that bow and arrow can be used only for competitions and sport, and every member is against using them for hunting.
