Folkard back on top after Olympic sorrow (From Kidderminster Shuttle)
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Folkard back on top after Olympic sorrow
11:13am Thursday 30th August 2012 in Sportsview
Naomi Folkard celebrates team victory with Tracey Anderson and Lizzy Rees.
KIDDERMINSTER’S Naomi Folkard put aside her Olympic disappointment to win gold and bronze at the World Field Archery Championships.
She was part of a British trio which won the team title in Val D’Isere and also finished third in the individual tournament.
It ensured she has bounced back from her early exit from London last month.
After her Olympic competition had finished, Folkard stayed three additional nights in the athletes’ village, during which time she was able to relax a little, watch athletics, cycling, triathlon and hockey events and enjoyed seeing Mo Farah win gold in the 5,000 metres.
She then had four days to prepare for the tournament in France and despite the small window to do so the experienced field archer, who shot recurve in London, made a solid start by securing fourth in the ranking competition.
In the first elimination round she finished in third place with 168, behind Sophie Dodemont (172) and Japan’s Yuki Hayashi (169).
But she was then edged out by Germany’s Elena Richter in the semi-finals 55-51.
Folkard bounced back in the bronze medal match, seeing off Marina Szendey despite her opponent being backed by a vociferous home crowd.
The Wyre Forest archer took an early four-point lead and by the end of the 12 arrow match this was stretched to 10, as Folkard won 54-44.
As the highest qualifying GB lady, she was selected for the team competition, together with Tracey Anderson (compound) and Lizzy Rees (barebow). The GB ladies’ team went into the competition ranked fifth, but shot really well and saw off Sweden (98-94) and USA (52-51) to set-up a final clash with the host nation.
The British girls powered into a four point lead after the first-end, but the French trio of Dodemont, Sandrine Vandionant-Frangilli and Elliette Lalover halved their advantage in the second round.
However, GB fought back to win 50-46 overall, and take the gold medal.
