Fifteen technical officials were upgraded to international judge candidate status following a seminar held on 28-30 March in Sallanches, France. The event, jointly hosted by World Archery and World Archery Europe, also certified new continental judges.
With 39 judges seeking international accreditation and 20 aiming for continental judge status, the seminar saw strong participation from all five continental associations. Over three days, attendees engaged in classroom sessions, practical exercises and group discussions based on real competition scenarios.
The seminar featured presentations from both the World Archery and World Archery Europe judge committees, supported by the local archery club in simulating live competition situations
“My favourite part was hearing from other judges’ experiences, about new equipment and how to handle new situations,” said Petra Bolta. “Even though I was confident in my knowledge of the rules and procedures, I was still nervous because our potential upgrade was reliant on many factors. We all strive to be the best because our archers deserve the best conditions.”
The high standard of results reflected the success of the training systems for continental and youth international judges. As a result, 15 new international judge candidates were accredited, including two who upgraded from youth international judge status.
“Knowing that there were only a limited number of upgrade places available certainly added to the pressure,” said Gareth Beeby. “The classroom sessions were useful to reinforce my knowledge and fill any gaps, and the practical exercises provided an opportunity to put theory into action.”
While it was a rigorous evaluation, the seminar also fostered networking and knowledge sharing.
“The seminar provided an unparalleled wealth of experience, knowledge and insight not just from the proctors but from the participants as well,” said Brent Harmon. “I am a better judge now, and I look forward to serving World Archery at events in the future.”
For some, the seminar’s international atmosphere was especially enriching.
“As the only representative from Central Asia and Kazakhstan, I found the discussions particularly insightful in understanding the global perspectives,” said Aiya Aitbay. “And as always, the most exciting part is the opportunity to connect with colleagues from diverse backgrounds from all around the world.”
